One Pride. My relationship with the Detroit Lions.
The year 2000 was my first as a season ticket holder. Charlie Batch and James Stewart led the Detroit Lions at the 80,311 capacity Pontiac Silverdome. If you remember that year, it’s when the final game of the season was home against the Bears. Win and we were in the playoffs. The Bears kicked a field goal with 2 seconds on the clock to win the game. In 2001, we hosted a Monday Night Football game, less than a month since 9–11, against Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk’s greatest show on turf. The Rams blanked us 35–0. And then in 2002 we opened the season in our new stadium, Ford Field, in which we would call our new home. We had a high seniority on our four tickets, so we basically picked our seats. We were offered the 50-yard line, row 10 behind the Lions, or the 42-yard line, row 2 behind the visitors. It was a unanimous decision — we didn’t want to yell at our own team. And it was a blast. We lost year over year, but being in my 20’s, I became a damn good heckler. My section would roar when I would yell something crafty at the other team. “You are losing to the Lions!” was a favorite during our less-than stellar years. Players would remember us. Kordell Stewart was fun to talk to, Joey Porter, Chris Hovan, etc. We even had a Raven too busy talking to us when he was supposed to be on the field. His coach had to throw him out there. I liked to think we were professional hecklers. We didn’t swear. We weren’t (usually) mean. We got creative with our lines. Some were stupid. Some got the crowd laughing. And some got under the player's skin, and you could see it translate on the field.
People go to games for different reasons. Some like the atmosphere. Some are just very passionate about the sport. Some just like to tailgate, hang with friends and party. Sure, I like to do all that. But I like to be a part of the game. I like to feel the win, the loss, the opposing false start or time out. I like to scream every single defensive play. I like to sing Gridiron Heroes whenever we score a touchdown. I was happy when they stopped playing it after field goals. I like to sing because we score, not because we settle. And never ever leave the game before the clock strikes zero.
This morning, the day of the winner-take-all SNF Packers at Lions game is bringing out some emotion. I woke up this New Year’s Day doing some math and reflecting. Is this the biggest game I’ve ever been to? The answer is yes. I looked up every season I’ve had tickets. From 2000–2016, our record is 96–177. Our home record is 61–74. I’ve never experienced a home playoff game, a division title or an undefeated home season. And of the 17 seasons I’ve been a ticket-holder, which is more than my years in school or years married, I’ve only experienced 4 winning seasons. I keep telling myself, like most Lions fans, something eventually has to change. And I want to do my best to be a part of that change.
On Nov 18, 2012, my game day experience shifted. I took my daughter to a game, she wanted to get her face painted, so I did it too. She got a cute lion on her cheek, I became an angry lion, a superfan. It’s become ritual for every home game since. I’ve been on the jumbotron, national television, tweeted out by ESPN, etc.
Then in 2013, as Group Creative Director at local advertising agency Campbell Ewald, I had the opportunity to lead the creation of the One Pride branding for the Lions, alongside Detroit’s filing for municipal bankruptcy. I couldn’t have been more bought into this team. I was a long-time season ticket holder, a superfan, and now leading the creative rebranding of the team I love (from both a business and fan’s perspective). I worked with the front office, I worked with the head coach and players and retired greats. And that first One Pride season was setup to be a game changer. We were 7–5 and in position to win the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers was injured, we had a very winnable schedule, and we lost 4 straight. We didn’t even get a wild card birth. In a time when both the city and the team were coming out of a rough stretch, One Pride was meant to symbolize that if we all work together…players, coaches, fans, city officials, residents, front office, media, etc…we can overcome all obstacles. For both the city and the team. And I still believe that.
So here I sit, typing away, 7 hours away from the biggest game in my last 17 years as a season-ticket holder. I’m starting to go through my gameday rituals. I’m wearing my lions gear. I’m planning to park across from Detroit Seafood Market where I always do. I’ll have Dan from 2Clowns.com paint my face on level 2 of Ford Field like he always does. And when I get in my seats, sec. 128, row 2, 5–8. I will do my job, and work as hard as any in-stadium fan can work for 4 quarters. And when we leave it all on the field, or in the stands, hopefully the outcome is the one we’ve been dying for. Let’s do this Detroit.
One Detroit. One Pride. Go Lions!
UPDATE: After last night’s loss to Green Bay, my season ticket record is now 96–178 (home 61–75). And another kick in the nuts…when I showed up to get my face painted, the painters weren’t there. The stadium worker said they had to clear them out for this game to make room for another bar (more drunks = less superfans). So for the first game, in the 4+ years since I’ve been painting, and the biggest game of my 17-year season ticket career, they nix it. Go figure. Well, I guess it’s on to Seattle. Go Lions!
