 Ford
Field
Detroit, MI
The year 2002 marked the opening of three new stadiums in the NFL,
including Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. In 1975 the Lions
left Detroit, moving to Pontiac, MI and the 80,000 seat Silverdome. The Lions played there for over two decades before
beginning to want a new stadium in the mid 1990s. By 1995, the
Lions began discussing the possibly of moving back to Detroit because the Silverdome had become economically obsolete. On August 20, 1996
the Lions, owned by William Clay Ford, announced plans to build a
new domed stadium in downtown Detroit. In November 1996, voters approved a
referendum that paid for 51% percent of the football stadium,
while the team paid the remaining 49% of the $430 million stadium.
The Lions football stadium was built as a sports entertainment
complex that also included Comerica Park, home of the Detroit
Tigers (MLB). Ford Motor Company purchased the naming rights to
the stadium for $40 million over 20 years, therefore the stadium
was named Ford Field. Construction began on November 16, 1999 and
was completed in 2002.
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FACTS & FIGURES |
-Tenant: Detroit Lions
-Capacity: 65,000
-Surface: Fieldturf
-Opened: September 22, 2002
-Naming Rights: Ford Motor Co. $1Million/yearly until 2042
-Architect:
SHG, Inc., Rossetti
Associates Architects
-Cost:
$430 Million
-Public Financing: 51%
-Private Financing: 49%
-Seating
Chart
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Lions
Tickets |
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HOTELS |
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