The Lions have been the most disappointing of the 4 major Detroit sports teams for a long time. This is due to the fact that Lions fans are overly loyal and consistently over-estimate their performance. The last few years with Dan Campbell as head coach have been nothing short of exhilarating for Lions fans because of the change in spirit and attitude in the Lions fan base. Dan Campbell is someone who makes very public the fact that he is not interested in anything short of excellence, at any cost. He demands the utmost effort from his players and they don’t disappoint. As a result, the players have a lot of respect for him and for the team.
The Lions fan base has been quick to realize this shift and adapt accordingly. Detroiters have, in no way, held back in terms of rowdiness for this season. National recognition has been granted to the Detroit fan base and their new coach/team. The fact that that the Lions arguably have the worst history of any franchise in the league and still manage to have the best fan base is something that speaks to the spirit of Detroit. This team pride can instantly be felt upon stepping foot inside Ford Field, or any field for that matter. In fact, when the Lions played the Packers at Lambeau Field in Wisconsin, the Packers were forced to issue an official statement addressing the extent to which Lions fans disrupted what was supposed to be a packers-dominant crowd. This was a crucial moment in the transformation Detroit football, as can be seen when Doug Russell, who has covered the Packers for more than 30 years, tweeted He’s “never seen more opposing fans at Lambeau Field than he did on Thursday night.” Dan Campbell claims that “They are overpowering the stadium. It is awesome. It is awesome. You feel like there is a little piece of home no matter where you go.”
The Detroit fans are no less rowdy at Ford Field, one metric for this is ticket sales, which are at an all-time high. This season, in fact, is the first season that season tickets have sold out for the Lions since they have been playing at Ford Field, in the heart of Detroit. All the excitement surrounding the season and the Lions performance was made evident to me last weekend when I attended my first Lions game in the Dan Campbell era. Starting the very first play of the game, the fans were on their feet, cheering as loud as you could imagine. For perspective, I was in the nose bleeds and turned to my brother who was only about a foot away from me and he couldn’t hear a word I said. This persisted throughout the entirety of the game, leading up to the commanding victory the Lions took against the Carolina Panthers. Just being in that atmosphere provided me with the most enjoyable experience I have had at any sporting event. The excitement I experienced and was able to contribute last weekend is something I, and all Lions fans, are looking forward to taking with us throughout the remainder of the season.
