Spring Break
Ford Field gets a break from Lions games
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
Ford Field isn't exactly used to hosting meaningful sporting events.
The plans to build the stadium were announced in 1996, when the Detroit Lions had made three straight playoff appearances and were becoming far too popular for the confines of the Pontiac Silverdome.
Things were only looking up. Barry Sanders rushed for a historic 2,053 yards in 1997 and the Lions were strong contenders in the NFC.
But then, Sanders retired in 1998, Matt Millen took over as general manager and the Lions moved into Ford Field for the begginning of the 2002 season. Since then, the Lions - the only professional sports team to play in Ford Field - have posted a 29-83 record, the worst in the NFL over that span, which certainly wasn't helped by last season's 0-16 effort.
Not exactly top-rate entertainment, considering the 65,000-seat arena cost an estimated $500 million.
Luckily, Ford Field has hosted a handful of competitive sporting events involving competent teams to help offset the depression that comes with being a Detroit Lions fan.
On Dec. 13, 2003, Ford Field hosted the largest crowd to ever attend a basketball game when 78,129 people watched Kentucky defeat Michigan State, 79-74.
In fact, the Spartans, who will be "hosting" UConn at Ford Field in Saturday's national semifinal, played there during the 2008-2009 season as well. North Carolina - another Final Four team - put a 98-63 beating on the Spartans at Ford Field on Dec. 4, 2008.
One difference (besides the outrageous number of people in attendance) about playing basketball in the immense football stadium is that the court is raised, almost as on a stage, from where the benches are.
"It did take me until after the second TV timeout to be comfortable with what I could see,'' said North Carolina coach Roy Williams after the Dec. 4 game. "Tom [Izzo] brought a chair up and sat it on the court level, and I didn't want to do that; I like to sit down a lot. I was not comfortable, I couldn't see the far end of the court, what I really wanted to see."
The court will be raised 27 inches from where it normally is.
With an estimated 70,000 fans in attendance for the semifinals, the record for attendance at an NCAA Tournament game is almost sure to be broken. The current record is 64,959, set in the 1987 Championship game between Syracuse and Indiana.
Perhaps Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand put it best when he said, "it's exciting because it reflects the vision the Ford family had for the venue being about more than 10 Lions games a year."
The plans to build the stadium were announced in 1996, when the Detroit Lions had made three straight playoff appearances and were becoming far too popular for the confines of the Pontiac Silverdome.
Things were only looking up. Barry Sanders rushed for a historic 2,053 yards in 1997 and the Lions were strong contenders in the NFC.
But then, Sanders retired in 1998, Matt Millen took over as general manager and the Lions moved into Ford Field for the begginning of the 2002 season. Since then, the Lions - the only professional sports team to play in Ford Field - have posted a 29-83 record, the worst in the NFL over that span, which certainly wasn't helped by last season's 0-16 effort.
Not exactly top-rate entertainment, considering the 65,000-seat arena cost an estimated $500 million.
Luckily, Ford Field has hosted a handful of competitive sporting events involving competent teams to help offset the depression that comes with being a Detroit Lions fan.
On Dec. 13, 2003, Ford Field hosted the largest crowd to ever attend a basketball game when 78,129 people watched Kentucky defeat Michigan State, 79-74.
In fact, the Spartans, who will be "hosting" UConn at Ford Field in Saturday's national semifinal, played there during the 2008-2009 season as well. North Carolina - another Final Four team - put a 98-63 beating on the Spartans at Ford Field on Dec. 4, 2008.
One difference (besides the outrageous number of people in attendance) about playing basketball in the immense football stadium is that the court is raised, almost as on a stage, from where the benches are.
"It did take me until after the second TV timeout to be comfortable with what I could see,'' said North Carolina coach Roy Williams after the Dec. 4 game. "Tom [Izzo] brought a chair up and sat it on the court level, and I didn't want to do that; I like to sit down a lot. I was not comfortable, I couldn't see the far end of the court, what I really wanted to see."
The court will be raised 27 inches from where it normally is.
With an estimated 70,000 fans in attendance for the semifinals, the record for attendance at an NCAA Tournament game is almost sure to be broken. The current record is 64,959, set in the 1987 Championship game between Syracuse and Indiana.
Perhaps Detroit Lions President Tom Lewand put it best when he said, "it's exciting because it reflects the vision the Ford family had for the venue being about more than 10 Lions games a year."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
BOB CLINTON
posted 4/03/09 @ 2:24 PM EST
cant wait to see this game.Has all the atmosphere of a Super bowl.
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