The Stadium With A 1920s Warehouse Inside - Ford Field
Ford Field is the iconic home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The stadium opened in 2002 as a replacement for the Pontiac Silverdome, which itself has an incredibly interesting history that we will cover in a future episode. With the Silverdome beginning to show its age by the mid-1990s, the team began exploring a move back to downtown Detroit. As part of the city government’s downtown revitalization plan, local voters approved a referendum for the stadium and the plan moved ahead. Construction officially started on Ford Field on November 16, 1999 and the complex fully opened on August 24, 2002 at a cost of $500 million dollars.
The stadium is unique in the fact that it incorporates a former Hudson automobile warehouse into its design. The former warehouse was converted into office space and suite space, with the suites overlooking the playing field. An advertising company and law firm currently occupy the office space, making for a truly unique experience for employees of the respective companies.
With the suites on the warehouse side of the field, the majority of seating for general fans are on the northern side of the stadium. It's truly an incredible site to see on the inside, and is unique amongst NFL stadiums. The stadium’s dome has large skylights that allow natural light onto the playing surface, and large corner glass windows that give the stadium an open feeling with the southern window and concourse providing sweeping views of downtown Detroit. An interesting piece is when designing the stadium, a 45 foot hole was dug in which to build the stadium, so that the complex didn’t ruin the scale of the other buildings in Detroit’s skyline.
Another unique aspect of Ford Field and its natural sunlight are the east and west aligned endzones. One may think kickers would be blinded by the sun when kicking at sunset, but thanks to a clever stadium design the sunlight only reaches to the sidelines leaving for a mostly evenly lit playing surface.
To keep the stadium updated to modern NFL standards, a $100 million dollar renovation was undertaken in 2017 to upgrade the video boards, sound system, suits, and restaurant facilities at the complex. The $100 million dollar price tag is staggering when considering the stadium itself only cost $500 million dollars to construct in the first place. Common events to be hosted at the stadium include high school football championship games, the former Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the Quick Lane Bowl, and various WrestleMania and concert events.
Despite being built as a football stadium, Ford Field has the ability to host a variety of other sports including hockey, soccer, and even basketball. On December 13, 2003 Ford Field hosted the then largest ever basketball game when the University of Kentucky played Michigan State in front of a crowd of 78,129. The stadium must have been bursting at the seams when you consider its football capacity of only 65,000.
Ford Field continues a legacy as a modern venue capable of hosting a wide variety of sports, similar to nearby Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It’s classic architecture combined with the integrated Hudson factory suites make it a unique fan experience that many will enjoy well into the future.