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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.
On September
22, 2002, the Detroit Lions played their first game at Ford Field
against the Green Bay Packers. Ford Field is one of the NFL's most
unique stadiums. It has 65,000 seats and has a fixed roof
supported by two 18ft-wide concrete columns. A structural-steel
supported permanent dome was chosen to cover the facility because
of Detroit's cold and harsh winter weather. One of the unique
aspects of Ford Field is that the entire south wall of the stadium
is made of the 1920s Hudson Warehouse. The
80-year-old building was
renovated to include 132 luxury suites on three levels facing the
playing field. It also includes retail shops
and restaurants. When one thinks of a dome stadium they do not
expect to see any outside light inside. However Ford Field
incorporates lots of glass allowing for natural light inside.
On the south entrance of Ford Field is a six
story glass atrium that gives fans tremendous views of downtown
Detroit's skyline. The FieldTurf playing field is 45 feet below
street level, allowing fans easier access to their
seats. Amenities at Ford Field include 7,000 club
seats, 140 luxury suites, a club lounge, banquet
rooms, conference and convention areas and a Lions
team store. Other than being the home of the Lions,
Ford Field hosts many other events.
The stadium was the site of Super Bowl XL in 2006
between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle
Seahawks. It was the second time the Super Bowl has
been played in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. The
first, Super Bowl XVI, in 1982 at the Pontiac Silverdome between San Francisco and Cincinnati.
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