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 Ford
Field
Detroit, MI
It opened in 2002 along with three other NFL
stadiums, and in 2006 Ford Field will host the Super Bowl. After more
than two decades of playing at the Silverdome in Pontiac, MI, the
Lions and Detroit Tigers (MLB) first proposed having two new stadiums
built in downtown Detroit in the mid 1990s. Construction on the
Tigers new stadium, Comerica Park began in 1997 and was completed by
1999. 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. Appropriate enough, Ford Motor Company purchased the
naming rights to the stadium, thus it was named Ford Field.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for Ford Field began on November 16, 1999.
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The first game at Ford Field was on September
22, 2002 vs. 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 up of two shelled-out J.L. Hudson's warehouses. The
80-year-old buildings have
been
renovated to include 140 luxury suites on three levels facing the
playing field, along with other uses including retail shops and
resturants. On the south entrance of Ford Field is a six
story glass atrium. Fans receive tremendous views of the downtown
Detroit's skyline through the atrium. This also allows natural
light inside the stadium. 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. In 2006 Ford Field hosted the
biggest game in the NFL, Super Bowl XXXX.
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