Ford Field

Ford Field
Ford Field's Brush Street atrium in 2015
Ford Field is located in Wayne County, Michigan
Ford Field
Ford Field
Location within Wayne County
Ford Field is located in Michigan
Ford Field
Ford Field
Location within Michigan
Ford Field is located in the United States
Ford Field
Ford Field
Location within the United States
Ford Field is located in North America
Ford Field
Ford Field
Location within North America
Address2000 Brush Street
LocationDetroit, Michigan
Coordinates42°20′24″N 83°2′44″W / 42.34000°N 83.04556°W / 42.34000; -83.04556
Public transit Grand Circus Park
OwnerDetroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority
OperatorDetroit Lions
CapacityFootball: 65,000 (expandable to 70,000)
Basketball: 78,000
Record attendanceWrestleMania 23: 80,103 (April 1, 2007)
SurfaceFieldTurf
Construction
Broke groundNovember 16, 1999; 24 years ago (1999-11-16)
OpenedAugust 24, 2002; 21 years ago (2002-08-24)
Renovated2017
Construction costUS$500 million ($814 million in 2022 dollars)
ArchitectRossetti Architects
Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc.
Kaplan, McLaughlin, Diaz Architects
Project managerHammes Company
Structural engineerThornton Tomasetti
Services engineerSmithGroup
General contractorHunt/Jenkins/White/Olson JV
Tenants
Detroit Lions (NFL) (2002–present)
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (NCAA) (2002–2013)
Quick Lane Bowl (NCAA) (2014–present)
MHSAA Football Finals (2005–present)
MHSAA Wrestling Individual States (2017–present)
Michigan Panthers (USFL, UFL) (2023–present)
Philadelphia Stars (USFL) (2023)
Website
www.fordfield.com Edit this at Wikidata

Ford Field is a domed American football stadium located in Downtown Detroit. It primarily serves as the home of the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL), the Mid-American Conference championship game, and the annual Quick Lane Bowl college football bowl game, state championship football games for the MHSAA, the MHSAA State Wrestling Championships, and the MCBA Marching Band State Finals, among other events. The regular seating capacity is approximately 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for basketball.

The naming rights were purchased by the Ford Motor Company for $40 million over 20 years; the Ford family holds a controlling interest in the company, and they have controlled ownership of the Lions franchise since 1963.

History

Planning and construction

In 1975, the Lions moved to the Pontiac Silverdome after playing at Tiger Stadium from 1938 to 1939 and 1941 to 1974. By the mid-1990s, they began exploring the possibility of returning to the city of Detroit in order to build a new stadium. On August 20, 1996, the Lions announced their intention to build a new stadium in Downtown Detroit. On November 5, 1996, voters approved a referendum for the stadium.

Groundbreaking for the stadium occurred on November 16, 1999, as part of a downtown revitalization plan for the city of Detroit, which included Comerica Park.

Design

The stadium's design incorporates a former Hudson's warehouse, which was constructed in the 1920s. The warehouse was converted to office space and currently has Campbell Ewald and Bodman as tenants.

The presence of the warehouse allows for a seating arrangement that is unique among professional American football stadiums. The majority of suites are located in the warehouse along the stadium's southern sideline, as are the lounges that serve the premium club seats on that side of the field. The bulk of the grandstand seats are located along the northern sideline and both end-lines, with gaps in the stadium's upper half at the southwest and southeast corners. The upper deck on the stadium's northern sideline also contains one level of suites and a smaller section of club seating. A similar design was implemented at the renovated Soldier Field, albeit with the use of a new structure (as opposed to an existing building) to house four levels of suites.

Unlike most prior domed stadiums, Ford Field allows a large amount of natural light to reach the field, thanks to immense skylights and large glass windows at the open corners. The windows along the ceiling are frosted to mimic the automotive factories that are prevalent in Metro Detroit. The south entrance provides the seating bowl and concourse with sunlight year-round and also offers fans a view of downtown Detroit. To prevent the stadium from becoming an overly imposing presence in the Detroit skyline, the playing field is 45 feet (14 m) below street level, similar to the design at adjacent Comerica Park.

Ford Field is one of the few venues in the NFL that has end zones in the east and the west. There is no NFL rule for field construction in roofed venues regarding sunlight distracting players on the field. The east–west end zone design accommodated the Hudson warehouse location. The natural light is not a distraction to the players in a day game, because the light only reaches as far as the sidelines, leaving the field still properly lit with the combination of artificial stadium lighting and sunlight.

In 2017, Ford Field underwent its first major renovation. The $100 million renovation included new video boards, a new sound system, updated suites, and the renovation of multiple restaurants, clubs, and bars on the property.

Major events

Football

Ford Field hosted Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006, as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21–10 to win their fifth Super Bowl championship in front of 68,206 in attendance. It also marked the final game in the 13-year career for Steelers running back, and Detroit native, Jerome Bettis.

The stadium was home to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl sponsored by Detroit-based Little Caesars (previously known as the Motor City Bowl and jointly sponsored by the Big Three automakers headquartered in Detroit – Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors) from 2002 until 2013. It featured a top Mid-American Conference team and a Big Ten Conference team. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was replaced by the Quick Lane Bowl, featuring teams from the Big Ten Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference, and backed by the Lions and Ford. It has also hosted the annual MAC Football Championship Game since 2004.

Ford Field has been the site of several neutral site regular season college football games, including Western Michigan vs. Illinois in 2008 and Michigan State vs. Florida Atlantic in 2010. Central Michigan was set to play Western Michigan at Ford Field on October 17, 2020, before the football season for the conference were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Penn State and Michigan State played a neutral field regular season game on November 24, 2023, a Black Friday game televised by NBC in primetime. Penn State won the game 42–0.

On December 13, 2010, the Minnesota Vikings played a home game at Ford Field against the New York Giants after the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome's inflatable roof collapsed due to a rip in the roofing material caused by heavy snow accumulation. The roof failure forced the already postponed game to be moved elsewhere, and after deliberations, the NFL chose Ford Field. It was the first ever regular season Monday night game played at Ford Field, and one of the few instances where a team played an unofficial home game at another (rival) team's home field. The Lions hosted their first ever Monday Night Football game in Ford Field on October 10, 2011, against the Chicago Bears.

A Buffalo Bills home game against the New York Jets was played at Ford Field on November 24, 2014, after a major lake effect snowstorm hit western New York, causing the game to be moved from Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills won the game 38–3. A similar scenario also took place on November 20, 2022, when the Bills' home game against the Cleveland Browns was also moved to Ford Field. The Bills won the game 31–23.

The Lions hosted their first playoff game at Ford Field against the Los Angeles Rams on January 14, 2024. The Lions won the game 24–23.

Basketball

Ford Field is transformed into a basketball arena in preparation for the 2008 Midwest Regional Finals.

On December 13, 2003, Ford Field hosted the then largest crowd ever to attend a basketball game, as 78,129 people packed the stadium for the Basketbowl, where the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Michigan State Spartans, 79–74.

The University of Detroit Mercy and Ford Field hosted the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament regional semifinal and final games (March 28 and 30). Ford Field was the site of the 2009 Final Four (April 4 and 6). For the 2008 NCAA basketball tournament, the court was placed in the center of the football field rather than in an end of the stadium. This was the first time this configuration was used for NCAA Tournament play with the new 70,000-seat capacity rule in effect.

Ford Field will be the site of the 2027 Final Four.

College hockey

The 2010 Frozen Four was held on April 8 and 10 with Boston College defeating Wisconsin to win the championship. This has been the only time NCAA hockey has used a football stadium for the championship (inspired in part by their college basketball counterparts) and resulted in the largest attendance (37,592) at a Frozen Four event.

High school competitions

Ford Field has hosted the MHSAA football state championships since 2005. It also hosted the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals in 2018.

The stadium also hosts the MCBA finals, where Michigan high school marching bands compete to be the best in the state.

Soccer

Ford Field hosted two group stage matches of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament on June 7, 2011. Panama played Guadeloupe in the first match, while the United States played Canada in the second match.

Date Winning Team Result Losing Team Tournament Spectators
December 17, 2008  United States women 1–0  China women Women’s International Friendly 11,933
June 7, 2011  Panama 3–2  Guadeloupe 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C 28,209
 United States 2–0  Canada
December 8, 2012  United States women 2–0  China women Women’s International Friendly 17,371
September 17, 2015  United States women 5–0  Haiti women Women’s International Friendly 34,538

In 2016, Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores announced a bid for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, first looking at building a new open-air stadium in downtown Detroit, then focusing on playing at Ford Field, which would be retrofitted with a retractable roof. However, in 2018, Gilbert and Gores and the Ford family would "not move forward with this proposed retrofit, because the risks that would inhere to such an undertaking would substantially outweigh the rewards".

Other competitions

The Professional Bull Riders brought their Built Ford Tough Series tour to Ford Field for the first time ever on March 10, 2012. Ford Field is the second Detroit area venue the BFTS has visited; they had visited The Palace of Auburn Hills in 2001, 2006 and 2007.

The United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) holds multiple Monster Jam Monster Truck races at Ford Field. These races were previously held in the Pontiac Silverdome until it was closed. AMA Supercross Championship, also a Feld Entertainment competition, has competed at Ford Field from 2006 to 2008 and 2014 to 2017.

Other events

On April 1, 2007, Ford Field hosted WWE's WrestleMania 23. This event set a Ford Field attendance record of 80,103. It was the first WrestleMania held in the Detroit area since 93,173 fans set a world indoor attendance record at the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleMania III in 1987. WWE returned to the venue for SummerSlam on August 5, 2023.

Ford Field hosted the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Midwest Regional in 2007 and 2014.

In 2015, Ford Field housed the large group gatherings of the ELCA Youth Gathering.

On November 18, 2017, Ford Field hosted the Beatification Mass of Fr. Solanus Casey, a Capuchin Franciscan Friar who ministered at the nearby St. Bonaventure Monastery on Mt. Elliott. The near-capacity crowd was one of the largest Catholic masses in Detroit history.

Ford Field hosted the FIRST Championship in 2018 and 2019 along with the nearby Cobo Center. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Concerts

Date Artist(s) Supporting act(s) Tour Attendance Revenue Note(s) Reference(s)
October 12, 2002 The Rolling Stones No Doubt Licks Tour This was the first concert at the stadium.
July 12, 2003 Eminem 50 Cent
Missy Elliott
95,709 / 96,707 $5,257,000
July 13, 2003
February 5, 2006 The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang 68,206 This concert was a part of Super Bowl XL.
April 7–8, 2006 Delirious? Tim Hughes
Reuben Morgan
The Mission Bell Tour The band used Paul Evans as a stand-in drummer instead of regular drummer Stew Smith who stayed at home to be with his family.
August 26, 2006 Kenny Chesney Dierks Bentley
Carrie Underwood
The Road & The Radio Tour 44,836 / 44,836 $3,408,357
August 18, 2007 Brooks & Dunn Flip Flop Summer 2007 Tour 47,470 / 47,470 $4,112,541
August 2, 2008 Keith Urban
LeAnn Rimes
Gary Allan
Luke Bryan
Poets & Pirates Tour 46,871 / 48,194 $3,931,995
November 18, 2008 Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour 30,119 / 30,119 $2,395,900
August 22, 2009 Kenny Chesney Miranda Lambert
Lady Antebellum
Sugarland
Montgomery Gentry
Sun City Carnival Tour 49,215 / 49,215 $3,843,639
January 15, 2011 Kid Rock Ty Stone
Jamey Johnson
Born Free Tour This concert was part of his 40th birthday party. Among the guests were Uncle Kracker, Peter Wolfe, Reverend Run, Sheryl Crow, Cindy Crawford, Jimmie Johnson, and Anita Baker.
June 11, 2011 Taylor Swift Needtobreathe
Frankie Ballard
Randy Montana
Speak Now World Tour 47,992 / 47,992 $3,453,549
August 20, 2011 Kenny Chesney
Zac Brown Band
Billy Currington
Uncle Kracker
Goin' Coastal Tour 48,225 / 48,225 $4,169,719
August 18, 2012 Kenny Chesney
Tim McGraw
Jake Owen
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Brothers of the Sun Tour 48,943 / 48,943 $4,560,108
May 4, 2013 Taylor Swift Ed Sheeran
Austin Mahone
Brett Eldredge
The Red Tour 48,265 / 48,265 $3,969,059
July 18, 2013 Bon Jovi The J. Geils Band Because We Can 43,142 / 43,142 $2,638,975
August 6, 2013 Justin Timberlake
Jay-Z
DJ Cassidy Legend of the Summer Stadium Tour 42,035 / 42,035 $3,968,119
August 17, 2013 Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Kacey Musgraves
No Shoes Nation Tour 45,839 / 45,839 $3,733,711
August 16–17, 2014 One Direction 5 Seconds of Summer Where We Are Tour 92,428 / 92,428 $8,304,416 During the August 16 performance, the band performed a cover of "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus.
May 30, 2015 Taylor Swift Vance Joy
Shawn Mendes
The 1989 World Tour 50,703 / 50,703 $5,999,690 Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Martha Hunt & Gigi Hadid were special guests.
August 22, 2015 Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Brantley Gilbert
Chase Rice
Old Dominion
The Big Revival Tour 49,285 / 49,285 $4,903,524
August 29, 2015 One Direction Icona Pop On The Road Again Tour 42,767 / 42,767 $2,700,684 This concert took place on Liam Payne's 22nd birthday.
September 8, 2015 AC/DC Vintage Trouble Rock Or Bust World Tour 43,000 / 43,000
October 30, 2015 Luke Bryan Florida Georgia Line
Randy Houser
Thomas Rhett
Dustin Lynch
Kick the Dust Up Tour 44,004 / 44,004 $3,760,515
June 14, 2016 Beyoncé DJ Khaled The Formation World Tour 41,524 / 41,524 $5,471,395 This concert was originally scheduled to take place on May 29, 2016, but was rescheduled due to "scheduling changes". During the show, she dedicated "Halo" to the victims affected by the Orlando nightclub shooting.
June 23, 2016 Guns N' Roses Alice in Chains Not in This Lifetime... Tour 44,439 / 44,439 $4,776,766
October 29, 2016 Luke Bryan Little Big Town
Dustin Lynch
Kill the Lights Tour 39,573 / 45,000 $3,418,006
September 3, 2017 U2 Beck The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 42,905 / 42,905 $4,936,605 Special appearance by Patti Smith at the end of the Joshua Tree portion of the set during "Mothers of the Disappeared."
August 4, 2018 Kenny Chesney Thomas Rhett
Old Dominion
Brandon Lay
The Trip Around the Sun Tour 48,826 / 48,826 $4,968,563
August 13, 2018 Beyoncé
Jay-Z
Chloe X Halle and DJ Khaled On the Run II Tour 43,699 / 43,699 $5,310,376
August 28, 2018 Taylor Swift Camila Cabello
Charli XCX
Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour 49,464 / 49,464 $6,597,852
September 8, 2018 Ed Sheeran Snow Patrol
Anne-Marie
÷ Tour 47,804 / 47,804 $4,481,290
October 26, 2018 Luke Bryan Sam Hunt
Jon Pardi
Morgan Wallen
What Makes You Country Tour
October 25, 2019 Luke Bryan Cole Swindell
Jon Langston
DJ Rock
Sunset Repeat Tour
February 22, 2020 Garth Brooks Chase Rice The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour 70,000 $6,193,800
November 15, 2021 The Rolling Stones Ayron Jones No Filter Tour 40,250 / 40,250 $8,289,779
July 27, 2022 The Weeknd Kaytranada
Mike Dean
After Hours til Dawn Stadium Tour 45,609 / 45,609 $4,985,501
August 20, 2022 Kenny Chesney Dan + Shay
Old Dominion
Carly Pearce
Here and Now Tour 49,725 / 49,725 $5,622,738
April 22, 2023 Luke Combs Riley Green
Lainey Wilson
Flatland Cavalry
Brent Cobb
June 9, 2023 Taylor Swift Girl in Red
Gracie Abrams
The Eras Tour
June 10, 2023 Girl in Red
OWENN
June 29, 2023 Morgan Wallen Bailey Zimmerman
ERNEST
HARDY
One Night at a Time World Tour
June 30, 2023
July 15, 2023 Ed Sheeran Khalid +–=÷× Tour 70,372 / 70,372 $7,126,417 Eminem made a surprise appearance to perform "Lose Yourself" and "Stan".
July 26, 2023 Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour 44,554 / 44,554 $9,963,756 Highest-grossing boxscore report in the stadium's history.
November 10, 2023 Metallica Pantera
Mammoth WVH
M72 World Tour
November 12, 2023 Five Finger Death Punch
Ice Nine Kills
June 20, 2024 Zach Bryan Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
Levi Turner
Quittin Time Tour
July 13, 2024 George Strait Chris Stapleton
Little Big Town
August 10, 2024 Kenny Chesney
Zac Brown Band
Megan Moroney
Uncle Kracker
Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour

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