2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional Finals in 2008.
In addition to the men’s basketball championship,
the NCAA returned in 2010 as Ford Field presented
the Men’s Hockey Frozen Four.
In April 2007, Ford Field expanded its portfolio
when it hosted one of the biggest sports
entertainment events of the year when the
WWE’s Wrestlemania extravaganza rolled into
town. The event set a Ford Field record with
80,103 in attendance and it was the second-highest
tally in the 23-year history of the event behind
Wrestlemania III (93,173) held at the Pontiac
Silverdome. Wrestlemania 23 at Ford Field included
fans from 23 different countries, including all 50
states and nine Canadian provinces. Wrestlemania
was the highest grossing one-day live event in
WWE history, and holding the event at Ford Field
helped pump an estimated $25 million into the
local economy.
Besides events like the NCAA Final Four,
Midwest Regionals and Frozen Four, Ford Field
has also hosted prominent motorsports events,
including the Monster Jam monster truck series
for the past three years and the AMA Amp’d Mobile
Supercross series.
Ford Field began as a construction phenomenon
on multiple fronts, and is now a crowning jewel of
new stadiums in the NFL and Detroit’s downtown
entertainment district. The stadium’s impact
will continue to grow as Ford Field plays host to
football games, sports and entertainment events,
tradeshows and concerts.
PAST EVENTS
2002
‣ ¾ Aug. 22: Lions held first practice at Ford Field.
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Florida A&M. The game drew a crowd of 54,500
as Alabama State defeated Florida A&M 38-22.
‣ ¾ Dec. 12: Ford Field held its first-ever basketball
game, Basketbowl, between host Michigan State
and Kentucky. The game set the college basketball
attendance record at 79,129. Michigan State
fell to Kentucky 79-74.
‣ ¾ Dec. 26: Bowling Green defeated Northwestern
28-24 in the second Motor City Bowl played
at Ford Field. The crowd of 51,286 was the
largest in the seven-year history of the annual
bowl game.
2004
‣ ¾ Sept. 4: Alabama State defeated Howard 27-
12 in 2nd annual Ford Detroit Football Classic.
‣ ¾ Dec. 2: For the first time, the Mid-American
Conference (MAC) held football championship
title game at Ford Field. Toledo defeated Miami
35-27.
‣ ¾ Dec. 27: Connecticut defeated Toledo 39-10 in
the third Motor City Bowl held at Ford Field.
MVP of that game was former Lions quarterback
Dan Orlovsky.
2005
‣ ¾ Sept. 3: Hampton defeated Jackson State 20-7
in 3rd annual Ford Detroit Football Classic.
‣ ¾ Nov. 25-26: MHSAA played its football championships
at Ford Field for first time.
‣ ¾ Dec. 1: Akron defeated Northern Illinois in MAC
Football Championship.
‣ ¾ Dec. 26: In fourth Motor City Bowl at Ford Field,
Memphis defeated Akron 28-21.
2006
‣ ¾ Feb. 5: Super Bowl XL was played at Ford Field
between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle
Seahawks. The Steelers defeated the Seahawks
21-10 in front of 68,206, Ford Field’s largest
‣ Aug. 24: First preseason game at Ford Field.
Lions fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-22. football crowd.
‣ ¾ Sept. 5: Impact at Ford Field, the annual ‣ ¾ Mar. 4: Monster Jam monster truck series was
Children’s Center fundraiser, marked the first held for first time at Ford Field.
non-football event that took place in the new ‣ ¾ Aug. 26: Kenny Chesney holds a sold-out show,
stadium. Founded in 1929, The Children’s Center “The Road and the Radio” Super Show, at Ford
provides 28 interrelated programs to approximately
7,000 children and families in Detroit. ‣ ¾ Nov. 30: Central Michigan defeated Ohio in MAC
Field.
‣ ¾ Sept. 22: Lions hosted the Green Bay Packers Championship (third time championship game
in the Inaugural Game at Ford Field. The Lions has been played at Ford Field).
fell to the Packers 37-31.
‣ ¾ Dec. 26: In fifth Motor City Bowl at Ford Field,
‣ ¾ Sept. 29: The Lions won their first game at Central Michigan defeated Middle Tennessee
Ford Field as they defeated the New Orleans State 31-10.
Saints 26-21.
2007
‣ ¾ Oct. 12: Legendary band the Rolling Stones ‣ ¾ Jan. 20: Monster Jam returned to Ford Field for
headlined the first concert at Ford Field. Pop it second appearance.
band No Doubt played the night’s opening act. ‣ ¾ Apr. 1: Ford Field hosted WWE Wrestlemania
‣ ¾ Nov. 28: The Lions hosted the first Thanksgiving 23 in front of crowd of 80,103 (Ford Field allevents
record).
Day game at Ford Field vs. the New England
Patriots. The game served as the 63rd installment
of the historic holiday series and the first Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross
‣ ¾ Apr 21: A stop on the Amp’d Mobile World
Thanksgiving Day Game in downtown Detroit series took place at Ford Field for the first time.
since 1974.
‣ ¾ Aug. 18: For the second year in a row, Kenny
‣ ¾ Dec. 26: The Motor City Bowl held at Ford Field Chesney held a sold-out show, Flip-Flop Summer
for the first time in bowl game’s six-year history. Tour, at Ford Field.
Boston College defeated Toledo 51-25.
‣ ¾ Dec. 1: Central Michigan claimed its secondstraight
MAC Championship by defeating Miami
2003
‣ ¾ July 12-13: Detroit rap star Eminem performed 35-10.
back-to-back sold-out shows of 45,000 at Ford ‣ ¾ Dec. 26: A new attendance record was set for
Field.
the Motor City Bowl when 60,624 were on hand
‣ ¾ Aug. 31: Ford Field hosted 1st annual Ford to watch Purdue take down Central Michigan
Detroit Football Classic that features two 51-48. The Boilermakers were victorious when
historically black colleges, Alabama State and they hit a field goal when time expired.
DETROIT LIONS
HISTORY