Detroit in danger of losing Lions? (1 Viewer)

[SuperJohn96]

Detroit in danger of losing Lions?

It's not a birthright that Detroit has professional sports teams in each of the four major sports. It's the result of strong corporate support and a loyal fan base willing to pay high prices for tickets. But those days are over. The automotive industry as we once knew it is dead. It will reinvent itself with a leaner identity and a more responsible spending philosophy. And that will likely translate into a more conservative approach as it pertains to cutting checks for luxury suites and unlimited entertainment expenses. It wouldn't be a surprise if Detroit loses at least one of its four professional sports teams within the next 10 years because ownership sells to an outside interest and the franchise moves to an area with a stronger economic base. If you don't think that's possible, then you're not looking at the current local economic situation with a realistic eye. Detroit and Phoenix are the only two cities that support four professional sports teams in four separate facilities. That requires four teams capable of finding enough corporate backing for those all-important luxury suites in four different stadiums/arenas to keep the coffers filled without sharing the facility operational costs with another tenant. That task becomes much tougher for teams in the aftermath of this economic crisis -- especially in Detroit.

Detroit Free Press

link...

 

[Da Guru]

I think that most Lions fans would love to see the Lions move to LA or wherever and the NFL let Detroit start fresh with a new franchise and owner.

Ford Field and the Lions practice facilty are among the best in the NFL..the Lions just need an owner that knows how to win.

William Clay Ford was born super wealthy and is totally oblivious to what the fans think, or what reporters report. In fact when people complain WCF usually digs in and does the opposite. The reason he kept Millen so long is the WCF loved having dinners with Millen and shooting the crap...he loved MM personally and did not care that he was destroying the franchise. Millen was one of the highest paid GMs in the NFL under WCF.

Michigan is a great state for football fans. The Lions have delivered a spoiled product to the fans for too many decades..it is to the point that when the Lions are blacked out and I watch the replays on ESPN..it is like I am watching a team from another city..I am totally indifferent towards the Lions. It has taken about 25 years for me to reach this point.

 

[PR Sparty]

Don't buy into this. Drew Sharp (a local alarm puller here in Detroit) started this talk with an article in the free press this weekend. He's a muckraker looking for some notoriety. Detroit is going thru some horrible times right now (and could get worse if the Big3 go bye, bye), but in this blue collar town sports are a huge outlet and much needed relief from reality. Football is god here and if the Lions are just bad (not completely horrible like right now), they'll sellout every game and make $$$.

 

[FUBAR]

I think that most Lions fans would love to see the Lions move to LA or wherever and the NFL let Detroit start fresh with a new franchise and owner.



Ford Field and the Lions practice facilty are among the best in the NFL..the Lions just need an owner that knows how to win.

William Clay Ford was born super wealthy and is totally oblivious to what the fans think, or what reporters report. In fact when people complain WCF usually digs in and does the opposite. The reason he kept Millen so long is the WCK loved having dinners with Millen and shooting the crap...he loved MM personally and did not care that he was destroying the franchise. Millen was one of the highest paid GMs in the NFL under WCF.

Michigan is a great state for football fans. The Lions have delivered a spoiled product to the fans for too many decades..it is to the point that when the Lions are blacked out and I watch the replays on ESPN..it is like I am watching a team from another city..I am totally indifferent towards the Lions. It has taken about 25 years for me to reach this point.

I was a Lions fan for a long time before I got wise to the fact that the owner sucks and I won't support a team more than the owner supports the fans.

 

[SuperJohn96]

I think that most Lions fans would love to see the Lions move to LA or wherever and the NFL let Detroit start fresh with a new franchise and owner.Ford Field and the Lions practice facilty are among the best in the NFL..the Lions just need an owner that knows how to win.William Clay Ford was born super wealthy and is totally oblivious to what the fans think, or what reporters report. In fact when people complain WCF usually digs in and does the opposite. The reason he kept Millen so long is the WCK loved having dinners with Millen and shooting the crap...he loved MM personally and did not care that he was destroying the franchise. Millen was one of the highest paid GMs in the NFL under WCF.

HA!If the Lions move (to L.A. for instance) I highly doubt the NFL would let that idiot WCF ruin the L.A. market too.I say they sell the Lions, they might need the money...LOL

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Not gonna happen

Drew Sharp is the biggest tool bag in town. I read that article this weekend and it makes no sense. The Fords are not selling the Lions and they just had a state of the art stadium built. Not only that why would the Ford's sell their only money making company? Makes no sense.

The detroit sports teams are in great shape, none of them are going anywhere.

 

[Ozymandias]

Detroit is in no danger of the losing Lions.

They are in much more danger from their crooked politicians.

 

[Balance]

oh please please come to san antonio

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Not gonna happen

Drew Sharp is the biggest tool bag in town. I read that article this weekend and it makes no sense. The Fords are not selling the Lions and they just had a state of the art stadium built. Not only that why would the Ford's sell their only money making company? Makes no sense.

The detroit sports teams are in great shape, none of them are going anywhere.

The bolded part is all you need to know. The writer of this story is not worth reading.

The chances of this happening are zero.