Before diving into my experience I just wanted to throw an initial disclaimer out there that I'm not a die-hard football fan. Now, this doesn't mean I don't appreciate the sport obviously because I bought Detroit Lions tickets. My boyfriend loves football so I figured I would purchase some tickets to the game given he had never seen them play in person, and neither had I.
So gameday was upon us and we decided to leave a few hours before the game started to make sure we could find parking (we were only 30 minutes away from Detroit). Neither I nor my boyfriend had ever driven to Detroit on our own so navigating was an added stressor on top of the traffic we ended up sitting in for about 30 or more minutes. I highly suggest getting there even earlier than a few hours before kick-off assuming the traffic would be less backed up.
The true struggle is finding parking. Unless you park at the stadium (and pay $40-$100+) good luck finding the perfect place if it is your first time in downtown Detroit. We ended up settling on a small parking structure less than a miles walk away (still cost us $40).
Once you get to Ford Field security checks you and sends you through a metal detector. We made sure to bring only a clear plastic tote bag because no bags or purses are allowed if they aren't clear! They had you check in your belongings in a u-haul in front of the stadium (which doesn't seem desirable) so just do not bring anything unless you want it taken from you temporarily.
Before getting to our seats we wanted to grab food and something to drink during the game. We ended up getting a hot dog, chicken tenders, fries, and a bottle of water. The total... $26 dollars. This is to be expected, but even the water bottles were $5 each and we ended up drinking multiple during the multiple-hour game. Chicken tenders were not bad, but I'd pass on that $6 hotdog!
Now, it probably seems like there are a ton of negative things about going to a Detroit Lions game, but I'm not going to lie, it was super fun! The seats were pretty spacious and included cup holders which are a major plus! It seemed that no matter where you sat in the stadium, it was a decent seat, plus the stadium is covered so you don't have to worry about freezing your behind off.
Throughout the game, they have several videos and activities to involve the fans in the stadium. My favorite part was getting to see all of the behind the scenes things that go on in a stadium while on tv they cut to a commercial. There was one time where they played "circle of life" from the Lion King and all of the parents in the stadium held up their kids in hopes to be on the big screen, it was hysterical! We also received free scarves with lion logos all over it. The stadium was filled with various activities where you could win various Lions merch and freebies which was neat to see. We did not get an opportunity to tail-gate, but that seems like a huge thing in Detroit and well worth going to!
Overall, I suggest going out to eat before sitting down in the stadium, but the food at the stadium isn't the worst (just costly). I also suggest finding parking online before you leave for the game, that'll save you a lot of headache. If you are a Lions fan in any way, I think you would love the atmosphere and all of the activities that the stadium holds, even if you do not fully understand all of the football terms/lingo. Just be prepared to spend some money!
