Dan Campbell says team is blocking out the noise and 'ready to roll' as fans catch Lions fever ahead of NFC Championship
DETROIT (WWJ) — Lions fans all across Michigan are hurrying to make plans for Sunday's historic NFC Championship Game.
As the Lions find themselves one win away from their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, Metro Detroit has caught full-on Lions fever. Fans snatched up tickets to the team's watch party at Ford Field in a hurry.
Lions-oriented billboards are continuing to pop up on freeways all over the area. Social media is going crazy with reaction videos and excitement.
And, of course, Metro Detroit bars are loving it. The Anderson Economic Group estimates the area took in more than $50 million during last week's Divisional Round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as fans again showed up in droves to watch.
But coach Dan Campbell says the team is doing its best to block out all that extra noise.
"It's all the extra attention outside of the norm. That's the issue. It's not the opponent; it has its own issues that we'll deal with," Campbell said during a Wednesday press conference at the team's facilities in Allen Park. "But it's all the outside attention where they're getting pulled from every area — you've got friends, you've got family reaching out: 'unbelievable, you guys are here again!'"
Campbell said the Lions will be "ready to roll" for the team's first NFC Championship appearance since the 1991-92 season.
"Your focus has gotta be on this game plan, this opponent, because the most important thing is that your teammate knows that you're gonna handle your business and it's not about the outside things," he said.
As for the fans, they're being heard loud and clear beyond just here in Michigan. After fans going wild at a Detroit bar in Washington, D.C. garnered lots of social media attention, there could be a whole lot of Honolulu Blue and Silver in the Bay Area this weekend. Ticket vendor Vivid Seats estimates Lions fans will take up about 22% of the seats at Levi's Stadium for Sunday's game.
