DETROIT (WWJ) - A fitting tribute to the Detroit Lions will illuminate above the cityscape this weekend as the team hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field in Detroit in an NFC Divisional round playoff game on Sunday.
General Motors announced they are making a slight change to their sign on top of its world headquarters at the Renaissance Center, located on the Detroit waterfront, by adding a lion's tail.
GM
"It's an exciting time for Detroit. At GM we are excited to share our Lion's pride with the city, and our fellow Lions fans," Joe Jacuzzi, vice president of Cross Brand Marketing, said in a statement to social media.
According to GM spokeswoman Tara Kuhnen, the sign will reflect the change sometime Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024.
This isn't the first time the automaker has paid tribute to mark special occasions. GM has changed its sign before to honor legendary singers Aretha Franklin and Prince after their deaths.
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 30: The Renaissance Center as seen from Chene Park in Detroit displays RESPECT to celebrate the life of songstress Aretha Franklin on August 30, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images
The sign also changed to the Winged Wheeled logo in support of the Detroit Red Wings in 2011 during their chase for the Stanley Cup. It also displayed the Detroit Tigers' old English "D" during Opening Day the same year.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 13: The Detroit Red Wings hockey team logo is displayed atop its Renaissance Center World Headquarters prior to Game 1 of the Red Wings playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes April 13, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The new LED sign on top of the GM World Headquarters will feature the Red Wings logo for 30 seconds every two minutes on the day of every home playoff game throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Photo by Steve Fecht/General Motors via Getty Images
The GM sign joins a number of tributes around the Metro Detroit area, including digital billboards displaying the taunt "the Bucs stop here," along the freeways.
Honolulu blue has even infiltrated across the river into the hearts of our Canadian neighbors.
"I'm certain for the first time in history in a different city, in a different country has raised the Detroit Lions flag and we are proud here in the City of Windsor to support our brothers and sisters in the city of Detroit," Councillor Renaldo Agostino said during a flag raising ceremony on Thursday.
The Lions, still riding the high of winning their first playoff game in 32 years, will host their first NFC divisional round appearance since the 1991 playoffs when the Bucs come to town on Sunday, Jan. 21.
The two teams are meeting up for the second time this season after Detroit won their regular-season matchup 20-6 at Tampa Bay.
