Dan Campbell can try to control it, but the Hype Train is full steam ahead. For the first time in the 21-year history of Ford Field, the Lions have sold out of season tickets, team president Rod Wood announced Thursday on 97.1 The Ticket.
Wood said that it might also mark the first time in franchise history, but the Lions don't have records that go back to when they played in University of Detroit Stadium from 1934-40.
As of Thursday morning, the Lions only had "a few select single-game tickets available," Wood said. "And we’re taking a waitlist for season tickets next year."
The Lions are coming off their first winning season in five years, capped off by an 8-2 run down the stretch. The fanbase has rallied around Campbell and GM Brad Holmes, who have rebuilt the team out of rubble in two years. A season removed from their fourth straight last place finish, the Lions have gone from doormats in the NFC North to favorites.
"Fans are embracing the team. We sold over 20,000 new tickets this season," said Wood. "It should be very exciting. You know how loud that place is when you get it full. It’s a great home-field advantage. The fans love the team, they love the coach and they deserve a winner, and that’s what we want to give them."
In year one under Campbell under Holmes, the Lions finished 31st in the NFL in attendance (79.9 percent capacity). They jumped to 17th in year two (98.3 percent) and will make another jump this year.
"We’d rather have to deal with the hype than overcome the naysayers," said Wood. "So we’re embracing it and we hope that we can deliver on the hype. And I have every confidence that if, knock on wood, the team stays healthy, we’ve got a chance to have a great season."
And if that spawns a run of legitimate success, heads up. Detroit just might lose its mind.
"This is a football town and a football state," Wood said. "I think if we can do what we hope we can do and be consistently in the hunt, the town’s going to go crazy. We’ve had some success in the other sports, but as much success as the Red Wings, Tigers and Pistons have had, I think if we can provide that same kind of consistent success, it’ll be at a different level."
Wood, in his ninth year leading the Lions' business operations, also said the organization is looking into either expanding the footprint of its Allen Park practice facility or potentially relocating, partly in an effort to accommodate more fans at training camps in the future.
"We have a great facility. Even though it’s over 20 years old, we’ve invested in it and kept it current. The medical rooms, the training room and the weight room are very good. But we are land-locked, and that’s one of the problems," said Wood. "It’s just trying to get maybe some more real estate either here or elsewhere to get more fans in. And also, you’d love to have a third outdoor field for different drills that we do."
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