If there could be just one word to describe fans of the Detroit Lions, it would almost have to be "devoted."
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Over the past two weeks, the Lions not only experienced their first playoff win since 1991, the team also made even deeper franchise history by winning two playoff games in the same season for the first time since 1957. And it all took place in front of memorably deafening crowds at Ford Field.
Now, they head west to face the No. 1-seeded San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game for the right to go to the Super Bowl. While the game will played Sunday at Levi's Stadium, it by no means equates to an empty Ford Field.
That's because the team will hold an official watch party at the stadium. Is that unusual? On its face, hardly. But this is Detroit we're talking about, and this particular watch party was already sold out as of Monday night.
Here's the official statement from the Lions, who might be nearly as stunned as the rest of us are:
Our NFC Championship Game watch party is officially SOLD OUT
You all are amazingš¤©#OnePride | #AllGrit https://t.co/t72rdf0YgJ
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 23, 2024
Think about this for a second. The Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Sunday afternoon. After the official watch party was announced on late Monday afternoon, it was already sold out within hours. According to the Lions' official team site, access to "the 100 Level Concourse and reserved seating in the lower bowl" was what they made available. So while it's not the stadium's capacity of 65,000 — which would require a whole lot of staff to be on hand for fans watching a game on a big screen — it sure seems as if they could have reached a crazy attendance number based on fan reaction to the quick sellout.
Nonetheless, getting a sellout for a watch party in such an insanely short period of time is honestly wild. But, again, this is Detroit. Fans have stuck with the Lions through so many torturous seasons that there's not a chance in the world they won't be soaking up every minute of this run.
As the kids say, Detroit Lions fans are real ones.
At this point, it wouldn't be surprising if Eminem and a host of others were pumping up the crowd at the 50-yard line prior to kickoff. The only thing missing from what should otherwise be a game-like atmosphere will be the players, but we're not sure it even matters. Anyone who's watched the Lions over the past two weeks knows the chances of a thunderous scene are very high.
Whatever ends up going down at Ford Field, Fox cameras will surely be there to update us throughout the game.
Coincidentally, when the Lions take the field for the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, the team will be seeking its first road playoff win since 1957, when they beat — wait for it — the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lions-49ers game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EST on Fox, with the great Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen on the call.
