Right across from Downtown Windsor and just across the Detroit River, Downtown Detroit will be rocking all weekend in anticipation of the Detroit Lions starting their 2024 NFL Playoff run. For the first time ever at Ford Field and the first time in nearly 31 years, the Lions are hosting an NFL playoff game Sunday night.
Sunday Night Football will feature the return of Matthew Stafford to Detroit. Prior to a trade to the Rams and leading them to a Super Bowl in 2022, Stafford spent 12 seasons in Detroit after being the number 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The trade that sent Stafford to Detroit brought current Lions QB Jared Goff to Detroit giving them an unexpected franchise QB. On Sunday night they will face off, both with something to prove. While Detroit still has a deep love for Stafford who helped return the franchise to prominence, Sunday is a different story. Come Sunday he is the enemy and some Lions fans are calling for a "ban" on wearing Stafford Lions jerseys to the game and some bar and restaurants owners are imposing their own bans as well. It's all about the now, not the past.
Do you when the last time the Detroit Lions won a playoff game was? You have to go all the way back to January of 1992, when they beat the Dallas Cowboys. As we mentioned, the last home game was in January of 1994. Needless to say, Lions fans are clamouring for tickets and to be at Ford Field on Sunday. If you want to get in, you better be ready to pay. The game is expected to be the most expensive Wild Card Weekend game ever when it is all said and done. The cheapest ticket available on Ticketmaster is selling for $398 USD while over on Stub Hub, you’ll spend a minimum of $553 USD per seat. That is beofre fees and currency exchange as well.
If you cannot afford the get in price, there are still plenty of options locally to take in the Lions playoff action. Caesars Windsor has the House Sports Lounge, Legend’s Sports Bar, and their Sportsbook ready and waiting for fans. Bars and restaruants are gearing up too. Places like The GOAT in LaSalle and Lakeshore, Loose Goose in Downtown Windsor and Lakeshore, Jose's Bar + Grill in Windsor and Leamington, and Bourbon in Windsor and Tecumseh are expected to be at capacity both for dine-in and take-out so book early. Finally, for those watching from home, get those Capri, Antonino's, or other Windsor pizza orders in early as they are expected to busy dinner and gametime rushes. The game kicks off at 8:00pm.
Cover Photo/Photo:Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
