Rebuilding Rob

21 years after it’s opening in 2002, I have finally seen a football game in Detroit’s Ford Field.

I attended a Kenny Chesney Tim McGraw concert there roughly 11 years ago. But the venue was really not designed as a concert theater. It is a football stadium first and foremost. That, and I was really drunk that day, so I really don’t remember a lot from it.

I’ve walked through the venue a few times over the years, usually when I was next-door for a Detroit Tigers game in Comerica Park. But last night I attended the Michigan State Penn State football game at Ford field.

I’ve always liked the design of the facility. I feel like the NFL is taking a page out of MLB‘s book finally, and trying to design football stadiums with some unique characteristics.

As I mentioned before, Ford field, sits just across the street from Comerica Park, albeit a two-lane downtown street. Probably the most unique design element of Ford Field is the way that the stadium incorporates the old Hudson’s warehouse building along the east wall.

For those who don’t know, Hudson’s was to Detroit what Macy’s was/is to New York City. It was THE local, up-scale department store. The history of Hudson’s inextricably linked to the history of Detroit in the 20th century. Although Hudson’s closed its downtown flagship store in the 1980s, the building wasn’t was demolished in the late 90s. Hudson’s eventually merged with Marshall Fields, which in turn, was ultimately bought up by Macy’s. Virtually all of the Macy’s stores currently in the metro Detroit area began as Hudson’s.

With all that in mind, one can understand how the inclusion of the Hudson’s warehouse building is a uniquely Detroit twist. Most of the stadiums concession stands and all of the luxury suites occupy the remnants of the old warehouse. In fact, there are also a few businesses that have taken up residence in the building. It’s as if the Lions borrowed the warehouse idea from Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and took it to the next step.

The vast majority, (I would guess 2/3 or even 3/4) of the stadium’s 65,000 seats are in the lower bowl. so much so, that Ford Field’s upper bowl reminds one of the upper deck seating at Boston’s Fenway Park.

I didn’t spend much time in the stadium’s upper deck, so I can’t really speak to that. However, I felt that the lower deck concourses were super wide, allowing for a good flow of traffic, even with a capacity crowd. while last night’s game didn’t have a full house (the official attendance was 51,927) , I never felt overwhelmed on the concourses. However, with opening up the main floor for things, like concerts, basketball, games, and WWE events, I could see the concourses potentially becoming overcrowded.

Aside from MSU’s performance in the game, my biggest criticisms are the prices of concessions and parking fees. Granted, I am more used to the pricing for MLB games, which are usually cheaper given the sheer number of games they play. Also, exorbitant parking fees are part and parcel for having a downtown stadium. Parking is at a premium in most downtown areas. It comes with the territory, literally.

FINAL TAKE. As long as money is not an issue, I would definitely attend another football game – college or pro – at Ford Field. Tickets for last night’s game were free (thank you, Phred!). The overpriced parking and concessions are, unfortunately, par for the course for the football experience at this level. However, the facility was clearly designed with American football in mind. Its proximity to Comerica Park makes it a very familiar area for me in the city. I strongly suspect that after the NFL draft is held in Detroit this summer, Ford Field will once again be considered for hosting a future Super Bowl. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

And no, I didn’t get a picture of the Barry Sanders statue. I figure I’ll snag a photo of it this summer while I’m at a Tiger game.

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The article “Rob Reviews Ford Field” originally appeared on Rebuilding Rob