Tag: rod wood

Lions set the date for the new uniform unveiling

The Lions set the date for the public reveal of the team’s new uniforms

The long-promised new uniforms for the Detroit Lions are coming very soon. In fact, the Lions themselves finally announced a date for the unveiling of the new threads.

As promised, the Lions will reveal the new uniforms prior to the 2024 NFL draft, which happens to be in Detroit. The team announced via social media that the new uniforms will make their public debut on April 18th. That’s one week before the draft kicks off.

So, what will they look like? Team president Rod Wood offered only this nugget when asked about the uniforms at the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando,

“They’re honoring our traditional color with a little updating and twist,” Wood stated. “And it gives us a lot more options, too. We’re going to introduce a couple different pant options that can go with jerseys, so it will give us different options to wear during the season.”

Lions President Rod Wood provides new details on Cameron Sutton situation

Lions President Rod Wood provides new details on the Cam Sutton situation around the team

Detroit Lions team president Rod Wood on Monday provided new details on the situation surrounding Cameron Sutton, who was released by the team after it discovered he is wanted on a domestic violence warrant.

Wood said he was on a call with league officials when he learned of the warrant. Team officials sought out Sutton and found he had shown up unexpectedly to work with the strength staff at the team facility, Wood said.

 

“As soon as that call (with league officials) wrapped up, we kind of quickly convened to talk about it,” Wood said. “We were able to reach Cam and talked about it and suggested he get counsel and do the right thing to turn himself in. After that, we met the rest of the day and the following morning to decide to release him.”

As of the morning of March 26, Sutton had not yet turned himself in despite the team’s advice.

The warrant stems from Sutton being charged with domestic battery by strangulation in an incident that allegedly occurred on March 7, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

That office has indicated that they have had no luck in reaching the cornerback and they believe he is no longer in possession of his phone. They have had no contact with him, nor have the Lions since he was in their facility.

Lions to reveal new uniforms prior to the NFL Draft

Lions team president Rod Wood announced the team will reveal new uniforms prior to the 2024 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions have a busy April ahead for them and the city of Detroit. They are hosting the NFL Draft and now they are also going to be unveiling new uniforms for the team.

Team president Rod Wood confirmed the new uniforms during a media session on Monday. The team also had their draft hat get unveiled which may be a hint at the new color scheme and design for the team.

According to Fan Nation, the event to unveil the uniforms will take place on April 18.

The team has been eligible for a logo and uniform design for several years now. They have not indicated any changes in recent history but perhaps some new uniforms top usher in a new era of winning would do wonders for everyone involved within the franchise.

Lions gameday experience in Ford Field ranked the best in the NFL

Lions gameday experience in Ford Field ranked the best in the NFL by fan surveys

The NFL announced on Friday that the Detroit Lions gameday experience for its fans ranked the best in the entire league. The rankings came courteous of Voice of the Fan and their polling, which gave the Lions the second-highest grade in its history.

The team’s President and CEO, Rod Wood stated “It is an incredible accomplishment by our organization to be considered the best in overall Game Day Satisfaction across the NFL and is a direct result of the dedication, hard work and talent of our staff…”

The team finished number one overall in fan satisfaction, second overall in season ticket satisfaction, and in the top ten in all other main scoring categories.

Other categories they ranked in the top three overall in were:

•    Crowd Energy Level (1st)
•    Audio Prompts & Music (2nd)
•    Sound System (2nd)
•    Game Day Staff (3rd)

Voice of the Fan and their survey also highlighted that the Lions had the largest year-over-year increase in their history as well. Goes to prove that winning can make an impact off the field as well.

The Lions have sold out season tickets at Ford Field for the entire 2023 season

The Lions have sold out season tickets at Ford Field for 2023

For the first time since the team moved back to downtown Detroit over 20 years ago, the Lions have sold out the season tickets for the team’s home games.

In an interview with 97.1 The Ticket on Thursday morning, team president Rod Wood confirmed that every ticket for all eight Lions home games has been sold. With over a month until the regular season kicks off, the sold out status is a credit to the fan energy and excitement around the 2023 Detroit Lions.

There is now a waiting list for tickets. Expect a robust and expensive resale market to develop for the tickets for the Lions’ home dates, which begin on September 17th when the Seattle Seahawks visit Ford Field.

 

Detroit Lions are considering moving their team headquarters

The Lions are considering moving their team headquarters from the longtime home in Allen Park

More than 20 years ago, the Detroit Lions spent $34 million dollars to build their current headquarters. Located in Allen Park, Michigan, the current facility has a weight room, film rooms, locker rooms, two full-length outdoor practice fields, an indoor field and more.

On Tuesday, team president Rod Wood spoke to the media. He said, “We’re considering whether we’re going to continue to stay there and put more money into the facility, or be better off looking at locations elsewhere in Metro Detroit, where we’d have more space for the team and training camp for the fans.”

As of now, the facility will remain and Wood reiterated that by saying, “…we’re going to stay where we are…” but that’s only for the short term. Moving to a bigger and better facility or staying in Allen Park is one of the goals for Rod Wood this year. He mentioned that he “won’t hit that goal this year” but it’s a “near-term thing that needs to be decided.”

Over the years, the Lions have upgraded both Ford Field and their team headquarters in Allen Park. From new turf to the kitchens, things are looking up for a Lions organization that for decades has settled for mediocre. That no longer seems to be the case. It certainly feels like as the team continues to hunt for their first division championship since 1993, they’ll look to upgrade their facilities for not just only their players and staff but for their fans.

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New uniforms coming for Lions but not in 2022

The Detroit Lions have begun the process of possibly changing their uniforms for as early as the 2023 NFL season

Fans will fave to wait a little longer for the long-rumored new update of the Detroit Lions uniforms. Team president Rod Wood indicated on Monday at the NFL owner’s meeting that the team will not change the uniforms this year, but the process has already begun for potential new threads in 2023.

“We’re actually starting a process to look at a possible change for next year,” Wood told reporters in Palm Beach. “It’s really like a year-plus lead time. So we just convened a committee. I know we get a lot of things tweeted at us, and suggestions about what fans want, so we catalog all those and we’ll take them under advisement.”

Wood ruled out any base color changes, but he did bring up the potential for an alternate helmet.

“We may look at a different helmet as part of this as well as the change to the uniforms, but just started the process,” Wood said.

One popular suggestion is for the team to remove the “WCF” logo on the jerseys that honors longtime owner William Clay Ford. It’s been eight years since Mr. Ford passed away, with ownership control now with his daughter, Sheila. Wood acknowledged it’s something the team will consider.

The Lions found widespread approval with the all-white uniform variation they wore selectively in 2021.

Lions president Rod Wood: ‘Right people in place’ to create ‘sustained success in Detroit’

Fans who have seen and heard this before have earned the right to be skeptical. Or, to quote the band Rush, “Show me don’t tell me.”

In a letter to Detroit Lions season ticketholders, team president Rod Wood revealed that not only will the team not raise ticket prices, it will actually lower the cost for nearly 20 percent of the Ford field seats. Wood also spoke the truth about the 3-13-1 record, the second-worst in the NFL in 2021.

“As we prepare for the 2022-23 season, I want to acknowledge where we are as an organization,” Wood wrote. “We understand that our results last season weren’t good enough and I speak for everyone at the Lions when I tell you that we are committed to being better on and off the field.”

Wood spoke for the organization in showing enthusiastic support behind GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. He also acknowledged that the unsavory 2021 season was indeed viewed internally as a necessary step to establish a new culture.

“The last year has confirmed for the entire organization that we have the right people in place to achieve our goal of creating sustained success in Detroit,” the letter explained. “The work that Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have done to create a plan for the future of this team, is evident every day in our building. The work we did this year to establish a culture of collaboration, grit and resilience will serve as a foundation for where we are headed.”

Given the league-high injury impact the Lions suffered through in 2021 and the Holmes-Campbell gameplan to rely on rookies and unproven talents instead of signing veterans to temporarily fill holes, it helps put some of the losing in perspective. However, fans who have seen and heard previous iterations of Wood’s optimistic statements fall flat have earned the right to be skeptical. Or, to quote the band Rush, “Show me don’t tell me.”

Lions ‘working actively with Calvin’ Johnson on repairing the rift

Johnson and the Lions have been at odds about repaying bonus money

The relationship between the Detroit Lions organization and Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson could be warming back up.

In his press conference this week, Lions team president Rod Wood noted that the franchise is working on repairing the rift with the superstar wideout. Johnson has taken umbrage with the team asking him to repay millions in bonuses when he retired just four years into his record-setting eight-year contract worth over $113 million. It’s led to acrimony from Johnson, and he hasn’t been shy about speaking out about his contempt for the organization.

Wood sounded optimistic that the team would be actively involved in celebrating Johnson’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. Johnson was selected on the first ballot.

“On the Hall of Fame, we’re working actively with Calvin and his team on celebrations at the Hall of Fame and continuing to have conversations with him,” Wood said via Zoom. “I know he’s mentioned publicly that he’s connected with Sheila (owner Ford Hamp), and that’s a positive step. So, we’ll continue to celebrate with him, and I think the relationship is headed in the right direction.”

That is good news in advance of what should be a special summer for Johnson.

Rod Wood hopeful Ford Field will be allowed to have capacity crowds in 2021

The NFL wants fans allowed to capacity in every stadium

Lions team president Rod Wood struck a hopeful tone when asked if the team will be allowed to play in front of a full stadium of fans in 2021. In his media session with reporters on Wednesday, Wood reinforced the statement from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that the league expects full stadiums for the upcoming season.

“It’s certainly my hope. I’m talking – as I said in the opening comments – to the state. In fact, I had a call with the state between the end of the League meeting and this press conference again today to keep dialogue going.”

After noting the vaccination rates and efforts to increase vaccinations at Ford Field and other venues, Wood offered this hopeful note,

“I think if we can continue on this trend, there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to have large gatherings of fans this fall, whether it’s a full stadium or not. I certainly hope it’s going to be way more than 750 friends and family, that’s for sure.”

COVID-19 protocols in the state of Michigan kept all fans out of Ford Field for the 2020 season. A small number of friends and family were allowed to attend the late-season home dates.