DETROIT – You know it’s real when the Spirit of Detroit statue gets involved.
The beloved Downtown Detroit statue -- a historic Woodward Avenue landmark located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center -- was given a Detroit Lions jersey on Monday, Jan. 8 to wear as the team prepares for its postseason appearance. The blue jersey is complete with a patch that marks the team’s 90th season, which is one of the team’s best of all time.
After finishing the regular season Sunday with their 12th win -- a 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings -- the Detroit Lions are gearing up for the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The 2023-2024 season proved to be the Lions’ first 12-win season since 1991, and captured their 10th best record in the team’s history.
Now, the club is preparing to host the home playoff game at Ford Field next week for the first time in decades, and they’ll be facing off against none-other than their former quarterback Matthew Stafford as the Lions take on the Los Angeles Rams. Talk about a wild-car round!
The Lions are heading into the postseason with their city -- and what feels like the whole country -- showing serious support and enthusiasm. And what better way to showcase that support than by outfitting the Spirit of Detroit with the renewed spirit of its Lions?
The Downtown Detroit statue doesn’t often get to accessorize in the name of sports. You probably remember when it wore the Detroit Red Wings jersey after the team won the Stanley Cup in 1997.
The statue has worn multiple sports team jerseys, t-shirts, and even a tuxedo since then, according to the Detroit Historical Society. However, in an effort to prevent any damage to the statue, it was decided the Spirit of Detroit would only get dressed if a local team wins a national championship -- and if $25,000 is “donated to the maintenance and preservation of the statue,” officials said.
The Detroit Lions have, so far, walked away from this season with a division championship, taking the No. 1 spot in the NFC North. But can they finally reach the Super Bowl?
Maybe if we all show a little spirit.
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