Hundreds of Detroit Lions fans crowded into London’s Canada Life Place on Sunday as part of a watch party event organized by the team.
The amassed crowd, decked out in their best Lions garb, watched on as Detroit established a franchise record for wins, beating the Chicago Bears 34-17.
The team was playing hundreds of kilometres away at Chicago’s Soldier Field, but they may as well have been playing in downtown London, judging by the level of enthusiasm on display.
More than two hours before kickoff, Lions fans could be already seen queued up in the bitter cold waiting to get their hands on a custom Detroit Lions toque, a free giveaway for early arrivals.
A nearby tailgate party on Dundas Place helped keep spirits up despite the weather. A DJ blasted music, while members of the Detroit Lions cheerleading team performed a quick routine with Honolulu Boom, the Lions’ drumline.
“The turnout’s fantastic,” said Tim Small, who was among those waiting in line.
“We actually have season tickets in Detroit … it’s amazing to see the turnout and the number of people who are Lions fans.”
Detroit remains top ranked in the NFC standings, and their luck this season has fans of all ages exuberant about the possibility of the Lions landing their first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
Despite several player injuries, local fans remain positive about the team’s prospects.
“They got a lot of injuries, but number one seed would give ’em some time to rest, and all you can do is hope,” said Greg Munro, who attended the game with his wife, Luna, and their two children.
“[They] just to seem to be all for each other. No selfish players. Everyone just wants to get to the Super Bowl and win it for Coach Dan and the city, I think.”
Some of those in attendance have stuck with the team through the good times and the bad.
“I’ve been a fan since the seventies,” said Brad Erskine.
“It is exciting. Super, super exciting. We finally have a team that can probably go all the way. Defence is a little beat up, but the grit’s going to pull ’em through.”
Sunday’s match-up against the Bears likely solidified that excitement.
Jared Goff passed for 336 yards and three touchdowns, while Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 109 yards and a score to boost them to a victory against Chicago, who has now lost nine games in a row.
Lions receiver Jameson Williams had five catches for 143 yards and a score, with Detroit taking the first 20 points of the game.Â
The London tailgate was the second of two Canadian fan events organized by the Lions through the NFL’s Global Markets Program, with the first hosted in Windsor on Dec. 15.
Both are akin to the festive outdoor experience typically seen at a home game at Ford Field.
The Lions have a vibrant following in Windsor already, and Sunday’s event gives the team the opportunity to tap into the fan base that exists elsewhere across southern Ontario.
“We know that there’s a really loyal fan base that exists already, so we hope we can just continue to broaden that now,” said Samantha Barney, the team’s senior director of marketing.
“It’s pretty cold, but we’re so, so happy to see all the fans come out today and it’s what brings everybody together.”
