Upcoming games
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Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Ford Field fills early.
Getting there
Ford Field sits in downtown Detroit directly across Adams Street from Comerica Park, sharing the same downtown sports block. The QLine streetcar stops a short walk west on Woodward at Grand Circus Park, and the Detroit People Mover's Grand Circus Park station is a block from the main gate. Driving in uses I-75 and I-375 with team-affiliated and adjacent garages ringing Ford Field and Comerica; reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats game-day pricing on Sundays. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed along Brush and Adams. The Lions publish a transportation guide on their official site each season — check before traveling.
The neighborhood
Ford Field shares a downtown block with Comerica Park to the north across Adams, putting the Lions and Tigers stadiums within a one-minute walk. Little Caesars Arena anchors The District Detroit a few blocks north on Woodward, and the Fox Theatre, Fillmore, and Hockeytown Cafe sit between the two — together they form one of the densest downtown stadium clusters in American pro sports. Greektown's Monroe Street restaurant strip is a short walk southeast, and the Detroit Riverfront with the Renaissance Center and the river-walk promenade is roughly a 15-minute walk south. Eastern Market is about a mile east and pairs naturally with a Sunday morning pre-game stop on game days when the market is open.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Walkable pre-game stops include Hockeytown Cafe (the longtime Ilitch sports bar a short walk north on Woodward), Cheli's Chili Bar (a block from Comerica), and Nemo's Bar (the Corktown institution that runs game-day shuttles to and from downtown). Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island — the side-by-side downtown Coney dog rivals — are the canonical Detroit pre-game ritual a short walk southwest. Pegasus Taverna in Greektown serves the saganaki-and-gyros sit-down option a short walk southeast. Slows Bar BQ in Corktown is the destination barbecue stop a short ride west. Pre-game crowds at the closest bars build quickly within two hours of kickoff.
First-timer tips
Arrive earlier than you'd think — Sunday traffic into downtown plus security screening can stack up, particularly for nationally televised or divisional games. Ford Field is a fixed-roof indoor stadium, so weather is a non-factor — but the building can get loud, particularly when the Lions are leading late. The west sideline incorporates the brick facade of the historic Hudson's warehouse, an unusual architectural feature that distinguishes Ford Field from most modern domes. The Lions publish current bag policy (NFL standardized clear-bag rules apply), parking, and gate-open times on their official site and these change season to season — check before traveling. Mobile-only tickets and cash-free concessions are the norm.
Best games to catch
Lions–Packers and Lions–Bears are the NFC North heritage rivalries that define the Lions' home calendar — Packers in particular has been the most-contested Detroit home date for decades. Lions–Vikings rounds out the divisional triangle. The traditional Thanksgiving Day home game at Ford Field has been a Lions fixture since 1934 (and at Ford Field specifically since 2002) and is consistently the hardest home ticket of the season. National-TV Sunday Night and Monday Night home games consistently price above season average. NFL schedules drop in May each year, so check the current season for primetime and Thanksgiving dates before locking in travel.
What to know
Ford Field opened in August 2002 as the new home of the Detroit Lions, ending the team's nearly 30-year tenure at the Pontiac Silverdome in the suburbs and returning pro football to downtown Detroit. The west sideline incorporates the preserved brick facade of the former J.L. Hudson's warehouse — an unusual architectural decision that gives the building an industrial-Detroit identity rather than the generic dome look. The stadium has hosted Super Bowl XL (February 2006), multiple NCAA basketball tournament games including a Final Four (2009), and the NCAA Frozen Four. The seating bowl is asymmetric — pushed toward the east sideline — giving most lower-bowl fans a closer field-level view than a typical NFL dome. The Lions' Thanksgiving Day home game tradition, dating to 1934, has been hosted at Ford Field since the building opened.
Frequently asked questions
What time do gates open at Ford Field?
Gates typically open about 2 hours before kickoff on standard Sundays, sometimes earlier for primetime or marquee games. Check the Lions' official gates and entry page for the specific game's door time.
How do I get to Ford Field without a car?
The QLine streetcar stops a short walk west on Woodward at Grand Circus Park, and the Detroit People Mover's Grand Circus Park station is a block from the main gate. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed along Brush and Adams.
Where can I park near Ford Field?
Team-affiliated and adjacent downtown garages ring Ford Field and Comerica Park, with surface lots scattered farther east. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats game-day pricing. Confirm current rates and availability before driving in.
Is Ford Field indoors?
Yes — Ford Field is a fixed-roof indoor stadium with no retractable element. Weather is a non-factor for fans inside, though tailgating in surrounding lots and garages still happens in all conditions.
Do the Lions still play on Thanksgiving at Ford Field?
Yes — the Lions' Thanksgiving Day home game tradition dates to 1934 and has been hosted at Ford Field since the building opened in 2002. It is consistently the hardest single home ticket of the season.
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