Ken Haddad's Blog

It's October. The MLB Playoffs are in full swing. The Pistons and Red Wings are getting their seasons started. But what fills the headlines? The Detroit Lions, the Michigan Wolverines, the Spartans. More than anything...it's football season. Detroit is often regarded as "Hockeytown". But it seems to me, unless its playoff time, Detroit is more obsessed with football than hockey. Lets think for a minute. Every Saturday during football season, we gather around our televisions and watch our college football. Every Sunday, we gather around our televisions and watch our beloved Lions, no matter how bad they are. And during the weekdays, all we talk about is the next weekend of football games! Fantasy football teams, who's starting, who's sitting. The only times Detroit's other sports are in the main limelight is when its playoff time. Football in Detroit is a playoff atmosphere every week, and hey, if the Lions make the playoffs, or the Wolverines go to a bowl game, its just an added bonus.

Stats:
Lions 2008 Attendance:
Even though there were a few games blacked out, the Lions still managed to pull on average about 55,000 per game, in a building that holds 65,000. The team went 0-16. (Averaged 61,000 in 2007)

Red Wings 2008 Attendance: Avg- 18,870 per game, Joe Louis holds 20,000. The Team won the Championship.

Detroit Lions estimated value- $917 Mil, estimated 2008 revenue- $204 Mil
Detroit Red Wings value- $ 303 Mil, "" --$110 Mil

Some people say, oh well its the economy. Then why did the Lions draw 55,000 per game, with the average ticket price being $78.00, and the team being the worst team the NFL has EVER seen? And the Red Wings average ticket price being $57.00. Can't sell out a hockey game, in Hockeytown? Because its not.
We can fill stadiums that hold 100,000 people to watch a football game every Saturday, but we can't fill an arena that holds 20,000 to watch a hockey game? What kind of hockeytown are we living in exactly? One that has been downed by hard times, and job loss? Or one that is turning to football, and has turned to football as a more entertaing way to spend money and time? I think so. The Pistons, Tigers and Red Wings all get their time to shine, if they make the playoffs. But as far as pure passion about the whole sport, and a whole season, football wins.

Ladies and gentleman. Welcome to FootballTown.