The Detroit Lions will welcome their fans back to their den for the upcoming NFL season.
The NFL team announced Monday morning that it will welcome back a full house of fans to Ford Field for the 2021 season.
The Lions were unable to play in front of fans last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but team president and CEO Rod Wood said this moment was a long time coming.
"We have long awaited the moment where we can officially declare we will have 65,000 fans at Ford Field this fall," said Wood in a media release. "We've worked diligently with the NFL, as well looked to federal, state and local guidelines to monitor what's best for our team, staff and fans. We're thrilled to be at this point and to welcome One Pride back into the stadium. I can't say it enough. It hasn't been the same without them."
The Lions will bring back all Gameday events in and around Ford Field during home regular-season games, and the team will put single-game tickets on sale on July 28, 2021.
All 32 NFL teams are cleared to entertain full houses this coming season. The Lions join their neighbours and Major League Baseball counterparts, the Detroit Tigers, in opening their stadiums fully to spectators. Comerica Park seats just over 41,000 people.
Fans will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination status at Ford Field, and the club will no longer require fans to wear face coverings. Masks and face shields are still encouraged for people who have not been fully vaccinated. The Lions reserve the right to restrict fans' access to the stadium at any time should COVID-19 cases go back up.
Canadian fans of the Lions may have to wait to see their team play in person, though. The border remains mostly closed to non-essential travel, but a few restrictions have been relaxed for those who are fully vaccinated and those with proof of negative COVID-19 tests.
The state of Michigan lifted capacity limits at indoor and outdoor gatherings on July 1, 2021.
The NHL's Detroit Red Wings have not specified any plans for seating at Little Caesars Arena this coming season. However, a representative from the NBA's Detroit Pistons told Blackburn News that the team is selling season ticket packages with an expectation to play for a full arena, though plans have not been finalized.