Ford Field May Host Hotel, Entertainment Uses

DETROIT-The Lions football team is negotiating with developers to build a hotel, entertainment uses or offices in the Ford Field stadium now under construction Downtown. The new $500-million, 1.3-million-sf Ford Field is currently under construction next to the Detroit Tigers’ new ballpark, Comerica Park, along Woodward Avenue.

The Lions have said they will open their first game of the season at Ford Field. Ford Field is also set to host Super Bowl XL in 2006.

Lisa Belayim of the Lions marketing department says the plans are preliminary, and Lions executives have not made a decision what to put in the back of the warehouse area.

The stadium was built along walls of former Downtown buildings, including the demolished Hudson’s headquarters. The proposals include a 250-room hotel, Belayim tells GlobeSt.com.

“There’s a lot of space available, and a hotel is just one of the proposals. There’s nothing very concrete yet,” she says.

Belayim says Lions executives are working with many entities about what can go in the space, including entertainment facilities.

Belayim was not specific about how much square footage is available. She did confirm that the stadium will feature 100,000-sf of office space and 100,000-sf of retail and concession space.

The team was supposed to stay at the Silverdome, in Pontiac, until 2006. However, the Lions are paying the city of Pontiac more than $27 million. Because it wanted to open the season at its new stadium.

Currently, the Pontiac Stadium Building Authority is requesting proposals for redevelopment of the Silverdome site, on roughly 127 acres. All plans for reuse of the building will be considered, Silverdome officials say. Technology parks and other entertainment uses have been proposed for the property.