Inside the Article:
The Detroit Lions will still be holding open practices this upcoming season, but one notable event that has been scrapped is the annual Family Fest at Ford Field thanks to a scheduling conflict with the upcoming WWE SummerSlam event. The news was first reported on Twitter by MLive‘s Kory E. Woods.
The Detroit Lions hosted over 18K fans last year for the event
Last year, the Family Fest event drew an impressive crowd of over 18,000 fans at Ford Field, marking the highest attendance since its inception in the 2015 season. However, due to a scheduling conflict with the upcoming WWE SummerSlam event, Family Fest had to be scrapped. This year, WWE is bringing SummerSlam to Detroit, and it is set to kick off on August 5 at Ford Field. As Family Fest traditionally began around August 6, the scheduling clash made it impossible to proceed with the event.
Nevertheless, for fans who were planning to attend Family Fest, there is still a silver lining. The Detroit Lions will be hosting an open practice at their team facility in Allen Park. The gates will open at 9:30 AM, and the practice will commence at 10:30 AM, providing an opportunity for fans to witness the team in action.
WWE SummerSlam to blame?
For the first time in 30 years, WWE is bringing SummerSlam to Detroit, and it is scheduled to begin on August 5 at Ford Field. This is almost certainly the reason why Family Fest is now off the table, considering that it started last year on August 6. The good news is that for fans who were planning on making the trip downtown, an open practice at the team facility at Allen Park is still going to be held.
Gates are scheduled to open at 9:30 AM with the practice set for 10:30 AM.
There are still several practices scheduled for fans to attend
Via MLive, in addition to the alternative practice at Allen Park, there are several other practices scheduled for fans to attend. These practices include exclusive sessions for Lions Loyal Members, as well as open practices for registered fans. The complete schedule, as reported by MLive, is as follows:
- July 29: Practice is exclusive to Lions Loyal Members. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., practice begins at 8:30 a.m.
- July 30: Practice is open to registered fans. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., practice begins at 8:30 a.m.
- July 31: Practice is open to registered fans. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., practice begins at 8:30 a.m.
- August 2: Practice is exclusive to early renewal Lions Loyal Members. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., practice begins at 8:30 a.m.
- August 3: Practice is open to registered fans. Gates open at 7:30 a.m., practice begins at 8:30 a.m.
- August 5: Practice is open to registered fans. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at 10:30 a.m.
- August 8: Joint practice with the New York Giants. Practice is exclusive to early renewal Lions Loyal Members. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at 10:30 a.m.
- August 9: Joint practice with the New York Giants. Practice is open to registered fans. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at 10:30 a.m.
- August 16: Joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Practice is exclusive to early renewal Lions Loyal Members. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at 10:30 a.m.
- August 17: Joint practice with the New York Giants. Practice is open to registered fans. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at 10:30 a.m.
Key Points
- The Detroit Lions have been hosting Family Fest at Ford Field since 2015
- Last season's event hosted over 18,000 fans, the highest attendance for the event
- WWE is bringing SummerSlam this August, causing a scheduling conflict
- There will be no Family Fest at Ford Field, but an open practice will be held at Allen Park
Bottom Line: There's still a chance for family fun
While the absence of Family Fest may be disappointing, it's important to remember that the opportunity to enjoy a family outing and witness the Lions' practice sessions is still available. The change in location to Allen Park offers a new experience for fans to engage with the team and make lasting memories.
