Dec 22, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of Ford Field before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

When the Big Ten Conference created the Big Ten Football Championship Game following the addition of Nebraska, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was awarded the right to host the first five games. Where the game is played beyond 2015 is to be determined but Detroit is a possibility.

One athletic director to specifically express support for Ford Field as a future host of the Big Ten football championship game was Ohio State’s Gene Smith. In fact, he’s a big fan of what is going on with Ford Field and the surrounding area. Via the Detroit News:

“I love Ford Field,” he said. “I love what Detroit has done with Ford Field and what they’re continuing to do with the area contiguous to that facility.”

Michigan State’s Dan Hollis also voiced support for Detroit as a future host city, along with New York and Chicago which would bring the game outdoors. While Hollis and others are open to an outdoor championship game, Smith and Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez prefer the game stay indoors. Smith’s reasoning is that an indoor facility provides “the total package” for all involved.

Should the conference decide to keep the game indoors, stadium choices within the Big Ten’s current footprint would be limited to Lucas Oil Stadium, Ford Field and the new Vikings stadium in Minneapolis.

Sep 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of fans outside Ford Field before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

When national tragedies strike, it is natural to think of family and friends. But as the events in Boston unfolded yesterday my mind also thought about all the times I stood in a security line at Ford Field waiting to get in to that day’s Detroit Lions game.

All NFL stadiums increased their security protocols in the wake of 9/11 but more than a decade has passed since that terrible day. I fear that the realization of the necessity, or at least the prudence, of passing through security prior to entering the stadium has faded out of the minds of the average fan. I can’t count the number of times I have witnessed impatient fans worried about missing kickoff (as if getting to the stadium earlier wasn’t an option) or some joker who thinks it is funny to suggest security personnel check some place where the sun doesn’t shine.

I wish there was no argument to be made for the security lines fans have to go through on game day. But there is and yesterday drives that point home. Sports and the stadium experience are supposed to be an escape from everyday life but that isn’t what happened at the Boston Marathon as the horrors of life were all too real.

Stadium security isn’t a joke and to be honest, it isn’t much of an inconvenience. The Lions did a fabulous job of encouraging fans to arrive early to avoid the last-minute rush through security. They provided special giveaways, entertainment, beer specials and free hot dogs for fans that got into the stadium by noon. For that the Lions haven’t received enough credit.

If missing the opening kickoff or spending a few extra minutes out in the cold is the biggest thing that went wrong, you’re doing all right.

Oct 10, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view of Ford Filed before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Changes in the field’s appearance on the 2013 seating chart caught my eye and since there is nothing about the sections or ticket prices that change for the upcoming season, there was no reason for the image to change at all. But it had, why?

Well, I’m still not sure on the why but the reason is apparently not because the field will actually contain blue painted end zones. Or at least that is what Tom Lewand has said as recently as last week.

My original post got picked up by Doug Karsch and Scott Anderson on the midday show on 97.1 The Ticket and some listeners claiming to work in the offices at Ford Field said the end zones had already been painted blue. At least that part turns out to not be true.

The Detroit Free Press posted a video yesterday which helps to explain the technology improvements that will give fans the ability to connect to an in-stadium WiFi network to watch replays on their personal devices. That video clearly shows that the end zones are not blue, although no paint has been applied to the field whatsoever. Take a look:

The end zones are not blue and Lewand says they have no plans to make them blue. Topic over? Maybe, maybe not. It seems like it should be a dead issue at this point but I still can’t find a reason why a graphic on the team’s page that has no other reason for changing would look any different than it did in the past. If the sections are the same and the prices are the same and the field is going to be painted the same, why does the seating chart image not look the same? Until that question is answered my brain won’t let me close the issue in my mind.

The Lions are hosting an exclusive season ticket holder event on April 9 in which one of the items on the evening’s agenda is “a unique opportunity to top off the new FieldTurf” according to the invitation sent to season ticket holders. I have no idea what it means to “top off” new turf (stand on it?) but perhaps the Lions are waiting for this event to show off a more exciting field paint scheme rather than confirming it ahead of time because some observant blogger (me) made a big deal about it.