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When the Detroit Lions wrapped up their 0-16 season in 2008, interest in the team was about as low as I can ever remember. Blackouts became commonplace with sellouts becoming a rarity at Ford Field. Fans were used to supporting a losing product, but it got to the point where a lot of people just couldn't take it anymore.
In 2009 and 2010, the Lions built their team back up in a way that got fans excited about the franchise again. By 2011, when the Lions broke through to go 10-6 and make the playoffs, fan support was as high as it had been in quite some time. (See the memorable Monday night game against the Chicago Bears for proof of that.) Sellouts were once again the norm, and that remained the case in 2012.
Despite the Lions going 4-12 last year, it doesn't look like fan support has weakened at all going into the 2013 season. Actually, it seems like fans may be even more excited than usual for the upcoming season, as evidenced by the fact that four home games are already sold out. As reported by the Free Press, the Lions have already essentially sold out their home games against the Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens. (There's still a "limited number" of single tickets and club seats available, but for all intents and purposes, those games are sold out.)
Single-game tickets went on sale on Wednesday, and it turns out that the Lions had their strongest opening day since Ford Field opened back in 2002. That's pretty remarkable considering the Lions went 4-12 last year, but I suppose that just speaks to the excitement and optimism surrounding the team as the 2013 season nears.
Tickets, by the way, are still available for the Lions' home games against the New York Jets (preseason), New England Patriots (preseason), Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants.
More from Pride Of Detroit:
- Lions training camp: Notes from Thursday's practice
- Lions happy with current group of offensive tackles
- Lions training camp injury update: Ron Bartell returns to practice
- Lions training camp: Recap of Thursday's OL vs. DL drill
- Lions training camp: Havard Rugland, David Akers not perfect on Thursday