With the calendar flipped to September, temperatures dropped into the 60s on Sunday and Honolulu Blue flooded the streets of downtown Detroit.
It's Lions season again.
The Lions were taking on the Los Angeles Rams , led by former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, on Sunday in the regular season opener, a home game at Ford Field. It was a rematch for a NFC wild-card playoff game from January, where Lions quarterback Jared Goff led the franchise to its first playoff win in 32 years, capping off a historic season under head coach Dan Campbell.
At tailgates across Detroit Sunday, it was clear fans are expecting another big year, only this one ending with a long elusive trip to the Super Bowl. By the time the gates at Ford Field were beginning to open, it felt like the streets of downtown had been overrun by a river of Lions fans. Tailgates melted into each other. Fans shouted from the streets up to fans standing on parking decks. It was one big Lions-themed party.
It was an all-day thing. Hours before the 8:20 p.m. kickoff, Lions fans had begun some serious tailgating.
Noah Serapiglia, 18, of Toronto, who was finishing his breakfast at a tailgate on Mechanic Street around noon, said he shows up to every home game "for the love of the Lions."
He and his father, Steve, have been crossing the U.S.-Canadian border to see the Lions play for years. Steve has been doing is since 1995, he said.
"Every game," Steve Serapiglia said. "Rain or shine, even snow."
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Fans also packed into Eastern Market, a traditional tailgating site, where smoke from barbeque grills wafted through the air and music boomed. Revelers sported blue-and-white Lions gear, waved Lions flags and tailgated from Lions-themed RVs and vans.
A more than decade-old tradition returned to the market with the Detroit tailgate divas, a custom tailgate run by sisters Jacquelyn and Shaniya Jarrett of Southfield. The Lions' renewed popularity makes this tailgate season even better, Jacquelyn Jarrett said.
"The Detroit Lions are letting everybody see them shine and I love the shine of the Detroit Lions now, it's bringing people that never thought about coming to a game, coming to a tailgate, out because we're winning," Jacquelyn Jarrett said.
Jackie Bevins, 35, of Fenton, came out for her first home opener in years, ready for a great season.
"Obviously planning on winning, let's go Goff," Bevins said.
Team loyalty is key for Lions fans, a lesson Bevins learned from her father growing up, she said.
"It's just a team that you can support no matter what," Bevins said.
Shoron Graham, 55, of Farmington Hills, was selling custom-made T-shirts with Lions designs and displayed a custom-made Lions banner at Eastern Market, made through his advertising and marketing company It Shos.
"It brings energy, it brings energy to the fans," Graham said about his designs.
Graham has been designing Lions-themed products for 12 years and is confident the team is in for a strong season, he said.
"I think we catch the vibes and the passion that they have for the game, it's contagious and will catch on," Graham said. "My expectation is strength, looking forward and not giving up."
Shelby Township's Jeff Bianchi, 63, arrived in Detroit at 10 a.m., some 10 hours before kickoff.
"The parking lot wasn't even open," he said. "That's right on time."
Hours before game time, the attitude among Bianchi and other Lions fans was one of hope and high expectations — and it has been years in the making.
"This is the best team, the biggest hope we've ever had going into a season," Bianchi said, who has been watching the Lions for nearly 60 years. "I believe the curse is lifted."
Jacquelyn Jarrett shared this view, looking for the team to build off last season's momentum.
"I am hoping that we are winning this opening today along with all the other games," Jacquelyn Jarrett said. "I have good hopes for the Lions."
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The hype stayed high at Eastern Market into the evening, with fans continuing to party as game time drew near. Tailgaters danced to music, played games, shared a mix of prepared and fresh-cooked meals and bonded over their season predictions and love of the Lions.
Back downtown, Lions fans clogged Brush Street near Ford Field, making it hard to move around as game time drew nearer . A coalition of Rams supporters formed in the center of the street around a DJ booth, blasting loud music. The Rams fans danced together, much to the chagrin of passing Lions fans, as well as the DJ, who interrupted the dance party with a familiar rallying cry for Lions fans:
"Jared Goff! Jared Goff!" he shouted, before returning to play Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot."
Hours earlier, Kevin Nesbitt from Garden City, 30, walked outside Ford Field near the DJ's booth dressed like a Lion. With a mane around his head, he said, "I'm a die-hard Lions fan."
"We are making it to the Super Bowl," Nesbitt said. "I hate to say it, we might not win it this year, but we're making it."
While that's a pretty good run, some fans, like superfan Tracy Sekula, better known as Lioness Tutu , exceeded Nesbitt's guess confidently.
She's been coming to Lions games since 1969, she said. Sporting a sequined tutu, bright blue eyeshadow and cat ears, she offered her own opinion.
"Oh come on," Sekula said. "Super Bowl! If you believe, you achieve. And I believe in my squad."
Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: JPresetininzi@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions fans invade downtown Detroit in anticipation of home-opener playoff rematch
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