The Lions may convert some of Ford Field's 132 suites into a "club or other gathering space under a plan to refresh" the $500M stadium that opened in '02, according to Bill Shea of CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS. New Lions President Rod Wood said that the team "has asked the Detroit office of M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates Inc. to re-examine, prioritize and update costs for a Ford Field improvements master plan created last year." Wood said that the "Ford Field 2.0" plan former team President Tom Lewand "hinted at in recent years is something he'll take a serious look at later this year." Wood added that any changes "likely would begin" in '17. He said that the Lions "will take a hard look at reducing the number of suites in favor of larger, open club spaces, access to which would range in price." Shea notes the Lions "already have converted some Ford Field spaces into clubs, such as the MGM Grand Detroit Tunnel Club that is a bar through which players enter and exit their locker room." Wood said that the team "will seek to create the right mix of suites, club seats and premium gathering spaces." Examples include 4-6 seat loge boxes (something the new Red Wings arena will include), and living room spaces that "have cushioned club or premium seats facing TVs." Gensler "has a prior relationship" with the Lions, as it co-designed the team's $35.5M, 115,000-square-foot HQ and training facility in Allen Park that opened in '02 (CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS, 2/8 issue).
SHE'S GOT A WAY: Shea wrote perhaps Wood’s "most critical business move came Feb. 1 when he promoted" the team’s longtime VP/Events Kelly Kozole to Senior VP/Business Development. She "fills the opening made" when Wood fired Senior VP/Marketing & Partnerships Elizabeth Parkinson. Wood said that he "wanted to combine all sales and marketing efforts under one person." Previously, several of the business units now under Kozole "were split." She functionally replaces Parkinson, but "retains oversight of non-football events at Ford Field, an area of revenue growth for the team." Wood added that Kozole "will be building out her organizational structure, and searches are underway for more senior hires in marketing and sales." He said that the more revenue the Lions "can generate locally, the more money they spend on enhancements to the stadium and practice facility, and on coaches and staff" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 2/7).
