The Lions will hold training camp at their Allen Park practice facility this summer for the 15th straight year, and team President Rod Wood yesterday said that "there's no inclination to move it off site," according to Dave Birkett of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. However, the team is "considering enhancements to the facility that could expand the training camp experience in future seasons." The Lions "have held training camp in Allen Park since they opened" the $35M practice facility in '02. Wood also said that the Lions "won't unveil the Color Rush uniforms they're expected to wear for their Thanksgiving game" against the Vikings this year "until next month" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/15). Wood had said that the team "would reveal its new uniforms around the start of the NFL draft." But in Michigan, Kyle Meinke noted the draft "has come and gone." Meinke: "What's the hang up? The NFL, itself, apparently." Wood yesterday said, "I thought (the announcement) was going to be earlier. I think they want to do everything at the same time. So I'm honoring that request." The Lions are "going to wear color rush uniforms for the first time" in '16. Wood is "now hoping to make an announcement in July" (MLIVE.com, 6/14).
STATE OF THE UNION: Meinke reported the Lions this season will feature a new cheerleader squad for the first time. Wood said that team Owner Martha Ford "was involved in the decision." Wood: "It was something that I approached them about several months ago, after feedback from fans and end-of-the-year surveys and focus groups, and asked if they'd be interested in hearing an official proposal on the merits of it. They said, 'Yes.' So we've had a number of meetings on it and, ultimately, made a decision to go forward." As for the past wi-fi issues on game days at Ford Field, Wood said that the process "remains ongoing but that he hopes to have a solution in the coming months." He said, "We've had a lot of support from the NFL and working with Verizon, who's going to assist us on it. We've actually started laying out that process right now. We really don't know how complicated it is until we start getting into the building and drilling into the sod, but the hope is to have an effective wi-fi sometime early in the regular season" (MLIVE.com, 6/14).
