If you have watched a Detroit Lions home game, you have probably noticed that Ford Field is full of fans holding up “3” signs. The Lions’ Thursday Night Football win over the Green Bay Packers was no exception. Let’s delve into this tradition and why Detroit fans display these signs.
Examining Why Detroit Fans Hold Up ‘3’ Signs
At every Lions home game, certain sections of the stadium are designated as “3rd Down Town.” These fans are given “3” signs and are encouraged to be raucous and wave the signs whenever the opposing team has a 3rd down.
This is meant to make things harder for the away team and give the Lions an advantage. The “3” signs are to remind fans to get noisy on this specific play, as failing to convert can lead to a turnover on downs and significantly impact the game.
Here’s a look at the signs that are handed out to fans in the “3rd Down Town” sections, which feature instructions for when to cheer:
Also, according to the Lions’ official website, the team has some special promotions centered around 3rd-down stops to get fans even more excited.
Here’s what Detroit’s team site says: “You’ve entered 3rd Down Town! Each time the Lions make a stop on 3rd down, the Detroit Lions & Rocket Mortgage are donating $313 to Connect 313.
“As a fan seated in 3rd Down Town, Rocket Mortgage also wants to reward you! The first time the Lions make a stop on 3rd down, select fans seated in 3rd Down Town will receive $10 via Lions Loot! Unused Lions Loot $10 credits will be donated to Connect 313 at the end of the season.”
This season, $13,640 has been donated to Connect 313, whose mission is “to establish the means for all Detroiters to have access to appropriate devices, internet connections, technical support, and digital resources for improved learning, employment, and well-being.”
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At the end of the day, this tradition is all about encouraging fans to be as loud as possible on key plays in order to negatively affect the other team.
This is similar to how the Seattle Seahawks refer to their fans as the 12th Man. The idea is to make them feel like they are part of the team and encourage them to cheer as loud as possible. Over the years, Seattle’s fans have done just that, making so much noise that it registers on the Richter scale (which tracks earthquakes).