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Detroit Lions fandom infectious as die-hards make the trip to California
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- Detroit Lions fandom infectious as die-hards make the trip to California
SAN JOSE, Calif. — As the Southwest Airlines plane touched down in the balmy Bay Area, Manny the flight attendant took to the intercom.
He advised everyone they could use their cellphones, but to stay seated until the plane stopped.
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"We thank you for choosing to fly Southwest Airlines. Go, Lions !" he announced.
Tim Cryderman, Matt Bigelow and Cera Bigelow erupted in cheers . The trio from Southgate already engendered the flight attendant's favor earlier, laughing with him and fist bumping every passenger wearing Honolulu Blue who passed by their seats.
Tim Cryderman, 42; Matt Bigelow, 36, and Cera Bigelow, 32, prepare to board a plane from Denver to San Jose, California, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.The trio from Southgate are excited to cheer on the Detroit Lions, who play the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.
That had prompted Manny to give them a previous shoutout: "Good evening, everybody, including our Lions fans."
But this second ode to the Motor City was a step too far for one 49ers fan aboard the flight.
"Wow .... we're in San Jose and he said, 'go Lions?' " the fan said, muttering an expletive.
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Such is the fandom of this Lions team, as observed by Free Press reporters flying Friday to Santa Clara to chronicle the die-hards making their way to Levi's Stadium to witness their Detroit Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday: They are exuberant, their hope completely infectious.
The energetic group from Southgate is ready to party. Husband and wife, Matt and Cera Bigelow, and their friend Tim Cryderman, full of smiles and excitement at the gate, were cheering on fans boarding the aircraft from Denver , including 49ers fans, to hype up for the big day.
The Bigelows spent at least $9,000 on tickets, flights and hotels for the three Lions playoff games so far.
"We were gonna get jet skis this year," Cera said, laughing. Matt said they're now "deferred jet skis."
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The crew's friendship began through their kids, who attend the same school, and they quickly bonded over the Lions.
"When we found out we're Lions fans, he (Cryderman) was like, 'I'm a season ticket holder,' and we signed up next year," Matt said.
Cryderman has been a longtime season ticket holder and tried to give his tickets away two years ago. But he could barely strike anyone's interest.
"Now, it's like the waves of people coming, saying, 'What are you doing? Can I buy them?' Like, where were you two years ago?" Cryderman said. "I gave my tickets to my buddy."
Charmaine Clay and her mother, Cherlyn Rupert, prepare to fly from Detroit to San Francisco on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. The pair said their Lions fandom is rooted in family and tradition, and they can't wait to watch their team take on the 49ers in the NFC Championship.
Native Detroiter Charmaine Clay has fond memories of watching the Lions with her father. Clay and her mother. Cherlyn Rupert, a season ticket holder, also flew from Detroit to San Francisco on Friday, enthusiastic about their trip ahead of donning Lions gear and a Detroit-themed manicure.
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But Clay especially feels grateful to watch this historic moment in memory of her father, who died shortly after the Lions played the Philadelphia Eagles in September 2022.
"My dad passed last year right after a Lions game," Clay said. "My greatest memory is laying on his chest growing up and watching the Lions games. And we would go to Red Wing games. I love it. It's a family thing," Clay said.
The two snatched third row seats for the game — at $1,000 a ticket — and plan to make a mini vacation out of their experience.
Cherlyn Rupert shows off her Detroit-themed nails before boarding a plane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The Detroit Lions season ticket holder plans to attend the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
"I was just telling my mom how grateful I am to be able to go to San Francisco and share this moment with her. My father was a huge Lions fan and my family overall are football fans. This experience feels like a dream come true," she said.
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"I've wanted to go to San Francisco since I was a child watching the show 'Full House.' This is amazing and I wish my dad was here to enjoy it."
Earlier Friday, Detroit Metro Airport was ready for Lions fans. Shops up and down the concourse offered playoff shirts and hats, while staff members wore defensive end Aidan Hutchinson jerseys and other Lions swag.
A store at Detroit Metropolitan Airport caters to Lions fans on Friday, Jan. 27, 2024. Several fans bought swag a few days before the Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
Otis Williams, 69, and his wife, Virginia, 62, wore their Lions gear as they waited to board a plane. The couple, who live in Detroit, had a long-standing trip to visit family for a birthday party in Las Vegas this weekend, but when they heard Detroit would play in San Francisco, Virginia had an idea: drive to the game.
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"We're gonna have some other family members drive with us," Virginia said, acknowledging the eight-hour trip won't exactly be a picnic.
Although Virginia is from Chicago , she's rooting for the Lions this year — especially linebacker Derrick Barnes , who nabbed the game-sealing interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.
Virginia Williams and her husband, Otis, wait to board a plane at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. The Detroit couple is flying to Las Vegas but plans to drive to California to see the Detroit Lions play the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.
It comes down to history for Otis. The long-suffering Lions fan simply loves his team, and doesn't want to miss the chance to be near them if and when they make history. They didn't yet have tickets to the game, but were hoping to find some Sunday morning. Even if they don't, just being in the area where the Lions play will be good enough.
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"They play better from an underdog standpoint. So, hopefully, that will boost them up some, give them a little bit more motivation," Otis said. The 49ers are favored to win, but "if it's meant to be, it will be."
All of the fans who spoke with the Free Press acknowledged dropping an enormous amount of cash to fly more than 2,000 miles. They cited loyalty. For years, as the Lions pledged to "Restore the Roar" in Detroit, fans envisioned a squad that could make it to the Super Bowl. Now these die-hards, soaking in the 70-degree weather and sun expected at kickoff, hope their California Dreams come true.
Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com and on X at Dave_Boucher1. Contact Dana Afana: dafana@freepress.com or 313-635-3491. Follow her on X: @DanaAfana .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions fans drop big money to travel to San Francisco game
