Editing Detroit Lions (section)

====Blackouts====
{{Main|National Football League television blackout policies}}
The Lions' winless performance in 2008 and 2–14 season in 2009, coupled with the effects of the [[Great Recession in the United States|Great Recession]] in Michigan, led to several local broadcast blackouts, as local fans did not purchase enough tickets by the 72-hour blackout deadline. The first blackout in the then seven-year history of [[Ford Field]] was on October 26, 2008, against the [[2008 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]. The previous 50 regular season home games had been sellouts.<ref>{{cite news |title=It's official: Lions' game will be blacked out |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2008/10/its_official_the_blackout_stre.html |date=October 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023213647/https://www.mlive.com/lions/2008/10/its_official_the_blackout_stre.html |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live |work=[[MLive]] |last1=Kowalski |first1=Tom |access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref> The second home game of the 2009 season in which the Lions broke the losing streak, also against the Redskins, was blacked out locally, as well as the comeback victory over the Cleveland Browns.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lions beat Redskins to snap 19-game losing streak; 'we got King Kong off our back' |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2009/09/detroit_lions_snap_19-game_los.html |date=September 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023213643/https://www.mlive.com/lions/2009/09/detroit_lions_snap_19-game_los.html |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live |work=[[MLive]] |last1=Kowalski |first1=Tom |access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lions-Browns blacked out in Detroit area |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/lions-browns-blacked-out-in-detroit-area |website=[[NBC Sports]] |date=November 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023213646/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/11/19/lions-browns-blacked-out-in-detroit-area/ |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Florio |first1=Mike |author-link=Mike Florio |access-date=August 4, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stafford guides Lions to dramatic win over Browns |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81467df2/article/stafford-guides-lions-to-dramatic-win-over-browns |website=[[National Football League]] |date=November 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023213647/https://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81467df2/article/stafford-guides-lions-to-dramatic-win-over-browns |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 17, 2020 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The Lions had only one blackout in 2010, yet another Redskins game, which the Lions won 37–25.<ref>{{cite news |title=Detroit Lions' game on Sunday will be blacked out locally |url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/10/detroit_lions_game_on_sunday_w.html |date=October 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030153023/http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2010/10/detroit_lions_game_on_sunday_w.html |archive-date=October 30, 2010 |url-status=live |work=[[MLive]] |last1=Kowalski |first1=Tom |access-date=October 29, 2010}}</ref> However, in 2015, the NFL suspended its blackout policies, meaning that all Lions games will be shown on local TV, regardless of tickets sold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grossman |first=Evan |date=March 26, 2015 |title=Why the NFL Finally Lifted Its Blackout Rules |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/why-the-nfl-finally-lifted-its-blackout-rules-20150326/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031202/https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/why-the-nfl-finally-lifted-its-blackout-rules-20150326/ |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |website=Men's Journal}}</ref>

Games were also often blacked out at the Lions' previous home, the 80,000-seat [[Pontiac Silverdome]], despite winning seasons and the success and popularity of star players such as [[Barry Sanders]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Detroit Lions at Silverdome: The glory days |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/detroit-lions-at-silverdome-the-glory-days/article_c17089f2-9aec-575c-b6eb-9122c799c9fd.html |website=[[The Oakland Press]] |date=July 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023213647/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/detroit-lions-at-silverdome-the-glory-days/article_c17089f2-9aec-575c-b6eb-9122c799c9fd.html |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Pasche |first1=Paula |access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Best moments in Pontiac Silverdome history |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/10/29/pontiac-silverdome-memories/74835284/ |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=October 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023213646/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/10/29/pontiac-silverdome-memories/74835284/ |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Schrader |first1=Steve |last2=McCollum |first2=Brian |last3=Manzullo |first3=Brian |access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref>