Lions head coach Dan Campbell spent the weekend before this week’s minicamp in Grand Rapids. His trip to the west side of Michigan piqued Campbell’s interest in the idea of holding a training camp practice or event in West Michigan.
It’s not something the Lions have done in years. The last time the Lions held a practice session outside of the team’s training facility in Allen Park or Ford Field was in 2015, when they held an evening practice at Novi High School near Detroit. And it’s not something that is imminent; nothing is scheduled beyond 2023 right now.
It’s an idea worth exploring. Campbell noted the “fresh energy” he felt from the fans in Grand Rapids. As Campbell said, finding a suitable venue with practice facilities that are to the NFL standards would come first.
To that end, two D-II college programs in the Grand Rapids area, Davenport and Grand Valley State, have modern facilities and fan-friendly stadiums to outreach to the fans in West Michigan. Social media was abuzz in the Grand Rapids area with Campbell sightings over the weekend.
As someone who routinely commutes from Holland, MI (25 miles southwest of Grand Rapids) to practices and training camp, it would be great to see the Lions show some love to the fervent fan base on the west side of the state.
