DETROIT (WXYZ) – The Ford family has joined Detroit Pistons Owner Tom Gores and Quicken Loans Founder Dan Gilbert in a joint bid to bring a Major League Soccer team to the city of Detroit.
On top of them joining the bid, the family has also offered up Ford Field as a home for the new team. The new focus would put Ford Field as the preferred stadium site for downtown Detroit.
“Partnering with the Ford family bolsters our powerhouse group and provides a perfect stadium solution in the heart of Detroit’s central business and sports and entertainment districts,” Detroit Pistons Vice Chair Arn Tellem said in a release. “Over the last two years, we have invested significant time, effort and resources into our bid to bring MLS to Detroit. After careful study and analysis, we concluded that the downtown location of an MLS stadium is paramount to an MLS team’s success.
The plan to use Ford Field now erases Gilbert’s plan for the soccer stadium on the site of the failed Wayne County Gratiot Jail site. Wayne County has working with Gilbert and the city of Detroit to get Gilbert the land in downtown Detroit near Greektown.
Ford Field underwent more than $100 million in renovations before the 2017-18 NFL season, which they believe will help grow soccer and benefit the community.
