The Detroit Lions have officially decided to remain at their current training facility in Allen Park after previously exploring potential relocation options. Team president and CEO Rod Wood confirmed on Tuesday that, despite considering alternatives, the organization found no location superior to their current one. Over the past two years, the Lions have heavily invested in upgrading their facility, making relocation unnecessary.
Wood highlighted several factors that contributed to the decision to stay. The current site provides convenient access to downtown Detroit, the airport, and major highways. Additionally, many players and staff have settled in the area based on the facility’s location, and moving elsewhere would cause significant disruptions. A relocation would only be considered if the new site offered substantial improvements, which Wood stated is not the case.
One challenge of remaining in Allen Park is the limited space available for expansion. The facility lacks room for a third outdoor field and cannot significantly increase fan capacity during training camp. However, recent upgrades—such as enhancements to the training and weight rooms—have modernized the facility. With a new sponsorship deal with Meijer and increased revenue from an extension of Ford Field’s naming rights, the Lions believe their current facility now offers the amenities of a newly built one, despite being in use since 2002.
Wood noted that when visitors enter the facility, it does not feel outdated, even though it has been in use for over two decades. To further improve the facility, the organization is undertaking another round of renovations, including a complete overhaul of the players’ locker room.
Earlier this year, the team received a C+ rating for its locker room in the NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA) public report cards, ranking 18th in the league. One of the key concerns was space, with only 75% of players feeling they had adequate room in their individual lockers—placing them 21st out of 32 teams.
The ongoing renovations include a completely new locker room, an expanded weight room, and brand-new weight equipment. Wood emphasized that continuous upgrades are made possible through sponsorship deals and increased revenue streams.
Lions players will return to the revamped facility later in April when organized team activities begin.