DETROIT – The City of Detroit is going after parking lots taking advantage of Lions fever.
Three lots were temporarily shut down Friday, Jan. 17, and their licenses could have been suspended.
---> Update: Why company says parking spots were listed for $999 ahead of Detroit Lions game
The lots are located near the intersection of Randolph Street and Gratiot Avenue, just a few hundred feet south of Ford Field. City officials say the lots have reportedly raised their prices to nearly $1,000 a spot ahead of Saturday’s Lions playoff game.
“I don’t know anybody who thinks paying $900-1,000 to park is reasonable and if we find a lot illegally charge, we are going to use every tool in our arsenal we have to let them know this is a bad idea,” said Dave Bell, the director of the Detroit Building and Safety Engineering Department.
The city said multiple methods are being used to ensure parking for the playoffs is fair for fans.
“It’s hard to believe they think they can get away with this,” Bell said. “We’re here to let them know we are watching them.”
The Lions are coming off the best regular season in franchise history. They won a team-record 15 games and earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which came with a first-round bye through the first round.
On Saturday night, they’ll host a divisional round game for the second year in a row, this time against the No. 6 seed Commanders, who upset the No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get here.
The Lions' popularity has soared since their resurgence over the past two years, with Ford Field becoming one of the best home-field advantages in sports. But that comes with increased prices for tickets and more.
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If the Lions beat the Commanders, they’ll host the NFC Championship Game at Ford Field for the first time ever next weekend. Prices will likely be even more outrageous, regardless of whether it’s the No. 2 seed Philadelphia Eagles or Matthew Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams coming to town.
Local 4 reached out to the company managing the lots, but as of the time of publishing, have not heard back.
