NFL Mandate: Lions and all NFL Teams Stay Home this Summer

Well that was fun while it lasted. Last week I speculated on a number of sites that the Detroit Lions might be able to use as an alternate training camp site if the State of Michigan was not reopened in time. A couple things happened in the last couple of days hat have changed that completely.

First, Gov Whitmer rescinded her orders and allowed all indoor sports facilities to reopen yesterday with the state moving into Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan. Secondly, the NFL sent an Memo to all teams today stating that they were unable to have joint practices this year and that it is requiring that all training camps be held at their team facilities instead of on the road. This normally wouldn't have been a big impact to the Lions, who last went on the road for training camp back in 2001 to Saginaw Valley State. However, between Whitmer's now rescinded order and a supposed offer from the Greenbrier, there was thought that the Lions may be on the move this year.

Now that the NFL has outlined their expectations and Michigan is mostly open again, the expected mid-July opening of Lions training camp, and all of the mini-camps between now and then, will take place in Allen Park.