DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – In the realm of professional football, the Detroit Lions have long been considered underdogs, never having graced the Super Bowl stage. However, as a new era dawns, optimism is spreading among Lions fans who dare to dream of a triumphant journey to Super Bowl LVIII.

When is the Super Bowl?

The upcoming Super Bowl, scheduled for February 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada, features eight teams vying for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. Surprisingly, the Detroit Lions find themselves among the contenders, positioned as the NFC North Division No. 3 team with a commendable record of 12-5 in the regular season.

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Facing off in the divisional round at Ford Field this Sunday, the Lions will go head-to-head with the NFC South No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fresh from their wildcard victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. The highly anticipated game is set to air on NBC at 3 p.m. E.S.T.

For Detroit Lions fans, the Super Bowl has been a distant dream, with over 20,000 days passing since the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967. Despite decades of disappointment, the enthusiasm and optimism among Lions faithful remain unwavering, fueled by a newfound winning streak during the 2023 football season.

The coach is loving the excitement of the fans and their support.

Head Coach Dan Campbell, in his second year with the Lions, has been expressing his appreciation for the fans’ unwavering support. Reflecting on the electric atmosphere at Ford Field during the wild-card playoff victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Campbell noted it as the best he’s ever experienced, emphasizing that this is just the beginning of what the team aims to achieve.

One family that has stood by the Lions through thick and thin is the Hicks family, loyal season ticket holders for over two decades. Witnessing 132 wins and enduring 221 losses during this period, the Hicks family has remained dedicated to their team and has enjoyed finally seeing the Lions be victorious.

The family has four season tickets that they have used over the years. In the last five years, their designated seats have been in section 119, row seven, seats one through four, located at the end zone on the visitors’ side. These seats represent a significant upgrade from their previous location on the opposite side of the stadium and before that in the nosebleed section.

A family affair.

Over the course of the past 22 years, various individuals have had the privilege of using the Hicks’ season tickets. Initially, Jimmy Hicks, accompanied by his two children and his ex-wife, used the tickets.

This arrangement evolved with Jimmy attending games with his two kids and one of their friends. In the last decade, the primary attendees have been brothers Jimmy and David Hicks, accompanied by Jimmy’s wife, Angela, and David’s wife, Carli – or various combinations involving spouses, family members, and friends.

Successful brothers keep busy in between games.

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When they’re not hanging out in Detroit with their family and friends and the Lions, the Hicks brothers are very successful in their respective careers.

54-year-old Jimmy, who lives in Toledo, Ohio, is a nuclear medicine sales representative to major hospitals and imaging centers around the country.

41-year-old David, who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an entrepreneur with his hand in many businesses including selling computer software. He also owns three clothing stores with his wife called Good Neighbor in Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis; he’s a licensed realtor in Michigan; and the couple also has some Airbnb rentals in Indianapolis.

But outside of work, their free time is focused on the Lions during the football season. With the recent wins that their team was able to produce, the 2023 Lions season marked a turning point for the Hicks family. The victories brought a new chapter of enjoyment and fun to their game-day traditions. Beyond being passionate fans in the stadium, they are dedicated tailgaters, turning every game day into a festive occasion with delicious menus and camaraderie.

Organizing a tailgate party requires thorough preparation over the course of several days. Tasks include menu planning, shopping for food, rental of tables and chairs when needed, and the thoughtful selection of appropriate game-day attire.

What’s on the menu?

 When a Lions game starts at 1:00 p.m., tailgating with the Hicks starts about 8 a.m. Breakfast is on the grill with Jimmy cooking toast, eggs, bacon and sausage. Around 10:30 a.m., that transitions into a second batch of food which includes things like wings and burgers. They close up shop and tear down everything about noon and head to the stadium about 12:20 p.m.

Who gets to indulge in Jimmy’s feast? According to Jimmy, the tailgating spot remains consistent, drawing the same tight-knit group of individuals with whom they’ve formed lasting bonds over the years.

Jimmy emphasizes, “We really do look out for each other.” Whether someone needs mustard, cups, or anything else, there’s a shared sense of assistance and fellowship. They collectively cheer, capture moments with selfies, and extend their hospitality beyond those attending the game in the stadium. Even those without tickets join in on tailgating festivities, setting up TVs to watch the game together.

Feeding others including the homeless.

 Jimmy typically has an over-abundance of food, enough to satisfy an army. The family not only shares their food with parking lot attendants, they also extend their generosity to homeless individuals in need of a meal.

Jimmy and David (and their sister Angela) clearly inherited their parents’ traits. Their mother, Doris, an eternal optimist, instilled in them a charitable heart. And their late father, James, enjoyed entertaining a crowd and possessed the ability to get along with everyone. It’s from him that Jimmy and David developed their passionate support for the Lions.

A father’s influence to become a Detroit Lions fan.

Jimmy said he remembers when his dad bought him a Billy Sims folder when he was in fifth grade and he’s been a fan ever since. David said that being a Lions fan was a given because of his dad. He said, “Totally raised that way. I mean, you just believe in the Detroit teams, you know, from birth.”

How does it feel to be able to enjoy a winning season?

Asked what this season means to them after suffering through so many losing ones, Jimmy said, “It feels extremely fulfilling. I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of the city. I just feel really excited that they were able to change the losing mentality that they’ve had for the last 20 years and I think they’ve developed a winning mentality.”

Jimmy is very honored to be a Lions fan and says, “I think the Detroit Lions entertain and also represent the city of Detroit, a blue collar, hardworking family approach – and just represent true grit, what true grit stands for.”

Hanging out with his brother is one of the best parts of going to the game for David Hicks.

David is also very happy about the turnaround with the Detroit Lions franchise. When asked what his favorite part of going to the games is, David said, “I mean, now it’s winning. But before that it was just kind of being given the opportunity to hang out with my brother. He’s 13 years older than me. And so we are both in sales but we have completely different lives. And just live in different cities. So it’s a great opportunity to hang out with him. And then we have a good friend base that we tailgate with and it was really just about having a good experience on a Sunday. And a little tradition that happens five or six times a year.”

Holding on to their tickets.

Despite the Hicks’ playoff tickets commanding astronomical prices, the brothers have no intention of selling them, holding onto the hope that they’ll witness their beloved Lions clinch victory in the postseason. Their journey, from contemplating giving up season tickets to the current optimism, mirrors the transformative impact of Head Coach Dan Campbell’s leadership.

Campbell’s arrival and the behind-the-scenes look provided by the HBO documentary “Hard Knocks” in 2022 played a crucial role in rekindling the Hicks brothers’ faith in the team. The results of Campbell’s coaching have turned the Lions into favorites for their upcoming playoff game, a testament to the positive changes witnessed by long-standing fans.

Plans to head to Vegas for the Super Bowl.

As the Detroit Lions aim for Super Bowl glory, the Hicks brothers aren’t far behind. They have already secured hotel and flight reservations and have reserved rental cars. Time off for the Super Bowl weekend has been on the agenda since last year for these optimistic brothers.

The Hicks think the chances are pretty good that the Lions make it to the Super Bowl. Jimmy says, “So if they go, we’re going.”

They won’t be the only Lions fans headed out west. Lions fans in Detroit, Michigan and all across the nation are hoping that this season’s success will mark the end of decades of disappointment and the beginning of a new era of triumph for the underdog team from the Motor City.