Detroit Lions acknowledging Windsor fans

Windsor raised the Detroit Lions’ flag at city hall last January during their most successful playoff run. Last April, the city celebrated the NFL Draft. The relationship with Detroit and the NFL continues as the Lions get set to salute their Canadian fans with a day of fun.

"We're the Canadian capital of the Lions," said Coun. Renaldo Agostino after it was announced the Lions are bringing their drone show over the border Friday night. "The lions reached out to us just before the holidays and were interested in giving back to the football fans here in Windsor and their fans and they understand that Windsor is Lions country."

The Lions-themed drone show will start at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 and feature about 400 drones in the sky over the festival plaza and Detroit River.

"It's a very professional company that's putting this on there," said Harbour Master Peter Berry, who worked hard to help facilitate the show. "They're aware of the regulations and have been absolutely amazing to work with. It looks like it's to be quite incredible what I've seen so far and quite excited to be part of it."

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island has a map on their website with the best viewing spots.

"The Festival Plaza is going to be closed so a little bit further back is better because you'll be able to get a good view of it,” Berry said.

The day will start with a flag raising at Charles Clark Square at 10:30 a.m. The Lions ‘We Want More' tour bus will be at Caesars Windsor from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., offering photo ops with tailgate games and giveaways.

Agostino said Ouellette Avenue will be closed at 6 p.m. from Tuscarora to Riverside Drive with free hot chocolate at various stations along the street, "Anywhere down on Ouellette Avenue will be a fantastic spot, if not the best spot to watch the show."

Online videos show Detroit Lions fans capturing the drone show on their phones near Ford Field during a show last year. There will be many vantage points to do the same in the downtown core.

"It's nice when you get a boost from the Lions being so successful," said Kyle Reid, manager at Lefty's on the O. "That's fabulous. I mean, everybody around here is a Lions fan so when they're successful, we're all successful. We're getting another four weeks of football here. This is dynamite."

Windsor has Lions fever and fans, including Windsor Lancers head coach J-P Circelli, have felt the momentum build heading into the playoffs especially after Sunday night's win over the Minnesota Vikings.

"This is the best chance they have of making that Super Bowl run in a very long time and I think that's captured the imagination of everyone in Detroit and surrounding areas so it's an exciting time for sure," Circelli said. "It's a sense of pride not just for the people of Detroit, but obviously people in the Windsor-Essex area because that's a team that everyone's loved and endured for a long time and now it's really paying off."