Fans of the Detroit Lions are contagious as they go to California.

San Jose, California. Manny, the flight attendant, got to the intercom as the Southwest Airlines plane landed in the warm Bay Area.

He told everyone to keep sitting until the jet halted, but to use their phones.

We appreciate you selecting to travel with Southwest Airlines. Leap, lions! he said.

Cheers broke out from Tim Cryderman, Matt Bigelow, and Cera Bigelow. The three Southgate natives had already won over the flight attendant’s affection earlier by sharing giggles with him and giving each Honolulu blue-wearing passenger who passed by their seats a fist bump.

This was the reason behind Manny’s earlier shout-out to them: “Good evening, everyone, particularly our Lions fans.

But for one 49ers fan on the airplane, this second homage to the Motor City was too much.The supporter muttered a curse and exclaimed, “Wow, we’re in San Jose, and he says, ‘go Lions?

This is the level of devotion to this Lions team that Free Press reporters saw when traveling to Santa Clara on Friday to document the ardent supporters that travel to Levi’s Stadium to watch their Detroit Lions play the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Sunday: Their joy is contagious, and their optimism is contagious.

The lively Southgate team is primed for celebration. Matt and Cera Bigelow, along with their buddy Tim Cryderman, were beaming and excitedly cheering on supporters, including 49ers fans, as they boarded the aircraft from Denver to get ready for the big day.

So far, the Bigelows have invested a minimum of $9,000 on hotel rooms, airfares, and tickets for the three Lions playoff games.

Cera laughed and continued, “This year, we were going to get jet skis. Jet skis have been postponed, according to Matt.

The crew’s connection was sparked by their shared school-age children, and their mutual love of the Lions developed fast.

Matt remarked, “He (Cryderma) was like, ‘I’m a season ticket holder,’ and we signed up next year when we found out we’re Lions fans.”

Cryderman has owned season tickets for a long time and attempted to give them away two years ago. He could hardly pique anyone’s curiosity, though.

It feels like waves of people are approaching now and asking, What are you doing? Are they available for purchase? Where were you, roughly, two years ago? stated Cryderman. “I handed my friend my tickets.

Charmaine Clay, a native of Detroit, remembers enjoying Lions games with her father. Clay, along with her mom. Season ticket holder Cherlyn Rupert also took a flight on Friday from Detroit to San Francisco, excited about their trip and anticipating wearing Lions apparel and getting her nails done in a Detroit-themed manner.

However, Clay is especially appreciative of being able to witness this momentous occasion in remembrance of her father, who passed away soon after the Lions’ September 2022 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Right after a Lions game last year, my dad passed away, Clay remarked. “My favorite childhood memory is of watching Lions games while curled up on his chest. We used to go to Red Wing games together. I adore it. It’s a family affair, Clay remarked.

At $1,000 a ticket, the two grabbed third-row seats for the game with the intention of using the occasion as a mini-vacation.I recently told my mother how appreciative I am that I can travel to San Francisco and spend this time with her. My family as a whole loves football, and my father was an avid Lions supporter. She remarked that this encounter felt like a dream come true.

Ever since I watched “Full House” as a child, I’ve wanted to visit San Francisco. I wish my father could be here to appreciate this; it’s incredible.

Detroit Metro Airport was prepared for Lions supporters earlier on Friday. Shops all around the concourse sold hats and playoff shirts, while staff members were sporting Lions stuff, including jerseys of defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

Wearing their Lions apparel, Otis Williams, 69, and his wife Virginia, 62, waited to board an aircraft. The Detroit-based pair was scheduled to travel to Las Vegas this weekend for a birthday celebration with relatives, but Virginia thought of a different plan when she heard Detroit would be playing in San Francisco: she would drive to the game.

Virginia added, We’re going to have some other family members drive with us, realizing that the eight-hour journey wouldn’t exactly be enjoyable.

Virginia, a native of Chicago, is supporting the Lions this season, particularly linebacker Derrick Barnes, who last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the game-winning interception.

For Otis, it all boils back to history. The patient Lions supporter genuinely cares for his team and would hate to miss the opportunity to be close to them should they create history. Although they still didn’t have game tickets, they hoped to locate them on Sunday morning. It will still be sufficient to be near the Lions’ stadium, even if they don’t.

When they are the underdog, they perform better. Thus, maybe that will encourage them a little bit more and give them a boost, according to Otis. Although the 49ers are the favorites, everything happens for a reason.

Every fan who talked to the Free Press admitted that it costs a lot of money to go more than 2,000 miles. They mentioned allegiance. Fans of the Lions dreamed of a team that could win the Super Bowl as long as the team promised to “restore the roar” in Detroit. Now, as they soak up the predicted 70 degrees and sun before kickoff, these ardent supporters hope their dreams of living in California come true.

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