What I learned from the Lions' practice facility rebranding to Meijer Performance Center

Allen Park – The Detroit Lions rebranded their practice facility Tuesday afternoon, partnering with Meijer. What's that mean for the average fan? Not much. 

Obviously, it's a good strategic partnership for both sides. The Lions add some revenue that they can reinvest into the facility, and just like Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena, you'll start seeing Meijer Performance Center appear in stories when the Lions facility is referenced, further embedding the brand into the subconscious of locals. 

Meijer is also getting a patch on the team's practice jerseys outside of training camp, when Rocket Mortgage has already secured that advertising space. Fans don't purchase practice jerseys, but many scroll through photo galleries from those sessions, once again furthering brand exposure for both companies. 

If the information doesn't move the needle for you, that's understandable, but there's some a positive news for those fans who plan to attend one of the open training camp practices the next couple weeks. As part of the Meijer sponsorship, the sideline bleachers and VIP tents have been upgraded to have coverings, which will protect fans from the brutal August sun (or a light rain shower). 

Here are a few other takeaways from the press conference announcing the partnership with Meijer. 

• In recent years, team president Rod Wood acknowledged the team was exploring potential locations for a new practice facility to replace the Allen Park location, which opened more than two decades ago. But on Tuesday, it now sounds like team is committed to staying at their current home. 

  "I know there's always speculation about how long we're going to stay here," Wood said. "This is a long-term partnership. This is our home for the foreseeable future and we'll continue to invest in it.”

  Wood declined to comment on the length of the agreement with Meijer or whether the naming rights would transfer to a new facility if the Lions moved.

• Maybe it’s not directly tied to this deal, but upgrades to the building have been ongoing this offseason. Wood said the team put $4 million into revamping the training room, calling it an investment in both the facility and the team’s players.

• Given some of the negative feedback to jersey patches in other American sports leagues, I snagged Wood after the press conference and asked if the NFL had discussed patches for regular season uniforms. Not surprisingly the topic has come up at league meetings, but the president noted there's no momentum toward that happening in the immediate future.