Thanksgiving Day Football games
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:48 pm
Why do Dallas and Detroit always play on Thanksgiving Day? 
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Thanksgiving Day Football games
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 6:21 pm
Tradition
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 8:35 pm
They are TURKEYS ???
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 9:53 am
It wasn't a joke Terri! 
And yeah, it's tradition now, but why? Why/when/how did it start? Why do those two specific teams play on Thanksgiving Day?
And yeah, it's tradition now, but why? Why/when/how did it start? Why do those two specific teams play on Thanksgiving Day?
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:05 am
Marketing.
The Lions started doing it in 1934 (their inaugural season) because they were trying to compete for space in the newspaper with the Detroit Tigers... and losing.
By playing on Thanksgiving, they guaranteed that they'd get the press.
The game ended up being a 'classic' and that set the tone for the tradition. They sold out the game weeks before (big news back then) and could have sold an estimated twice the available tickets. They've played on every T-Day since, except for between 1939-1945.
As for Dallas... who cares?
Again it was strictly for marketing purposes but I can't find any more 'specific' information than that they started in 1966.
The Lions started doing it in 1934 (their inaugural season) because they were trying to compete for space in the newspaper with the Detroit Tigers... and losing.
By playing on Thanksgiving, they guaranteed that they'd get the press.
The game ended up being a 'classic' and that set the tone for the tradition. They sold out the game weeks before (big news back then) and could have sold an estimated twice the available tickets. They've played on every T-Day since, except for between 1939-1945.
As for Dallas... who cares?
Again it was strictly for marketing purposes but I can't find any more 'specific' information than that they started in 1966.
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:30 am
It started with Detroit the first year they played. Lions vs the defending world champ Bears. 1934. It was really just way to get people in the seats, and people embraced it.
A Detroit Thanksgiving has had football forever. The only ones they missed were during World War II from '39-'44.
http://www.detroitlions.com/document_di ... _id=147421
When the NFL wanted to make it a doubleheader, some owners like the Chiefs Lamar Hunt scoffed at the idea. He wasn't alone.
Tex Schramm jumped all over it. The Coowboys have had it ever since.
I hate the Cowboys and loved the fact that they lost yesterday, but that guy could see the value where everyone else thought it was a burden.
A Detroit Thanksgiving has had football forever. The only ones they missed were during World War II from '39-'44.
http://www.detroitlions.com/document_di ... _id=147421
When the NFL wanted to make it a doubleheader, some owners like the Chiefs Lamar Hunt scoffed at the idea. He wasn't alone.
Tex Schramm jumped all over it. The Coowboys have had it ever since.
I hate the Cowboys and loved the fact that they lost yesterday, but that guy could see the value where everyone else thought it was a burden.
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:44 pm
Agreed....smart marketing move
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:41 pm
Thanks guys! 
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:17 pm
Mooch is starting a new Tradition, Since coming to Detriot he has last by a combined 52 points
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:45 pm
tazlah wrote:It wasn't a joke Terri!
I wasn't joking....
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:13 pm
well if that tradtion PLEASE start a new one .....hopefully with another team they are so painful to watch !!!andyjens89 wrote:Tradition
