Rod Wood
{{Short description|American football executive (born c. 1957)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rod Wood
| image =
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| birth_name = Rod Wood
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|64|2025|04|24}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| occupation = Businessman
| known_for = President of the Detroit Lions
| spouse =
| children =
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| alma mater = University of Michigan-Flint; ABA Graduate School of Commercial Banking
| networth =
}}
Rod Wood is an American businessman and football executive. He is currently the president for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).{{cite news |last1=Birkett |first1=David |title=New Lions president takes unique path to front office |url=https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/11/29/detroit-lions-rod-wood/76522916/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=29 November 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Maakaron |first1=John |title=Lions President Rod Wood Has Spoken to League about Officiating Woes |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/rod-wood-hopes-officiating-gets-better-as-the-season-goes-along/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Sports Illustrated |date=16 October 2019}}
Professional career
Previous to being hired as the president of the Detroit Lions, Wood was a close associate of the Ford family that owns the team, and worked as the president and CEO of the Ford Estates.{{cite news |last1=SI WIRE |title=Detroit Lions hire Rod Wood as new team president |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/11/19/detroit-lions-rod-wood-team-president-gm-search |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Sports Illustrated |date=19 November 2015}}
=Detroit Lions=
Wood was signed with the Detroit Lions as a team president on Nov 19, 2015.{{cite news |last1=Katzenstein |first1=Jon |title=Lions name Rod Wood team president |url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/11/19/lions-name-rod-wood-team-president/76061040/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Detroit News |date=19 November 2015}} Wood attended University of Michigan-Flint and the ABA Graduate School of Commercial Banking. On accepting the appointment, Wood stated that he was "not qualified to run any other NFL team", a statement that led some critics of his hiring to label him as unqualified for the job of running the Lions.{{cite news |last1=Chirco |first1=Vito |title=Hiring Wood is another bad decision by the Lions |url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2015/11/24/hiring-woods-is-another-bad-decision-by-the-lions/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Vintage Detroit |date=24 November 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Alper |first1=Josh |title=Rod Wood: I’m not qualified to run other teams, I am qualified to run Lions |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/11/20/rod-wood-im-not-be-qualified-to-run-other-teams-i-am-qualified-to-run-lions/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=NBC Sports |date=20 November 2015}} Wood has refused to give up the Detroit Lions's traditional Thanksgiving game despite pressure from other NFL teams.{{cite news |last1=Birkett |first1=Dave |title=Rod Wood: Detroit Lions will never give up Thanksgiving game |url=https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/02/22/detroit-lions-thanksgiving-history/2949967002/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=22 February 2019}} Under Wood's leadership and direction, the Lions and the City of Detroit hosted the 2024 NFL Draft.
=Stadium Upgrade=
In February 2017, Wood unveiled plans for the first major renovation to the Detroit Lions’ home stadium, Ford Field, since it opened in 2002. The $100 million investment incorporated a complete overhaul of the audio and visual experience that features new videoboards as well as a new state-of-the-art sound system.{{cite news |last1=Nagl |first1=Kurt |title=$100 million Ford Field upgrades to be done by Aug. 1 — minus playoff banners |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20170719/news/634336/100-million-ford-field-upgrades-to-be-done-by-aug-1-%E2%80%94%C2%A0minus-playoff |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Crain's Detroit |date=19 July 2017}} The stadium’s premium spaces also received a complete makeover with expanded offerings to fans. Wood has also discussed adding a retractable roof to the field to attract MLS teams to play there.{{cite news |last1=Stoia |first1=George |title=Detroit Lions president: We're looking at Ford Field retractable roof |url=https://eu.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/07/16/detroit-lions-ford-field-retractable-roof/789284002/ |accessdate=29 November 2019 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=16 July 2018}} An entire new playing surface was installed at Ford Field in spring 2023.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.detroitlions.com/team/front-office-roster/rod-wood Profile]
- [https://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2015/nov/19/detroit-lions-name-rod-wood-as-new-team-president/ New Job]
- [https://mobile.twitter.com/rodwood_lions?lang=en Twitter]
- [https://www.wxyz.com/news/news-photo-gallery/photos-100-million-renovations-on-display-at-ford-field Stadium Renovations]
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{{NFL presidents}}
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Category:American sports executives and administrators
Category:Detroit Lions executives