Wayne State University has decked out its venerable Old Main with Honolulu Blue lights, signaling its support for the Detroit Lions ahead of their NFC Championship showdown against the 49ers. The historic Old Main, a prominent Detroit landmark, will boast the team's iconic color throughout the week, adding a burst of Lion's pride to the 1894-built structure that now serves as an academic hub, as reported by Hour Detroit.
Riding on the coattails of excitement, two university electricians embarked on the arduous task of transforming the building's uppermost windows. A series of 30-foot-long fluorescent lights were removed, blessed with Honolulu Blue shades, and reinstated to create this majestic display. According to Wayne State News, even the clock tower now radiates with blue flood lamps replacing the typical white.
The president of WSU, Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D., encapsulated the campus community's infectious enthusiasm in a statement obtained by Hour Detroit, “Wayne State and the city of Detroit are inextricably linked, and we are so excited to be on this ride with the Lions,”
Old Main's transformation it is a journey through history, requiring ascent to the top floor via several staircases, including an 1896 spiral one, in which they changed out the lights in Old Main. A nod to Detroit's perseverance, the lighting initiative speaks to sentiments shared by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), Stephanie Hartwell, who told Wayne State News about the infectious fandom: "Coming from New England, I never thought I’d find a fandom like this in Detroit... Seeing Old Main, my home away from home, shine blue alongside the rest of the city? It’s a beacon of hope, a reminder that Detroit dreams brighter together."
Residents and visitors of Detroit can marvel at the strikingly blue-lit Old Main, stationed a mere 1.8 miles from Ford Field, until game day when the Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers, with hopes of a historic win that has eluded them since 2021. The show of solidarity with the hometown team heralds a communal spirit ahead of Sunday's game which kicks off at 6:30 p.m., as shared by DBusiness Daily Update.
