By: Jack & Jill of America – Detroit Chapter Youth
(Zion Allen, Derrick Register, Hardy Wilson, Tyler Jones, Chase Rhodes, Anthony Nealy, Mason Frederick Cannon, Santana Jackson, Ivan Mckeithen)
It was an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon in downtown Detroit. It was two days before the Detroit Lions Monday night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That afternoon there was youth football happening at Ford Field, specifically Boys & Girls Club football, but that was just a preview of what people were going to see Monday.
During our walk downtown we talked to an employee who works for Ford Field. There were a lot of people inside and outside of the stadium preparing for the big game on Monday.
We decided to interview one of the employees about the game and other things, including what they do to prepare for the game, and what they do for fun when they’re not working.
Blake is a supervisor with a company that contracts with Ford Field on events and event management. Coincidentally, Blake was in the Detroit chapter of Jack & Jill where she served as legislative liaison for the Midwest region and the vice president, so she routinely went to teen convention with the organization when she was in high school.
“I have a great time working at Ford Field. It gives me a lot of challenges, but we have a good time working here,” Blake said. “I am a supervisor of an events team and my area is the lower bowl area, where people sit and watch the game. I have a team of about 12 people and I’m in charge of the team that oversees section 121-126.”
Blake also said: “There are so many different jobs in the stadium. There are people who do security, marketing, events, cleaning, then you have coaches and players. So many people do so many jobs.”
She said her favorite Lions players were Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, and that when she’s not working, she like to canoe and kayak. She said that during breaks while she’s at work, she will sometimes take a peak at the football games. She also lives in Detroit.
Overall, this interview was very great, and this was probably one of the most engaged people we could have interviewed.
We interviewed a very important person who works at Ford Field. Her job really helps out the stadium and people’s experience at the stadium.
