Detroit bar doubles down on Matthew Stafford jersey ban: 'Go hang someplace else'

Erik Olson is trying to make sure he creates the perfect atmosphere for his die-hard Detroit Lions-loving patrons on Sunday night.

That's why the owner of Thomas Magee's, a popular bar located in Detroit's tailgating-friendly Eastern Market, put out a notice that said no one wearing a Matthew Stafford jersey will be permitted inside when the Lions host Stafford and the Rams Sunday night in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

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Olson announced the decision on Facebook on Wednesday with a picture of four Stafford jerseys with a large red circle over them, captioned "PSA: please refrain from trying to enter Thomas Magee's on game day with Lions Stafford jerseys. You'll be turned away at the door. It's our first home (playoff) game in 30 years, use some common sense. Regards, Ownership."

The Lions and Rams are playing in Detroit for the first time since the trade three years ago between Detroit and L.A. which sent Stafford out west in exchange for Jared Goff and three draft picks. The trade helped the Rams win the Super Bowl in 2022 under Stafford's guidance, while Goff and the draft capital kickstarted the Lions' rebuild, resulting in a 12-5 record and the first division title in 30 years.

The Lions are looking to win their first playoff game since Jan. 5, 1992, and have to get through Goff's former team and Stafford, who was under center in Detroit for 12 seasons before the trade. This is the first Lions home playoff game in 30 years, as well as the first since the team moved to Ford Field. This Lions' team, which tied the franchise record for wins in a season, has one of the best chances of snapping that drought.

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For those reasons, Olson is making sure no one will be wearing a memory of the past at Thomas Magee's, a place he describes as an "everyman's bar" in the heart of the tailgating action, for the game on Sunday.

"We haven't had a home playoff game in 30 years and we haven't won one in 32 years," Olson told the Free Press. "So my feelings are that if you're going to wear the jersey of the guy that is on the field trying to take our first opportunity at a (home playoff) victory in 30 years away from us, you're just a different type of dude. Go hang someplace else that day."

Olson is trying to make sure his bar has a party atmosphere to celebrate the occasion and to hopefully keep the party going into the late hours of Sunday night after a Lions win. He said that although the space is normally filled with dedicated Lions fans, away fans are always welcome too — just no Detroit jerseys with Stafford on the back.

"If you're a Lions fan and you had to wait 30 years for this freaking game and you sit down in my pub and you're planning on watching a couple of playoff games, then going to the Lions game and coming back afterward, I'm going to provide an environment for you where you can party like devils," Olson said. "(It's) for Detroit Lions fans and even away fans, but I'm not going to put some little contrarian thorn in your side next to you that just wants to play devil's advocate."

Olson said normally he wouldn't mind the attire, but the stakes of the game change the equation. He said on a typical Lions game day, he would see anywhere from zero to five Stafford jerseys but had to make sure the number was at zero for Sunday.

"Any other game I wouldn't really mind, but this is big," Olson said. "Anybody who is a Detroiter knows how big this game is."

The bar, which is located on the corner of the Fisher service drive and Russell Street, has gained a lot of attention from the announcement. Olson said local fans have been generally supportive and understand the motivation, and a Fox affiliate picked up the story, leading to some banter with Rams fans "that was all in good fun".

Olson said the bar has already doled out all of its table and barstool reservations for all three NFL playoff games on Sunday, and expects it to be "jammed" to capacity, along with every other bar in the Eastern Market. He said the party will go throughout Sunday, and depending on the Lions' outcome, late into the night, spilling over into the early hours of Monday.

"Typically on a Sunday night, there would be no postgame, but given the magnitude of this game, it'll be epic," Olson said. "And the fact that Monday is (Martin Luther) King Day, a lot of people will have the day off. That's kind of a perfect storm here for us, we just need a Lions victory."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit bar doubles down on Matthew Stafford jersey ban