The Detroit Lions have named L1VE their Official Immersive Partner, enabling fans to experience games virtually from inside Ford Field stadium. The partnership launches with the preseason game on 22 August against Washington Commanders. L1VE's Social Presence technology allows fans to view matches in stereoscopic 360° 3D and 14K resolution through immersive headsets like Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro. Users can join the stadium virtually in real time with other fans. Ford Field holds around 65,000 people, but the Lions' fanbase is significantly larger. The partnership represents the first NFL team to license immersive live rights as a distinct category alongside broadcast and streaming rights. Initially, preseason live coverage will be available to fans in Michigan. Fans can create free accounts at l1ve.com to access the experience.

Detroit Lions name Richard Haddad as team president and CEO. The Detroit Lions have named Richard Haddad, current COO of the Detroit Pistons, as their new president and CEO, replacing Rod Wood, who has been in the position since 2015. August 6, 2026 The Detroit Lions have named Richard Haddad, current COO of the Detroit Pistons, as their new president and CEO, replacing Rod Wood, who has been in the position since 2015. Haddad will join the Lions in early September and assume oversight of all football and business operations of the Lions organization. He is expected to team work closely with Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp and the Lions board of directors to set the vision for the future growth of both the Detroit Lions and Ford Field. "Rich is a proven leader who understands what it means to steward an iconic sports franchise in the city of Detroit, and we are thrilled that he is bringing that experience to the Lions," says Hamp. "Throughout our process, Rich's experience, steady leadership style, and grasp on the present and future state of team sports were clear differentiators. My family and I are excited to work with Rich on driving the Lions forward in our continued pursuit to bring a championship to Detroit." A native of Adrian, Haddad has been with the local NBA team for 14 years. With the Pistons, he has overseen business operations, business affairs, and development for the Pistons and all Pistons Sports & Entertainment companies and properties and collaborated with and supported all basketball operations. Haddad also leads PSE's interests in 313 Presents as a board member helping drive strategy and growth at six entertainment venues. Haddad brings experience building strategic partnerships and working with community, business, and governmental leaders in the city of Detroit and throughout Michigan. During his tenure with PSE, Haddad helped spearhead the Pistons' move back from Auburn Hills to Detroit and the development, construction, and opening of the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. He also helped lead the organization's efforts to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit and to develop a WNBA team headquarters and practice facility on the Detroit riverfront. "I am thrilled to join the Detroit Lions organization as its next president and CEO," says Haddad. "I want to thank Sheila Hamp and the Ford family for their trust in me, along with Tom Gores and Arn Tellem for 14 great years with the Pistons. "As a lifelong Lions fan, I understand firsthand how much this team means to this city and state, and I'm honored and humbled to lead this franchise. Sheila, Rod (Wood), Brad (Holmes), and Dan (Campbell) have built an incredible foundation, and I can't wait to work with them to build on that and deliver for our fans and our community." Haddad earned a bachelor's degree in history at the University of Michigan and a law degree at Columbia Law School. After law school, Haddad served as a law clerk to Judge Barbara S. Jones of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; and practiced law at Proskauer Rose in New York, where he represented a broad base of corporate and individual clients in sports, finance, media, entertainment, aviation, real estate, and other sectors and industries. He was recognized by Sports Business Journal as one of its "40 under 40" sports business executives in 2022. Haddad lives in Detroit with his wife, Adrienne, and is an active member of this community, serving on boards for Midtown Detroit Inc., The Cranbrook Academy of Art and Cranbrook Art Museum, and the Children's Foundation. "We're incredibly grateful to Rich for his leadership and the impact he's had on our organization and our city over the past 14 years," says Tom Gores, owner of the Pistons. "Arn and I have especially appreciated his steady counsel, integrity and commitment. "Rich has been an outstanding leader and a trusted partner in so many of our efforts to make a positive difference in the community. I have tremendous respect for Sheila, the Lions organization and everything they represent for Detroit. We're excited for Rich and know he'll do a tremendous job in his new role." According to the Lions, Haddad was chosen through a national search process led by a team committee comprised of Hamp, Bill Ford (Lions vice chairman), Wood, Chris Spielman (senior football advisor to ownership), and Lindsay Verstegen (Lions chief people and inclusion officer) and the global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds. Through the process, Russell Reynolds identified a large pool of candidates with experience across sports, entertainment, and business for the Lions to evaluate. Wood, who announced his retirement from the Lions in February, will remain as president and CEO until Haddad joins the team. He will be a resource to Haddad through the transition process.