Let’s buy the Lions

A Colorado man is asking people to help him raise $1 billion in hopes of buying the Detroit Lions.

While the team is not for sale, Jeff Tarnowski has created a GoFundMe account with the goal of taking over ownership of his favourite NFL team.

Tarnowski said after the second loss to the Vikings he knew something was wrong. Currently the Lions hold a 1-7 record and have not won a playoff game since 1991, the longest active playoff victory drought in the NFL.

“If we don’t get the money I don’t see any change,” said Tarnowski. “We only have one playoff win in over 20 years. If you only have one playoff win in that long, something has to change.”

Although the Lions fired and hired some coaches over the years, he said it has been the same story over and over again.

“The Ford family has always been the one consistent thing of this franchise,” said Tarnowski. “I’m not jumping on the ‘Fire Ford’ bandwagon. I’m saying, ‘I want your job and I’m willing to pay for it’. It’s a positive message.”

The GoFundMe page has been active since Oct. 27. Within 48 hours, 144 donations have been made.

Scott Rybicki is a lifelong Lions fan and has donated $100. He said even if the goal isn’t met the money will go towards a great cause.

“Ultimately, we want change,” said Rybicki. “It’s publicity and it lets the Ford family know the fans aren’t happy.”

Tarnowski would like to see the team as a publicly traded company like the Green Bay Packers but said it is forbidden as the Packers were grandfathered in. However, Tarnowski plans on doing operating agreements where everyone who donates to the GoFundMe page gets a little chunk and part ownership depending on what percentage they put in.

According to Forbes, the Lions are worth $1.44 billion. As of Thursday, the GoFundMe page has raised $2,421. At the current rate it will take 100,000 days to reach his goal. Tarnowski, however, believes the goal can be achieved by this year’s SuperBowl on Feb. 7, 2016.

If the GoFundMe page gets close or falls short Tarnowski said he plans to go to Shark Tank and get Mark Cuban for the rest of the money as he’s always expressed interest in owning an NFL team.

“Even if it gets to a quarter of the goal, I think we will see Mark Cuban express some interest,” said Rybicki. “I’ve been told by a friend of mine who works in stats that if everyone in the Metro Detroit area pitches in $25 the goal can be achieved”.

If the money isn’t raised all of it will be donated to local Detroit charities such as Feed the D, Bens Encore, Special Olympics MI and Children’s Hospital.

“It’s all going to benefit the city of Detroit in one way or another,” said Tarnowski.