Ottawa woman surprised with Super Bowl tickets at Ford Field in Detroit

A Detroit Lions fan was surprised with Superbowl tickets after recreating a trip, honouring her late husband.

What started as a heartfelt 40th birthday tribute, turned into something far bigger for Julia Forbes at Ford Field on Sunday.

Julia travelled from Ottawa with eight friends and her daughter Lola, to recreate a trip her late husband Ryan took with his buddies for his 40th birthday, a sports weekend built around the Red Wings and the Detroit Lions, Ryan’s favourite NFL team. Julia was part of that original trip, and returning without him was emotional.

“Really grateful to sort of, be able to experience that with our daughter. You know, the joy there is really incredible. We both love the Lions so it’s been really special to be here and remember all those moments that we had with him.”

Julia stayed in the same hotel, had pre-game on-field access, and watched the Lions play just like they did in 2018. Ryan passed away from cancer a year and a half ago, making the return more meaningful.

Asked how a family living more than 680 kilometres away ended up as committed Lions fans, Julia says it all started with Ryan.

As a kid, he chose the struggling Lions while his brothers cheered for different teams. “He stuck with it. He was diehard, watched every single Sunday, you know, knew everybody, had all the gear and so we were forced to be Lions fans. Since his passing, it’s a way that we stay close with him,” she said.

Julia arrived at Ford Field around 11 a.m. expecting a simple interview with FOX 2 sports anchor Jennifer Hammond about the tribute trip.

But a couple minutes into the conversation, everything changed.

Holly Campbell, wife of Lions head coach Dan Campbell, stepped onto the set with two Lions cheerleaders who were each holding life-sized Super Bowl 60 tickets, a surprise arranged by NFL Canada.

“Julia is an all-star mom, and she does so much,” said Jaclyn LaForce, marketing manager for NFL Canada. “I couldn’t think of someone more deserving of it and you can tell she was really touched because it means more. It’s not just her and Lola going to that game. Ryan’s definitely going to be with them.”

LaForce added Julia and Lola have been great advocates through the NFL Canada Crucial Catch program, making them an easy choice to gift tickets to. As well, Forbes has launched Diesel’s Army to give memorable sports experiences to young families battling cancer.

Julia was left overwhelmed by her surprise experience in Detroit.

“Here with friends and just sort of enjoying the game and the experience and shock to sort of find out that we’re going to be going in the Super Bowl and getting that gift is just incredible, surprising and emotional and just sort of, taken aback, really grateful,” she told CTV News.

A birthday trip meant to honour Ryan’s legacy ended with a moment Julia and everyone on the trip will never forget.