Game Day Starts at Roy O’Brien Ford: Built for Baseball, Football and Fall in Michigan

There is something special about fall sports in Michigan.

Baseball is heading down the stretch toward October. Friday nights belong to high school football. Saturdays mean college football in Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Mount Pleasant and stadiums across the state. And on Sundays, Honolulu Blue takes over downtown Detroit.

Here at Roy O’Brien Ford, we love this time of year. We have been part of the Metro Detroit community for 80 years, and fall in Michigan has always meant more than changing leaves and cooler temperatures. It means families, friends, rivalries, road trips, tailgates and traditions.

And whether your game day takes you across town or across the state, Ford and fall sports just seem to go together.

That connection became even stronger in 2026 when Ford Motor Company and Major League Baseball announced a multiyear partnership making Ford the Official Automotive Partner of Major League Baseball. The partnership extends beyond the Major Leagues to Minor League Baseball and Little League Baseball and Softball, while Little League also recognizes Ford as its Official Vehicle.

That is a partnership that feels especially fitting to us at Roy O’Brien Ford.

From Little League diamonds and local ballfields to Comerica Park and the World Series, sports have a way of bringing families and communities together. Those same ideas — family, community and tradition — have been at the heart of Roy O’Brien Ford since 1946.

And here in Michigan, Ford's connection to sports runs even deeper.

From the Baseball Diamond to Ford Field

When baseball season heads toward October, football season is already in full swing.

Few automotive brands have a hometown sports connection quite like Ford does with the Detroit Lions. Ford Field has been the home of the Lions since 2002, putting the Ford name right in the middle of one of Detroit's biggest game-day traditions.

For us at Roy O’Brien Ford, that connection is close to home.

From our dealership at 9 Mile and Mack in St. Clair Shores, Ford Field is just one of countless fall destinations our customers head toward every weekend.

Maybe you're driving downtown for a Lions game. Maybe you're taking I-94 west toward the Big House. Maybe you're heading to East Lansing, Mount Pleasant or somewhere completely different to follow your favorite college team.

Wherever you're going, getting there is part of the experience.

And when it comes to getting you, your family, your friends and all of your game-day gear there, the lineup here at Roy O’Brien Ford gives you plenty of options.

Coolers. Chairs. Grills. Canopies. Folding tables. Cornhole boards. Kids. Friends. Family. Jerseys. Blankets. And enough snacks to feed half the parking lot.

Whatever your version of game day looks like, there's probably a Ford built for it.

Ford F-150: The Tailgate MVP

If we were putting together a Roy O’Brien Ford game-day starting lineup, the Ford F-150 would be pretty tough to leave off the field.

There may not be a vehicle more naturally suited to an actual tailgate.

The truck bed gives you plenty of room for coolers, grills, tables, chairs and everything else your crew needs before kickoff. Available features like Pro Power Onboard can provide electrical power right from the truck, while available tailgate features can make loading, unloading and setting up easier.

Add a spacious SuperCrew cabin, available four-wheel drive and the capability that has made F-Series such an important part of Ford's history, and F-150 can take you from the weekday jobsite to the Saturday tailgate without missing a beat.

We sell a lot of trucks here at Roy O’Brien Ford, and it isn't hard to understand why. For Michigan drivers who want one vehicle that can handle work, family life, road trips and weekends at the stadium, the F-150 is hard to beat.

If your game-day philosophy is bring everything, the F-150 deserves a spot at the top of your roster.

Ford Super Duty: When Your Tailgate Doesn't Travel Light

Then there are the fans who don't believe in packing light.

For them, there is Ford Super Duty.

If your game-day setup involves serious gear, a trailer, multiple coolers, a large grill, canopies or just about anything else you can dream up, Super Duty brings another level of capability to the parking lot.

Available Pro Power Onboard can provide power for compatible game-day equipment, while available tailgate and bed-access features can help make setup easier once you arrive.

Super Duty has long been a favorite among Roy O’Brien Ford customers who need serious capability during the week. But all of that capability can be just as useful when work is over and it's time to have a little fun.

For the ultimate tailgate crew, Super Duty isn't just transportation.

It can practically become tailgate headquarters.

Ford Ranger: Right-Sized Truck, Full-Sized Game-Day Capability

Want genuine pickup-truck capability without bringing a full-size truck into a packed stadium parking lot?

The Ford Ranger may be your answer.

Ranger combines a versatile pickup bed, four-door SuperCrew practicality and available four-wheel drive in a package that's easier to maneuver around town.

Load the bed with chairs, coolers, a grill and the rest of your tailgate essentials, pile your friends inside and point it toward Detroit, Ann Arbor or East Lansing.

For customers visiting us at Roy O’Brien Ford who want more traditional truck capability than a compact pickup without stepping all the way up to an F-150, Ranger occupies a great middle ground.

And for the fan whose idea of a road trip continues beyond the stadium parking lot, there's always the Ranger Raptor, bringing even more off-road performance and personality to the equation.

Game day on Saturday. Trail day on Sunday.

Sounds like a pretty good Michigan weekend to us.

Ford Maverick: Small Truck, Big Tailgate Energy

The Ford Maverick may be compact, but when it comes to game-day practicality, it punches well above its weight class.

Its versatile truck bed makes it easy to organize and carry coolers, chairs, bags and other tailgate gear, while the Multi-Position Tailgate gives you additional flexibility when loading larger items.

And when we talk with Maverick customers here at Roy O’Brien Ford, one of the obvious appeals is just how much utility Ford managed to package into a truck that remains easy to drive, park and maneuver every day.

That can be a particularly nice advantage when you're trying to find your way through a crowded downtown Detroit parking structure or squeezing into the last available spot near a college tailgate.

The Maverick proves you don't need the biggest truck in the lot to have a great game day.

Ford Expedition: The Ultimate Game-Day Family Hauler

If your game-day crew includes family, friends and enough gear for everyone, the Ford Expedition may be the MVP of the entire SUV lineup.

And the newest Expedition gives us even more reasons to recommend it to families here at Roy O’Brien Ford.

With three rows of passenger space and substantial cargo capacity, Expedition gives you room to bring the crew without leaving all the coolers, chairs and bags behind. The Expedition MAX takes that formula even further when additional cargo room is a priority.

But one feature feels almost purpose-built for game day: the Ford Split Gate.

The upper portion opens like a traditional liftgate while the lower section folds down like a tailgate, creating a great place to sit, organize gear, change shoes, serve food or simply hang out once you arrive.

For anyone who has ever stood around an SUV in a football parking lot balancing plates, coolers and bags, you can probably immediately see the possibilities.

Add available four-wheel drive, available BlueCruise-equipped configurations, significant towing capability and the comfort you expect from Ford's full-size SUV, and Expedition is ready for everything from an easy trip downtown to Ford Field to an entire weekend following your favorite team.

For Roy O’Brien Ford customers who want space, comfort and serious game-day versatility, Expedition is tough to beat.

Ford Explorer: Three Rows and Ready for the Road

Need three-row versatility without moving all the way up to a full-size Expedition?

Enter the Ford Explorer.

Explorer has been a familiar sight on Michigan roads for decades, and it continues to make a lot of sense for families who need a vehicle that can handle everyday life Monday through Friday and still be ready for a full carload on Saturday.

Pile everyone in for the trip to Detroit, Ann Arbor, East Lansing or wherever the schedule takes you.

Fold seats down when you need more room for chairs, bags, blankets and game-day gear, or use all three rows when bringing more of the crew.

And because we all know what Michigan football weather can eventually become, available four-wheel drive can provide some added confidence when a beautiful September afternoon turns into a cold, wet November Saturday.

For those who want a little more excitement on the way to the game, there's also the performance-oriented Explorer ST.

At Roy O’Brien Ford, Explorer is a great example of a vehicle that doesn't force you to choose between family practicality and enjoying the drive.

Ford Bronco: Bring the Adventure to Game Day

Want your game day to feel a little less ordinary?

Meet the Ford Bronco.

Few vehicles in the Ford showroom have as much personality, and that personality fits right into a great fall weekend.

Bronco combines unmistakable style with serious utility and useful cargo room for loading up your game-day gear.

And when Michigan gives us one of those perfect sunny September or October afternoons, the Bronco's available removable doors and roof can turn the drive itself into part of the event.

Imagine leaving Roy O’Brien Ford in St. Clair Shores with the top open, the fight song playing and a crisp fall afternoon ahead of you.

It's just as comfortable heading toward a football stadium as it is heading toward a trail.

Pull into the tailgate, unload the cooler, turn up the music and let everyone know your crew has arrived.

Bronco Sport: The Game-Day Utility Player

Think of the Ford Bronco Sport as the utility player on the Roy O’Brien Ford roster.

It can do a little bit of everything.

Its compact footprint can be a major advantage when you're navigating crowded parking lots, but don't mistake compact for impractical. Bronco Sport was designed around adventure and cargo versatility.

Depending on configuration, features can include a flip-up rear glass, roof rails, liftgate lighting, durable cargo surfaces and available cargo-management solutions that help make it easy to organize your game-day setup.

It's an especially appealing option for customers who want room for friends and gear without moving up to a larger SUV or pickup.

Easy around town. Ready for the highway. And perfectly happy spending Saturday in a stadium parking lot.

Mustang Mach-E: An Electric Take on Game Day

Who says a tailgate vehicle has to be a truck?

The Mustang Mach-E gives game-day transportation an entirely different personality, combining Mustang-inspired performance with seating for five and the everyday practicality of an SUV.

Fold the second-row seats down and there's useful cargo space for your game-day essentials, while the front trunk — or frunk — provides another clever storage area up front.

For customers interested in an EV here at Roy O’Brien Ford, Mach-E offers a great combination of performance, technology and utility.

And for a trip downtown to Ford Field or a Saturday drive across the state, its quiet electric ride can make getting there almost as enjoyable as arriving.

Plus, let's face it: arriving at the tailgate in a Mustang is never a bad way to make an entrance.

Ford Mustang: Because Getting to the Game Should Be Fun, Too

Not every game-day vehicle needs to carry a grill and six folding chairs.

Sometimes you just need two tickets, a couple of jerseys and an open stretch of Michigan highway.

That's where the Ford Mustang enters the starting lineup.

Mustang brings something different to the Roy O’Brien Ford game-day roster.

It isn't about maximum cargo room.

It's about making the trip memorable.

Imagine a crisp fall Saturday, the leaves changing colors, your team's pregame show playing through the speakers and the road stretching ahead toward Ann Arbor, East Lansing or downtown Detroit.

Choose a Convertible and, weather permitting, put the top down. Choose a Mustang GT and let that unmistakable V8 soundtrack announce that game day has begun. Or choose an EcoBoost and enjoy Mustang performance in an everyday-friendly package.

It may not be the vehicle carrying the entire tailgate.

But it just might be the vehicle that makes getting there the most fun.

Detroit. Ann Arbor. East Lansing. Mount Pleasant. Wherever Your Team Takes You.

One of the best parts of sports is that everybody's game day looks a little different.

Maybe it's packing up the family and heading downtown to watch the Lions at Ford Field.

Maybe you're meeting old college friends in Ann Arbor before kickoff.

Maybe you're wearing Green and White in East Lansing.

Maybe you're heading north to Mount Pleasant.

Maybe baseball is still your game and you're headed downtown hoping for a little October magic.

Maybe you're driving across town for your son or daughter's Little League game, Friday night football or a weekend tournament.

Or maybe your favorite team plays somewhere completely different.

Wherever you're going, Roy O’Brien Ford wants to help you get there.

For 80 years, the O’Brien family has been helping generations of Metro Detroit families find vehicles for work, family, vacations, adventures and, yes, plenty of game days along the way.

We have watched vehicles change dramatically since Roy O’Brien Ford opened in 1946.

We've watched stadiums come and go.

We've watched generations of Detroit sports heroes take the field.

But some things haven't changed.

The destination may change.

The team colors may change.

The vehicle in the driveway may change.

But the excitement of piling into the car or truck with family and friends and heading to the game never gets old.

Build Your Game-Day Starting Lineup at Roy O’Brien Ford

F-150. Super Duty. Ranger. Maverick. Expedition. Explorer. Bronco. Bronco Sport. Mustang Mach-E. Mustang.

Ten very different vehicles, each bringing something different to game day.

Need a bed full of tailgate gear? F-150, Ranger or Maverick.

Taking tailgating to another level? Super Duty.

Bringing the whole family and half the neighborhood? Expedition or Explorer.

Want some open-air adventure mixed into your Saturday? Bronco.

Looking for compact versatility? Bronco Sport.

Want to make the trip electric? Mustang Mach-E.

And if the journey to the stadium is just as important as the destination? Mustang.

Whatever position you need filled, there's a Ford ready to join your game-day roster.

And there is a team right here at Roy O’Brien Ford in St. Clair Shores ready to help you find it.

So load the cooler.

Grab the jerseys.

Rally your crew.

Turn up the fight song.

It's game time.

Whether your fall revolves around Major League Baseball, Little League, the Lions, college football, Friday night lights, youth sports or all of the above, we hope you'll stop by and see us at Roy O’Brien Ford at 9 Mile and Mack.

We'll help you find the Ford that's ready to get you into the GAME DAY SPIRIT.

Stay on the Right Track to 9 Mile and Mack!