FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1997                           (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                
                                
 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND DETROIT LIONS REACH AGREEMENT UNDER THE
             AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

  WASHINGTON, D.C.   Under an agreement reached today with the
Justice Department, the Detroit Lions will no longer require
proof of disability for the purchase of wheelchair seating and
will provide $75,000 in compensation to a group of young athletes
with disabilities whose civil rights were allegedly violated when
they tried to attend a Lions football game.

  Today's agreement, reached under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), resolves a complaint filed by the parents
of children belonging to the Tri-City Seals Disabled Sports Team
in the Detroit area, which consists of approximately 50 athletes
with a variety of disabilities, most of whom are children.  The
complaint alleged that in September, 1994, the Detroit Lions
violated the ADA by charging full price to team members in
wheelchairs instead of allowing them to use special $1 tickets
they had won through a Lions lottery.  The team members were
ultimately accommodated.
  
  "Young fans with disabilities should have the same chance as
other youngsters to go to a game and sit with their friends,"  
said Isabelle Katz Pinzler, Acting Assistant Attorney General for
Civil Rights.  "We're pleased that after learning about the
problem, the Detroit Lions went the full nine yards to resolve
it."

  According to the complaint, when the Detroit Lions
organization learned that the children required wheelchair
seating locations, the Lions sought to charge those using
wheelchairs full price for the seats.  The wheelchair locations
were apart from the other seats and the children were unable to
sit with teammates who did not use wheelchairs.  

  After extensive discussions between parents and the team,
the Lions ultimately accommodated the needs of the children,
charged them $1, and seated them with their teammates.   

  A subsequent investigation by the Justice Department
determined that the Lions required proof of disability for the
purchase of wheelchair seating, in violation of the law.

  Under today's agreement, the Lions will no longer require
such proof and will train their staff about the new policy.  The
Lions have also agreed to provide the children's team with more
than $75,000 in goods and services, including 2,000 tickets to a
preseason game, valued at $70,000.  They also will offer the Tri-
City Seals team official NFL clothing, autographed NFL
paraphenalia, and visits to the Lions' locker room and training
camp.  The tickets will be sold at a fundraiser benefitting the
Tri-City Seals team.   

  The Justice Department has entered separate agreements to
make ticketing policy of other sports teams comply with the ADA,
including the San Francisco Forty-Niners and the San Francisco
Giants.  The Department also has provided training to Major
League Baseball stadium managers, through the Office of the
Commissioner of Major League Baseball, on a variety of issues,
including ticketing policies.

  Those interested in finding out more information about the
ADA can call the ADA information line at (800) 514-0301 (voice)
or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).  The Department also sponsors an ADA
home page on the internet at:  
(http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm).

  Last week, Attorney General Janet Reno unveiled a public
service announcement on the ADA featuring President Clinton.
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