For the first time in franchise history, the Detroit Lions will be adding cheerleaders.

According to Mlive.com the Lions were one out of six teams without them but

...after conducting some internal research and receiving the approval of owner Martha Firestone Ford, have elected to add a squad for the 2016 season."

Rod Wood, the team's President made the announcement on Monday. The team has also hired Rebecca Girard-Smoker as the director for the new squad. She has 25 years of experience working with professional teams including the NFL, MLB, and NBA. She even was the director of the Pistons' dance team for 10 years. Wood said of Girard-Smoker:

"Her experience locally and nationally will ensure that Detroit Lions cheerleaders will be great representatives of our team as well as ambassadors to the community."

The Detroit Lions have been looking how to improve the excitement, energy and entertainment of home-games and they think adding cheerleaders will help improve that.

Tryouts will be held Saturday, June 25 at Ford Field and will begin at 8 a.m. Registration is required and you can sign up here.

The new cheerleading squad will make their debut at the Lions home opener on September 18.

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