The Lions began play in 1929 as the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. They played local teams in the Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia areas. They entered the NFL in 1930. After four years the team moved to Detroit and became the Lions for the 1934 season.
the lions started playing when the ironton tanks and the Portsmouth Spartans left ironton and portsmounth in the 1931 season
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1929.
The Lions formed in 1929 as the Portsmouth Spartans. They played one season against independent professional teams before joining the NFL in 1930. The Spartans moved to Detroit and became the Lions in 1934.
The franchise's first game was played in 1929. The team played its games in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Portsmouth Spartans. In 1934, the team was purchased by George Richards and began play in Detroit as the Detroit Lions. They won their first game in Detroit by a score of 9-0 over the New York Giants on September 23, 1934.