Love it or hate it, 'D-E-T-R-O-I-T' sign installed ahead of NFL Draft gets reactions

Detroit — It isn't the Hollywood sign but the city's gateway sign is making a statement.

The 10-foot tall steel letters, which read "D-E-T-R-O-I-T", were installed Tuesday, just weeks before thousands descend on the city for the April 25-27 draft. The sign can be seen along eastbound Interstate 94, between Central Street and Cecil Avenue.

Detroit-based Fairmont Sign Company crafted the sign. Each letter is on a 2-foot-tall concrete block that took about two weeks to install ahead of Tuesday.

So far, reaction to the "D-E-T-R-O-I-T" sign has been mixed with some even outright mocking it on social media.

Detroit officials addressed several of these online comments on Instagram stating, "The Detroit Sign is a testament to Detroit’s growth over the last 10 years. No, it hasn’t been perfect but it’s been a decade of resilience, tough conversations and togetherness. We are growing. This is only the beginning. We are evolving and we are reaching new peaks together as One Detroit."

One local rapper has already released a song on the sign, stating "you can take it back."

"One thing I'ma do, I'ma state the facts/ this ain't the sign that we wanted, you can take it back," raps Gmac Cash in the quickie song, which is just over one minute long. He continues, "all I wanna know, how much we paid for this? Real talk man, s---, I coulda made this s---."

Fairmont also created smaller "Welcome to Detroit" signs for locations including Interstate 75 at 8 Mile, Interstate 96 at Telegraph, I-94 at Moross, Southfield at 8 Mile and Southfield at Ford Road.

The city is spending $425,000 on all the signs. Jessica Parker, Detroit's deputy chief operations officer, said the city received three bids to craft the signs, including one from Georgia, but Detroit-based Fairmont was the obvious choice. The ground-level sign along the service drive will be permanent, with lights and flowers around each letter.

For those hoping to grab a selfie with the sign, city officials recommend parking across the service drive at westbound I-94 and Proctor for the best view. There will be a large fence blocking the sign from behind it on eastbound I-94 and Proctor. No one should stop alongside the highway or climb greenery to see the sign, officials said.

Where to park to see sign

srahal@detroitnews.com

X: @SarahRahal_