• Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

Sign in to follow this  
Guest lnvincible

New Arena?

Rate this topic

Recommended Posts

Guest lnvincible
Do you think having a new arena would spark our Red Wings? Ive been to the arena a few times its real old compared to ALOT of other teams. Whats your opinion on it?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli

oh yeah! lets rebuild everything in detroit too, that'll really get em scorin' goals!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, i do not think it would spark the current red wings, however I do think a new arena would restore an interest in going to red wings games. Dont get me wrong, our fanbase is still large, however our attendance is not. We can blame it all we want on the economy, but the Joe is old, outdated, boring and not appealing to the average fan who is going for entertainment value rather than to watch their team. Unfortunately we do not live in a market where no matter how good or bad our team is our seats will be filled, we have to offer something else than the product on the ice. I believe a new arena would fill the seats, and give the team a little more drive and something to play for rather than 14,000 quiet fans at the Joe. With all of this said, its not going to happen for a while, hence I propose a few suggestions that can spice up the joe, and be long-term investments that can be moved to the new arena.

1.) New Scoreboard - this would make the Joe look a little newer, give the fans something appealing to look at during off-time and can be moved to a new arena upon construction.

2.) Digital video scoreboards along the outer edge of the arena - Rather than having nothing above the suites, other than some old 'around the league scoreboards' that dont even work, these would also make the Joe more appealing and can once again be moved to the new location.

3.) New Anthem singer - sorry Karen, you're passed your prime. The appeal of a good looking women singing the anthem has lost its value, and Im not even American. I would like to see a tenor come in (like chicago) who can belt out the national anthem and get the arena pumped up for the upcoming game.

4.) Replace Bud Lynch (Spelling?) - While i adore bud's story, and his loyalty to the organization, his time has also passed. We need someone who once again can pump up the arena after a goal, before a powerplay etc. And most of all, we need someone who can correctly pronounce names of players.

5.) Permanent pre-game shows - Why is it that the Joe only has pre-game shows or entrances for the playoffs. Don't tell me its because they can't turn on the lights without time to warm up, because they have no problem doing it for playoffs. Every team in the NHL does it and I dont see why we can't either.

I have plenty more, but I guess the point im trying to make is that the Joe is a terrible venue in the new NHL. Your average hockey fan is not going to pay an average of 50 dollars per ticket to simply go see a game. There has to be entertainment value included, simple business, and the Joe has zero. It seems as though Ilitch does nothing but offer cheaper tickets to fill the seats, but he'll figure out soon this is not the answer.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1) Yes.

2) Definitely.

3) Sadly, yes.

4) Never. When Bud retires, I want to hear a recorded "Last minute of play in this period". New guy is not impressive.

5) Amen.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Some valid points here, but I attend live games for the product on the ice, and not for all the extra "frills" that some feel the Red Wings need.

I attend games in Vancouver for the product on the ice, but the stuff that goes on around that only enhances the experience.

Your logic is flawed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Since when is ones honest opinion flawed?

The logic you use to arrive at your conclusion can be flawed (note that I didn't say that your opinion was flawed, just that your logic was), especially if you use it to justify a decision that affects thousands of people.

You personally may not find what goes on around a hockey game to be interesting, but for a lot of people—most people—it would enhance the experience and would get more people into the game.

Having been to games at the Joe, at GM Place (Canucks), and the United Center (Hawks), I can say that there are a lot more people that get into the game at GM Place and the UC. Granted with the sort of sample size we're talking about, there can be off nights, but overall, you can't tell me that the pre-game introductions during the playoffs don't get the crowd more fired up, and in turn that gets the players fired up.

It adds a sense of theater to the game, and gets the adrenaline pumping. There's a big psychological effect there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
My attempt at sarcasm :rolleyes:

Some here are linking a new arena would = a much better experience at an NHL game. For the better portion of a decade the Hawks sucked, and so did attending games at the UC (unless you were a Red Wing fan). Since last season being a Hawks fan, and going to games in the UC has been a good experience. Prior to that the UC/Hawk combo = failure to most fans, and many had wished the barn that was across the street on Madison Ave was still around.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not against a new arena, or a renovated Joe - just against the idea of numerous makeovers that'll change the entire look, and experience of what I've become accustomed to, and associate with when I attend a game in Detroit ie Bud Lynch, Karen Neuman, corny music over the PA system, etc, etc.

I'm not into copying what others do; I like what I see when I attend games in Detroit.

From a business standpoint, sadly, if they estimate increased earnings from a new arena, they will do it whether you don't like the new look and experience or not. It's all about the benjamins.

EDIT: I read what you said wrong, but my point still stands.

Edited by dropkickshanahans

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
So we need to copy other teams pre-game hype/loud music/lavish scoreboard in order to keep fans with limited attention spans happy?...Would that include numerous years of icing a crappy hockey team as well that have been seen with the likes of Chicago, and Vancouver as well?

If that's the case then I'd rather see a winning team at the Joe that's capable of winning the Cup every year minus all the little extras.

I've been to games in Detroit, Chicago (UC, and the old Stadium), St.Louis, Dallas, Toronto, Nashville, Phoenix, and Minneapolis; they all are unique, and have their own charm...IMO Detroit doesn't need to make any changes.

Winning team and arena are unrelated, frankly.

The organization as a whole would make a lot more money and it would be a better experience for fans, though, which would build a (bigger, in this case) culture around the team which would make it even more desirable for a player to come to Detroit.

The Joe is nice and all, but you can't tell me that even from a player standpoint it would be nice to have a really nice, modern dressing room for them, rather than something from the late 70s.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah, the new arena needs to be built. Mr. I has the real estate, and has had it for a while now. We all know why he bought the nice big piece of land next to the Fox. The only thing he's waiting for is an economic recovery for the building of said arena. Who knows when Michigan will start to turn around?

I'm sure a new arena would energize the Wings' fanbase. Not that it really NEEDS to be, but of course we all know the Joe is not much of a building...besides all the great memories contained there, its sub-par. Great views of the ice though.

If a new arena is built, and the Joe is torn down, I would like to see the Wings play at the Palace up in Auburn Hills in the meantime (for a season). I think this would draw in more people from the burbs, and they'd be hooked when the new arena opened.

And how about a preseason game in Windsor. Who hasn't been to games and seen the cars lined up to go back across the river? Thats a big part of the Wings' fanbase, and can't be ignored. I'm sure theres more interest to be tapped there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest lnvincible
It better be handicap accessible for all the injured players we have...

LMAO! That made me laugh.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
From what I've seen the Wings locker room looks pretty nice; dunno if that would be a deal breaker for a guy who's considering Detroit as a place to play as much as the local economy, fan base, quality of schools (if the player has kids), crime, etc, etc.

You're right concerning the extra revenue generated from additional suites/high end seating that a new arena would have over the Joe; it's the primary reason why Ilitch wants a new place just behind the FOX Theatre.

It's nice, but from what I've seen player facilities in other places are nicer.

You're right though, the area and the fan base are going to be more important than the arena.

That said, Detroit does have Grosse Pointe (and other suburbs), so...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My point in my post was this. As all of us would like to see hockey as a sport, it is no longer the case. It is a business. There are two types of hockey fans, those who are there for the game and those who are there for the experience. Unfortunatley, most buildings cannot sell out with just fans who are there for the game. While we were able to get away with having a good team and fairly old arena, these days are over. In economic times like this, people must justify spending the money on the ticket based on more than just the game, otherwise they could get the same entertainment value watching it at home. I have seasons tickets and attend most if not all games. I have not made suggestions to add ice dancers, or a mascot, or anything outragious that would alter the face of the franchise, however I was merely proposing some suggestions that would improve the experience of the average hockey fan. I would much rather see an arena full with 20,000 fans (14,000 hardcore, 6,000 average fans) than 14,000 total. If you dont think this affects the players think again. Other than the fact that the wings have a little more sleep for home games, and the history involved, we dont really have much of a home ice advantage. Our crowd is quiet and weak, and the atmosphere is stale. The only chance the wings have at this point to boost attendance, and restore the excitment in the joe is to either build a new arena, finish last and get a superstar, or change the way things are done at the joe Ie. the suggestions I posted earlier. Those who disagree and believe that its all about the product on the ice should look at how much they really know about the game, because at this point, its more than just a game

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
So we need to copy other teams pre-game hype/loud music/lavish scoreboard in order to keep fans with limited attention spans happy?...Would that include numerous years of icing a crappy hockey team as well that have been seen with the likes of Chicago, and Vancouver as well?

If that's the case then I'd rather see a winning team at the Joe that's capable of winning the Cup every year minus all the little extras.

I've been to games in Detroit, Chicago (UC, and the old Stadium), St.Louis, Dallas, Toronto, Nashville, Phoenix, and Minneapolis; they all are unique, and have their own charm...IMO Detroit doesn't need to make any changes.

well sir, you go tell that to mr ilitch who is giving away tickets through the third round of the playoffs in order to fill his arena. Get over it, times have changed. This is not copying, its called staying with the times. why dont they have someone manually zamboni the ice too

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Yeah, the new arena needs to be built. Mr. I has the real estate, and has had it for a while now. We all know why he bought the nice big piece of land next to the Fox. The only thing he's waiting for is an economic recovery for the building of said arena. Who knows when Michigan will start to turn around?

I'm sure a new arena would energize the Wings' fanbase. Not that it really NEEDS to be, but of course we all know the Joe is not much of a building...besides all the great memories contained there, its sub-par. Great views of the ice though.

If a new arena is built, and the Joe is torn down, I would like to see the Wings play at the Palace up in Auburn Hills in the meantime (for a season). I think this would draw in more people from the burbs, and they'd be hooked when the new arena opened.

And how about a preseason game in Windsor. Who hasn't been to games and seen the cars lined up to go back across the river? Thats a big part of the Wings' fanbase, and can't be ignored. I'm sure theres more interest to be tapped there.

You know I think you`re onto something here. Im from windsor and I think an exhibition ghame would be great. We have a new arena for the spitfires that while it only holds about 6000 seats, would be perfect and show the windsor fanbase their appreciation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
If a new arena is built, and the Joe is torn down, I would like to see the Wings play at the Palace up in Auburn Hills in the meantime (for a season). I think this would draw in more people from the burbs, and they'd be hooked when the new arena opened.

And how about a preseason game in Windsor. Who hasn't been to games and seen the cars lined up to go back across the river? Thats a big part of the Wings' fanbase, and can't be ignored. I'm sure theres more interest to be tapped there.

Conversely, you could have the Wings play a season IN Windsor as they did almost 100 years ago... Even with a smaller arena, they'd guarantee to sell out every game. Toronto's fan base would look pathetic if the Wings were in Windsor.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Crymson
Do you think having a new arena would spark our Red Wings? Ive been to the arena a few times its real old compared to ALOT of other teams. Whats your opinion on it?

Quick! Let's get it built before the team's next game! Everyone must pitch in!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this