98 replies to this topic

[rrasco]

AA Center (the Hangar) is a beautiful basketball venue. It absolutely sucks to try to watch hockey there. It is too steep and you can't see the corners, so you learn to watch the game on the jumbotron - admittedly one of the coolest jumbotrons I've seen.

I am very glad I have been able to catch a few games at the Joe before they dump it. What a shame, when/if that happens.

I don't agree with that, the AA is an amazing venue in its own right, even for hockey. I've been to no less than 4 or 5 Wing's games there and never had a problem seeing anything. It may be steep on the second level, but I wouldn't know, I've never been up there. with $75 lower bowl tickets, why would you? Depending on where you sit in ANY venue, the corners are hard to see for hockey period, especially the closer you get to the ice.

Oh, and I have a hankering it may be called Amway Arena or something along those lines....

Edited by rrasco, 21 May 2012 - 03:44 PM.

[Jedi]

I don't agree with that, the AA is an amazing venue in its own right, even for hockey. I've been to no less than 4 or 5 Wing's games there and never had a problem seeing anything. It may be steep on the second level, but I wouldn't know, I've never been up there. with $75 lower bowl tickets, why would you? Depending on where you sit an ANY venue, the corners are hard to see for hockey period, especially the close you get to the ice.

I've sat in the both upper and lower levels of AAC, and haven't once been disappointed. Yes, the upper levels are steep, but they do afford a good view of the entire ice surface, and we had no problems tracking the puck or even reading the names on the back of the jerseys.

Check out my pic from the last Wings game I went to, to see what I mean. Taken from the lower rows of the upper level, still a great view, and only about $40 a ticket.

[rrasco]

I've sat in the both upper and lower levels of AAC, and haven't once been disappointed. Yes, the upper levels are steep, but they do afford a good view of the entire ice surface, and we had no problems tracking the puck or even reading the names on the back of the jerseys.

Check out my pic from the last Wings game I went to, to see what I mean. Taken from the lower rows of the upper level, still a great view, and only about $40 a ticket.

Was that from this year?

[Frozen-Man]

I've sat in the both upper and lower levels of AAC, and haven't once been disappointed. Yes, the upper levels are steep, but they do afford a good view of the entire ice surface, and we had no problems tracking the puck or even reading the names on the back of the jerseys.

Check out my pic from the last Wings game I went to, to see what I mean. Taken from the lower rows of the upper level, still a great view, and only about $40 a ticket.

I agree I have sat in multiple places at the AA arena from the best to the worst and in between and always had a good view of the game.

[SetecX]

Having 2000+ less seats seems kind of dumb. If anything, I figured it would have been about 2k more. They have an opportunity here to make a really badass arena. I hope they don't screw it up. I can almost hear Ilitch now, pulling a Holland. "We like our 18,000 seats".

[schulzte]

Having 2000+ less seats seems kind of dumb. If anything, I figured it would have been about 2k more. They have an opportunity here to make a really badass arena. I hope they don't screw it up. I can almost hear Ilitch now, pulling a Holland. "We like our 18,000 seats".

18,000 must be a magic number that someone came up with when penciling out how to maximize arena revenue vs. marginal construction cost. The way arenas are built now, those 2,000 extra seats makes the building taller, the footprint bigger, and mechanical and service portions of the arena increasingly large. Those 2,000 extra seats will generate the least amount of revenue and have the most marginal cost per seat. That said, the Red Wings have been more or less regularly selling out 20,066 in an underwhelming building for the better part of two decades now; I think it would be nice for the new rink to hit 20,000.....perhaps 19,500 with significant SRO places. The last 11 arenas constructed for NHL teams have all been between 17,125 (Phoenix) and 18,819 (Toronto), averaging 18,186 (not including Winnipeg).

Here's hoping..........New Olympia Stadium

[Hockeytown0001]

[haroldsnepsts]

Having 2000+ less seats seems kind of dumb. If anything, I figured it would have been about 2k more. They have an opportunity here to make a really badass arena. I hope they don't screw it up. I can almost hear Ilitch now, pulling a Holland. "We like our 18,000 seats".

I'm guessing those 2000 less seats are made up for (financially anyway) in more box seats.

[PredsFanTheBayouState]

AWESOME!!! I want a big screen in the arena.

do you want a big screen like the dallas cowboys:

[Z and D for the C]

They have hired the architects to design the new rink.

Linky

Couldn't they have waited like 6 years for me to get my professional degree and certification?

Dream: gone.

[redwingslady87]

I don't agree with that, the AA is an amazing venue in its own right, even for hockey. I've been to no less than 4 or 5 Wing's games there and never had a problem seeing anything. It may be steep on the second level, but I wouldn't know, I've never been up there. with $75 lower bowl tickets, why would you? Depending on where you sit in ANY venue, the corners are hard to see for hockey period, especially the closer you get to the ice.

Oh, and I have a hankering it may be called Amway Arena or something along those lines....

There is already Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida so I doubt that it takes on the Amway name. Possibly another Detroit name though. Motor City Arena anyone?

[Doc Holliday]

Couldn't they have waited like 6 years for me to get my professional degree and certification?

Dream: gone.

Or even three more years for me?

[Wings_Dynasty]

Having 2000+ less seats seems kind of dumb. If anything, I figured it would have been about 2k more. They have an opportunity here to make a really badass arena. I hope they don't screw it up. I can almost hear Ilitch now, pulling a Holland. "We like our 18,000 seats".

Well, if the games look "empty" now then we know there is a problem.

The 2000 seats' money will be made up for with preferred/luxury seating. And there may be roomier seating than there is currently at the Joe.

[LeftWinger]

I would hope for a modest 20,000 seats all together. As for a name, I am pining for The Delta Centre. Since taking over Northwest Airlines as the largest carrier in Detroit (in the 4th largest airport in the country) Delta hasn't done too much to become part of the community and really invest some money in Detroit the City outside of Romulus The Airport. The Utah Jazz used to have the Delta Center as the name of their arena, but that was years ago, it has since changed. With a brand new arena, and basically Delta still being "NEW" to the area (I know they flew in and out of here prior, but it was like 6 flights) this would be a great opportunity for both Ilitch and Richard Anderson (Delta CEO) to work together on this to help Detroit grow even more. Of course, with it being a Hockey Arena, I had to switch the ER to RE in CentRE to give it a more Canadian flavor, plus the words Delta Centre flow off the tongue pretty easily.

Then all the Airport Authority and the City of Detroit has to do is connect the city to the airport via an light rail with stops in Dearborn and Comerica/Ford Field and Casino's, then the city will finally start to turn the corner. You will have folks actually FLY in to go to a game, dinner, casino, ride the train back to the Airport the next day or same night, and go home. All that sounds like Cash to the City to me...but then again, there is the corrupt City Council and Anti-Union Bing to deal with and that is a whole other monster!

Mr. Ilitch, Mr. Anderson...The Delta Centre...get it done!

[stevieisthebest]

Speaking of awesome arenas, has anyone else been to the Tampa Bay Times Forum? (formally St. Pete Times Forum) That place was recently re-done and it is amazing. We sat 2nd row to the top in the corner. We parked maybe 75 yards form the arena in an open parking lot for 10 bucks. As soon as the game ended we were out of the arena and onto the freeway in 25 minutes and the game was sold out. Seriously. It takes about a decade to get home from the Joe. I was very impressed with that arena. Very nice surrounding area too, probably has something to do with the fact that it was in Tampa Bay, but very nice place.

[LeftWinger]

Speaking of awesome arenas, has anyone else been to the Tampa Bay Times Forum? (formally St. Pete Times Forum) That place was recently re-done and it is amazing. We sat 2nd row to the top in the corner. We parked maybe 75 yards form the arena in an open parking lot for 10 bucks. As soon as the game ended we were out of the arena and onto the freeway in 25 minutes and the game was sold out. Seriously. It takes about a decade to get home from the Joe. I was very impressed with that arena. Very nice surrounding area too, probably has something to do with the fact that it was in Tampa Bay, but very nice place.

Ya, it sure does have a lot to do with the surrounding area, and Detroit, right now, is no gem or easy to maneuver around, but that is where my light rail comes in. Even folks that live near the airport, south of the city would find it beneficial to park OUTSIDE of the city, ride the train downtown and spend the evening, then ride back and drive home. It's a win/win for everyone, plus it would keep the traffic down around the arena's on game day's/night's. The train would pay for itself in no time.

Here is a personal experience, I drove to the GTA a few years ago's, couldn't get a hotel downtown so I drove back outside the city and stayed in Mississauga, The Valhalla Inn to be exact. We chose that hotel with a subway station right near it. When we got out in the morning we drove aprox. 5 mins (if that) to a subway station, rode the subway downtown, stayed most the day, drank and partied, whatever, went back to subway, waited and rode back, sobered up a bit, drove back to hotel, freshened up, then repeated step 1-3 for the evening for dinner concert and night life.

I just wish that the powers that be in Detroit would get their heads out of the assess and wake up! YOU NEED PEOPLE AND CASH TO TURN THE CITY AROUND NOT JUST MINIMUM WAGE JOBS!!! Plus, other than the Foxtown area, everyting is spread WAY to far out, casinos all over, restaurants here and there. Detroit NEEDS an actual DOWNTOWN area again, with everything within WALKING distance,so when you arrive via the train, you can go from spot to spot enjoying your night with a TON of options, not just Greektown or Foxtown or Mexicantown. Hell you can't even walk from casino to casino, you are stuck in one the entire night...

[Hiei]

There is already Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida so I doubt that it takes on the Amway name. Possibly another Detroit name though. Motor City Arena anyone?

The Dallas Mavericks play at American Airlines CENTER

The Miami Heat play at American Airlines ARENA.


If AA could get away with naming 2 NBA Arenas, then Amway would most likely get away with Orlando and Detroit. If they have money enough.

Edited by Hiei, 22 May 2012 - 11:48 AM.

[Jedi]

Was that from this year?

'10. It was from Eaves' Hat Trick game. Final Scoreboard.

Speaking of awesome arenas, has anyone else been to the Tampa Bay Times Forum? (formally St. Pete Times Forum) That place was recently re-done and it is amazing. We sat 2nd row to the top in the corner. We parked maybe 75 yards form the arena in an open parking lot for 10 bucks. As soon as the game ended we were out of the arena and onto the freeway in 25 minutes and the game was sold out. Seriously. It takes about a decade to get home from the Joe. I was very impressed with that arena. Very nice surrounding area too, probably has something to do with the fact that it was in Tampa Bay, but very nice place.

AAC has parking in all directions, both private lots and city property. I usually park under a freeway and walk to the stadium (not even half a mile). Occasionally I can get Stars tickets through my company (they have season tickets), and those include free parking right next to AAC, which is always nice too. Definitely better than waiting for 45 minutes in the biting cold for a vastly overcrowded people mover train to get me back to the Greektown.

Moving to downtown will be good for the city, and good for the Wings too. As much as I love the Joe, and would be sad to see it go, it's something that needs to be done for a number of reasons. When they finally do demolish the Joe, I need to get someone to bring a piece of it back for me. Talk about something awesome to have at my desk at work...

[ogreslayer]

As much as I would prefer no corporate naming rights on a new arena, sadly it's inevitable. Too bad they couldn't go with something like the New Olympia Arena.

[LeftWinger]

Amway Center? Sounds like a shopping mall full of $1 stores...

I understand the local ties with Amway, I guess if the went that way there are plenty of other options too...Meijer Garden's anyone? Maybe go all the way back in Detroit's history and go with Cadillac Centre?

Those are three I could live with:

Delta Centre

Meijer Gardens

Cadillac Centre


edit: I also like PNC Place...

Edited by LeftWinger, 22 May 2012 - 12:02 PM.