New arena news?

[stevkrause 1,247]

I haven't heard anything about it in quite some time and was wondering if anyone had any new info on it?

With the Piston's sale now, the next arena should likely be a single occupancy arena (great in my mind, as arena's that are shared by basketball and hockey, never have as good of ice) and possible multimedia complex as well... The Joe is really dilapidated and on its last legs and I think they need to expedite this process, as it seems to have become stagnant and for them to stay in the Joe for another 5+ years, which it's starting to look like, seems ridiculous... in my mind, to stay in the Joe past 2009-2010 seemed ridiculous...

[toby91_ca 620]

From what I recall there were rumors of a new arena to be shared by the Red Wings/Pistons if/when the sale of the Pistons was completed by the Ilitch family.

Now that the sale was held off (wasn't it due to the questionable value of the Pistons/Palace?) the talks of a new arena for the Red Wings in general has cooled off.

I'm really confused one two points:

1 - what does the Ilitch family have to do with the the sale/purchase of the Detroit Pistons? They have never owned the organization and are not prospective buyers.

2 - wasn't the sale of the Pistons finalized back in April?

[stevkrause 1,247]

anyone have any new info? I've been doing searches and can't find anything...

I'm really confused one two points:

1 - what does the Ilitch family have to do with the the sale/purchase of the Detroit Pistons? They have never owned the organization and are not prospective buyers.

2 - wasn't the sale of the Pistons finalized back in April?

Gorich (sp?) just finalized his purchase of the Pistons and Palace Entertainment last week... the Illitch fam has been out of the running for a little while now, but was rumored to be buying the Pistons a while back...

Edited June 6, 2011 by stevkrause

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

Personally I love the Joe, I hope we stay for a good long while. It is easily the best arena I have been to in the entire NHL, and I have been to a few.

[Pat 44]

May 26, 2011

By LARRY LAGE

Associated Press

DETROIT — Chris Ilitch says his family still has a goal of building a downtown arena for the Detroit Red Wings.

The president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings said Wednesday the team will play in Joe Louis Arena next season.

The Ilitches made a run at buying the Detroit Pistons in part to bolster its chances of getting financial help for a new arena to be the home for both teams in the Motor City. But Beverly Hills, Calif., billionaire Tom Gores reached a deal last month to buy the NBA franchise, its arena and Palace Sports & Entertainment.

Joe Louis Arena opened in 1979 and is among the NHL's oldest facilities.

Link to article:

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/05/26/11/Red-Wings-still-holding-out-hope-for-new/landing_redwings.html?blockID=528852&feedID=3569

That's all I've seen the past few weeks sadly

[stevkrause 1,247]

Link to article:

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/05/26/11/Red-Wings-still-holding-out-hope-for-new/landing_redwings.html?blockID=528852&feedID=3569

That's all I've seen the past few weeks sadly

hey, even that is more than I have seen for a while now, unfortunately, it's not saying much we haven't been hearing for the past 3 years, but thanks for the link!

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

If Ilitch wants to build a new arena, I sincerely hopes he builds it in a more prime location, and plans it with immediate attractions nearby (restaurants, parking, etc.).

The Joe's biggest drawback is it is surrounded by highways and express streets. And the fact there is no visibility to the river it is close to from inside.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Personally I love the Joe, I hope we stay for a good long while. It is easily the best arena I have been to in the entire NHL, and I have been to a few.

Nostalgia and history are great... facilities, comfort, ease of access, parking, access, etc... all are TERRIBLE...

It has great memories, but there comes times that you need to say good bye, the building is a relic and is falling apart and needs to go... just as it sucked to see Tiger Stadium go away for the same reasons, you can't always fix things with a fresh coat of paint and some new pads on the seats...

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

Nostalgia and history are great... facilities, comfort, ease of access, parking, access, etc... all are TERRIBLE...

It has great memories, but there comes times that you need to say good bye, the building is a relic and is falling apart and needs to go... just as it sucked to see Tiger Stadium go away for the same reasons, you can't always fix things with a fresh coat of paint and some new pads on the seats...

I'm not saying that for the nostalgia. I believe the layout of The Joe, is clearly the best in the league. When they make us a new arena I hope it is very similar to The Joe of today. Parking may be a pain, but I find that ease of fan movement throughout the facility is second to none. I mean walking through the United Center, or Scottrade, or even The Garden out in Boston, none of those facilities have an easier more streamlined way for fans to get to their seats and out of the arena.

[TheCaptain19 49]

im hoping they do end up bulding it in the space behind the fox. it would be a perfect location, and add to the already very nice part of downtown detroit.

[WizardOfOz30 1,886]

If Ilitch wants to build a new arena, I sincerely hopes he builds it in a more prime location, and plans it with immediate attractions nearby (restaurants, parking, etc.).

The Joe's biggest drawback is it is surrounded by highways and express streets. And the fact there is no visibility to the river it is close to from inside.

Prime location to Ilitch might be near Comerica and Ford Field. We don't need to have that much crammed into one area. I don't think there is enough room around there. And if it does happen parking will be even worse than at the Joe if we run into multiple games happening on the same day/time.

[stevkrause 1,247]

I'm not saying that for the nostalgia. I believe the layout of The Joe, is clearly the best in the league. When they make us a new arena I hope it is very similar to The Joe of today. Parking may be a pain, but I find that ease of fan movement throughout the facility is second to none. I mean walking through the United Center, or Scottrade, or even The Garden out in Boston, none of those facilities have an easier more streamlined way for fans to get to their seats and out of the arena.

for sure, the visibility in the Joe is second to none and I agree with you there 100% and think that they should try to re-create that in the new arena, but they need better luxury lower bowl suites as well... I disagree completely about the concourse though, I think that needs to be improved upon drastically, from layout, entry points, to accessibility of concessions, to multimedia, to the single biggest one of them all - BATHROOMS, which are abysmal...

im hoping they do end up bulding it in the space behind the fox. it would be a perfect location, and add to the already very nice part of downtown detroit.

that's where I'm hoping it will end up as well, preferably with a massive parking structure that is ATTACHED to the arena, which could also be used for Tiger's games, bars, casino access, etc...

[Din758 371]

The concourse needs to be about 20 feet wider, and there has to be 4-5 entry/exit points. 20,066+ pouring out 2 doors is a huge problem (Dont forget most fans leave though the city side doors).

[Gizmo 21]

The concourse needs to be about 20 feet wider, and there has to be 4-5 entry/exit points. 20,066+ pouring out 2 doors is a huge problem (Dont forget most fans leave though the city side doors).

I totally agree on the need for a wider concourse. In 2006 we went to the Verizon Center to see the Caps and the wide concourse was awesome. I'd also like some more leg room between seating rows so I don't have to constantly worry about kneeing the people in front of me and it's almost impossible to have people pass in front of you to get to their seats, but I understand that the "upside" is that you're closing to the ice.

[hockey&beer 16]

The big drawback to a new areana in that the sightlines and overall proximity to the ice will be lost. It's guaranteed that the luxury boxes will be in between the upper and lower bowls which will move the upper bowl seats up 20ft. A new areana will more than likely be the "norm" for new areanas: very little character, the fans are moved away from the playing surface, and it takes forever to get out of the building.

Not to mention the rumors seem to still be swirling that it will end up behing the Fox. WHich, as mentioned before, will be HELL to park. Especially if you consider it is entirely possible to have Wings, Lions and Tigers all playing, not to mention other happenings at the Fox, Second City, and Fillmore.

[stevkrause 1,247]

The big drawback to a new areana in that the sightlines and overall proximity to the ice will be lost. It's guaranteed that the luxury boxes will be in between the upper and lower bowls which will move the upper bowl seats up 20ft. A new areana will more than likely be the "norm" for new areanas: very little character, the fans are moved away from the playing surface, and it takes forever to get out of the building.

Not to mention the rumors seem to still be swirling that it will end up behing the Fox. WHich, as mentioned before, will be HELL to park. Especially if you consider it is entirely possible to have Wings, Lions and Tigers all playing, not to mention other happenings at the Fox, Second City, and Fillmore.

The sight lines don't have to lost... as long as they come up with a similar design, the vantage points can be pretty similar, but it's a joke that the "luxury" boxes now are so far up, that you can't even see the game/event you're at and if you shell out that kind of money, you deserve a good vantage point and I'm sorry, but the 3-4 rows at the top SHOULD be the ones to make up the difference...

As far as parking, if they build the arena ATTACHED to a massive parking structure, it could drastically HELP parking, not hurt it, not to mention other events... it only makes sense...

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

We've got one of the only arenas in the league not named after some corporate sponsor, which I find to be pretty cool. Hopefully we keep it that way, if a new building is put up.

[lookalive07 251]

The big drawback to a new areana in that the sightlines and overall proximity to the ice will be lost. It's guaranteed that the luxury boxes will be in between the upper and lower bowls which will move the upper bowl seats up 20ft. A new areana will more than likely be the "norm" for new areanas: very little character, the fans are moved away from the playing surface, and it takes forever to get out of the building.

Not to mention the rumors seem to still be swirling that it will end up behing the Fox. WHich, as mentioned before, will be HELL to park. Especially if you consider it is entirely possible to have Wings, Lions and Tigers all playing, not to mention other happenings at the Fox, Second City, and Fillmore.

The Lions and Tigers schedules never overlap in 2011 if you don't consider the playoffs for the Tigers. Even then, the Lions play Monday 10/10, Sunday 10/16, and Sunday 10/23, so the chance that they would overlap is 3/31. Since the NHL schedule isn't release yet, I will assume it will start on 10/6 this year, and that the Red Wings will likely play 8-9 games in October, with between 4 and 6 of them at home. Last season, none of the games in October were played on Sunday.

So I'd say the likelyhood of the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings playing all on the same day is pretty slim. Plausible, but very slim.

I'd love to see that area expanded as a sports mecca if they could make the parking work, especially considering the city of Detroit really needs a new arena for the Red Wings. The Wings are the most dominant of the major 4 sports teams in Detroit and a new arena could provide a small spark to an upswing of the city of Detroit.

Edit: all this talk really makes me wish I had pursued Architecture.

Edited June 6, 2011 by lookalive07

[Konnan511 1,736]

For the love of God, more bathrooms, especially women's restrooms. Once we get a lot more of those, the stands won't look as empty as they look. Bigger concourse too, that'll help intermission traffic obviously.

[wings1110 184]

We've got one of the only arenas in the league not named after some corporate sponsor, which I find to be pretty cool. Hopefully we keep it that way, if a new building is put up.

that wont happen, the temptation of money is just 2 great. Especially with the city refusing to help out, as far as money, its most successful sports franchise, and one of the few things in the public eye that people see as positive about the city. Ide like for it to not be a corporate name, but im sure it will be....just as sponsor logos will eventually find their way onto nhl jerseys, which sickens me.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

that wont happen, the temptation of money is just 2 great. Especially with the city refusing to help out, as far as money, its most successful sports franchise, and one of the few things in the public eye that people see as positive about the city. Ide like for it to not be a corporate name, but im sure it will be....just as sponsor logos will eventually find their way onto nhl jerseys, which sickens me.

At which point I will quit buying NHL jerseys. I think ads on every square inch of the boards are enough.

[Buppy 1,720]

...

I'd love to see that area expanded as a sports mecca if they could make the parking work, especially considering the city of Detroit really needs a new arena for the Red Wings. The Wings are the most dominant of the major 4 sports teams in Detroit and a new arena could provide a small spark to an upswing of the city of Detroit.

I really hope they don't try to plug it in behind the Fox. Between the freeways, Comerica, Ford Field, Fox and Filmore, Grand Circus Park, two churches, and other existing businesses and parking lots...add an arena and parking structure there and there's no going to be any room for anythin else.

JLA is only like a mile and a half from Foxtown. Less to MGM, a little more to Greektown. You got the people mover, it's right on the river. It's actually a great location. It just needs some improvements, mostly in walkways immediately out of the arena.

The river walk behind Cobo could probably be renovated to put a couple bars/restaurants there, or even build a boardwalk on the river. Could probably add something around Hart Plaza, then you're at the Ren Cen. Add some good way to get from JLA to 3rd across the Lodge, then fill in the ground floor street fronts with restaurants, bars, shopping, etc. for the artery streets between the major points (MGM, Foxtown/Arenas, JLA/Cobo, RenCen, Greektown), add a decent shuttle service plus the people mover...you got yourself a nice, vital, city center that people from the suburbs actually want to visit.

Easier said than done I guess. But my dream would be moving the Pistons back to Cobo, and renovating (or rebuilding) that and the Joe.

[Barrie 900]

I don't mind the Joe being around for a few more years, I'm not ready to say goodbye.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Prime location to Ilitch might be near Comerica and Ford Field. We don't need to have that much crammed into one area. I don't think there is enough room around there. And if it does happen parking will be even worse than at the Joe if we run into multiple games happening on the same day/time.

Easy solution: new parking garage.

[evilmrt 636]

Some of the upgrades needed to the Joe seem like they should have been done years ago, which makes me think that the Ilitches are just completely uninterested in any further investment there. Were they waiting for the city of Detroit to pay for them? We could be waiting until the end of time for that.

And I'm talking about simple upgrades like new seats, lighting on the concourse, new bathrooms, etc. I love the Joe but they have not kept it up to the standards we expect for a world-class team, not even close. They want a new arena, so I don't blame them. I just wish they would start in on it sometime this decade.