Kings fans visiting JLA in December

[GoKings11 0]

My family and I are going to be flying to Detroit from LA to see the Kings play the Wings on December 17. I was hoping you guys could help me out with picking a decently priced hotel near the arena. Also, if there are any fun hockey related things to see/do while in town, I would love to hear them.

What is the best way to go about getting tickets. We will need 4 tickets, preferably between $30-75 per ticket. We don't mind sitting up high.

Thanks!

[Kira 451]

My family and I are going to be flying to Detroit from LA to see the Kings play the Wings on December 17. I was hoping you guys could help me out with picking a decently priced hotel near the arena. Also, if there are any fun hockey related things to see/do while in town, I would love to hear them.

What is the best way to go about getting tickets. We will need 4 tickets, preferably between $30-75 per ticket. We don't mind sitting up high.

Thanks!

Best thing to do on tickets is to either go to the website or call (313) 396-7575.

Check with somewhere like hotels.com or Travelocity on hotel rooms. Most of the reasonably priced hotels/motels are in the suburbs.

Fun hockey related stuff to do? Dinner at Hockeytown Cafe - there is a lot of memorabilia on the walls, pictures, jerseys, etc. And the food is good - I'll vouch for that.

If you're coming in the day before, maybe Michigan will be playing at home in Ann Arbor. Their games are great fun, and Yost Arena is quite the barn. Bring skates and you can skate at Campus Martius downtown.

I know this isn't much help, but take it for what it's worth.

[GoKings11 0]

I actually didn't even think about trying to check out a college game. That's a great idea. Being out here in LA, we don't really have college hockey so I'll definitely look in that.

Thanks for the Hockeytown Cafe idea as well. Definitely sounds like a place my family would enjoy.

[Nic 59]

I don't know if you have any age restrictions in your family, but the casinos are always fun. Also, great food in Greektown, I try to go there ever time I go downtown. 50 cents or a buck each way to take the People Mover (train) from JLA to Greektown. Pegasus, New Parthenon (My favorite), Pizza Papalis, Mosaic's are great places. Also - Free parking at Greektown casino. If you do take the People Mover over, there's always a TON of people at the JLA stop after the game, you can walk around the arena and go into Cobo and take their stop. There will be people doing this, so just follow the smaller crowd if ya want. Also, Cheli's Chili Is right by Hockeytown Cafe.

Venues to check if there's any concerts in town if you'll be here more than one day: Filmore, Fox Theater, St. Andrew's, The Shelter.

I agree that most affordable hotels will be in the suburbs. When I have friends coming to do stuff in Detroit I always recommend searching in Roseville. There's an area with a lot of cheaper hotels (Red Roof, Days, etc) about 15-20 min from downtown right off of I-94. I'm an east sider so I don't know the area between the D and the airport as well, so maybe someone else can chime in about that.

Also, if you have passports, the Windsor tunnel is right there by Cobo/JLA, I know there's some cheap hotels in downtown Windsor, which is a lot closer. If you go this route, though, mention border crossing to your rental car company. The folks at the Windsor tunnel aren't fond of rental cars, though. I got detained for crossing in one. Caesar's Windsor also has free parking (Ontario age restriction is 19).

Royal Oak and Ferndale are fairly close and have good bars and restaurants. I highly recommend the Woodward Avenue Brewery if you head up that way. Excellent food there.

Edited August 14, 2011 by Nic

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Don't forget a side trip to the Hitsville USA

[GoKings11 0]

I don't know if you have any age restrictions in your family, but the casinos are always fun. Also, great food in Greektown, I try to go there ever time I go downtown. 50 cents or a buck each way to take the People Mover (train) from JLA to Greektown. Pegasus, New Parthenon (My favorite), Pizza Papalis, Mosaic's are great places. Also - Free parking at Greektown casino. If you do take the People Mover over, there's always a TON of people at the JLA stop after the game, you can walk around the arena and go into Cobo and take their stop. There will be people doing this, so just follow the smaller crowd if ya want. Also, Cheli's Chili Is right by Hockeytown Cafe.

Venues to check if there's any concerts in town if you'll be here more than one day: Filmore, Fox Theater, St. Andrew's, The Shelter.

I agree that most affordable hotels will be in the suburbs. When I have friends coming to do stuff in Detroit I always recommend searching in Roseville. There's an area with a lot of cheaper hotels (Red Roof, Days, etc) about 15-20 min from downtown right off of I-94. I'm an east sider so I don't know the area between the D and the airport as well, so maybe someone else can chime in about that.

Also, if you have passports, the Windsor tunnel is right there by Cobo/JLA, I know there's some cheap hotels in downtown Windsor, which is a lot closer. If you go this route, though, mention border crossing to your rental car company. The folks at the Windsor tunnel aren't fond of rental cars, though. I got detained for crossing in one. Caesar's Windsor also has free parking (Ontario age restriction is 19).

Royal Oak and Ferndale are fairly close and have good bars and restaurants. I highly recommend the Woodward Avenue Brewery if you head up that way. Excellent food there.

No age restrictions here. My sister and I are both over 21, traveling with our parents. I think we are looking at the Greektown Hotel and Casino, seems like a lot of Detroit people are recommending it. Also saw Hockeytown Authentics recommended as a place to visit....what is it?

Thanks for the help guys!

[Nic 59]

No age restrictions here. My sister and I are both over 21, traveling with our parents. I think we are looking at the Greektown Hotel and Casino, seems like a lot of Detroit people are recommending it. Also saw Hockeytown Authentics recommended as a place to visit....what is it?

Thanks for the help guys!

Hockeytown Authentics is a Red Wings merchandise store in Troy. If you want to buy a bunch of Wings stuff that's your place. They do have a small outlet in JLA as well. It's basically the Official store.

http://www.paperchips.com/hockeytownauthentics/

I've never had a reason to stay downtown at any hotel, but Greektown is by far my favorite of the casinos we have.

Edited August 15, 2011 by Nic

[MulesWillFly93 199]

I live in San Diego, and I just went to Detroit in March! Wish I could help you with hotels, but I stayed in Allen Park, which is 15 min. away from JLA, so that's not what you're looking for. As for hockey stuff to do, I think everybody just about covered it. I guess there's the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, but I didn't go, so I don't know what it's like.

The one non-hockey thing I would definitely not miss is the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn...I guess you could say it's mostly dedicated to the inventions that enabled history to be made in the U.S. And come on, they have one of the original Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles - how cool is that?

Don't know how much time you have, but the other thing I liked was just driving through the Indian Village neighborhood, which is close to downtown. There are a lot of amazing old houses there, some in better condition than others, with all kinds of irreplaceable little details; it's just something unique that you don't get to see out here. Also in the Totally Random category is Pewabic Pottery downtown, if you're into that kind of thing at all. They've been around since the early 1900s, and it's kinda cool because you can go back into their workshop and see how they make everything (it's nice to go stand by the kiln if you're freezing your ass off, too).

Ooh, and don't forget to go to a coney dog restaurant! I recommend Lafayette, but ya gotta go to American next door, too, and decide for yourself which one you like.

Have fun! I had a blast! People give me the craziest looks when I tell them I went to Detroit on vacation, but they don't know what they're missing.

[Kira 451]

That's true. My hubby and I spent a couple days on our boat this summer at Milliken Marina downtown, and it was great. No problems with people, everyone was nice.

Hockeytown Authentics is very cool. Caters to Red Wings and Tigers fans, but the things they have are very neat. Game worn jerseys, game used sticks (I almost got a stick of Pasha's for $100), great pictures, etc. Definitely worth a trip.

I've also heard recommendations for Slow's BBQ on Michigan Ave. I hear it's great, though I haven't eaten there yet. I will recommend, however, a little hole in the wall place in Hamtramck called Maine Street Cafe. Great breakfasts, and their chicken Alfredo is good too.

[GoKings11 0]

Thanks for all the ideas guys. That Indian Village thing sounds pretty cool, I like stuff like that.

So far the plan is: Fly in Friday night and hit up Cheli's Chili for dinner and then call it a night. It will be a long travel day. Saturday it's lookin like we'll get up and head to the Henry Ford Musuem, (hopefully we'll have time to drive through the Indian Village) then come back get ready for the game and go to dinner at Hockeytown Cafe before the game. We then drive out Sunday morning to head to Niagra Falls. Then we'll go to the Kings vs Toronto game Monday night.

If you guys are ever out in L.A., I'll be more than happy to return the favor!

[Seraph 240]

For hotels, I always tell people on here to use priceline. I've made a handful of trips and have used it with great results. The city isn't exactly a tourist destination, so a lot of the four star hotels in downtown are empty. Most of them are also very close to the Joe. So if you get on there and start low-balling the four-star hotels, you usually come up with something very good. Three out of five times we got the Renaissance center which is walking distance to the Joe and the view is great.

[BeerMe 1]

Try Cobo Joe's for pre-game food and drinks. Make sure you really wipe your feet well on the welcome mat though...

[Majsheppard 203]

I want to welcome you preemptively to the city of Detroit. It might have a bad rep and has seen better days, but it really is no worse than anywhere else. Stay out of some neighbors outside of the downtown area and you will be fine.

I might also suggest trying to get a ticket to the Lions game if there is one while you are in town. The team is getting better and the Stadium is one of the nicest around.

If you don't count the service fee, you will have no problem getting good tickets in that price range. Almost all the seats are good ones at the Joe. Outside of the bathroom that is...

If I knew I was going to the game I'd offer to show you around... but my finances cannot assure that... but have fun and good luck to you and your teamAnze and Dustin.

[Kira 451]

Same here. If I knew I was going to be down that way, I'd make sure you were able to find your way around. Alas, not able to. But I really hope you have a wonderful time.