Do We Really Need a New Stadium?

[OldMan333 13]

I get to maybe 3 or 4 games a year at the Joe. Rule #1 - NEVER park in the JLA lot (or Cobo roof for that matter). Rule #2 - Don't go in the main entrance attached to the JLA lot. Before they roped it all off for the remodel I would park around the old Cobo Arena garage or on Yzerman Drive. Now I park in the surface lot behind Cobo Joes bar - easy access and quick exit from any of these locations. you could also go over to greek town area and take one of the many party shuttles the bars send back and forth - that's always a party. No matter where you park, walk through or around Cobo to get to the river, then enter JLA from the river side - not only do you get a cool view of the river, the bridge and the birth-country of hockey, but you walk right into JLA -- virtually no line.

I love the current location. Walking the river front before and after the game is as much a part of the experience as the game itself. Won't be the same going to see the Wings in some new venue surrounded by parking lots.

[chuckdee 7]

I get to maybe 3 or 4 games a year at the Joe. Rule #1 - NEVER park in the JLA lot (or Cobo roof for that matter). Rule #2 - Don't go in the main entrance attached to the JLA lot. Before they roped it all off for the remodel I would park around the old Cobo Arena garage or on Yzerman Drive. Now I park in the surface lot behind Cobo Joes bar - easy access and quick exit from any of these locations. you could also go over to greek town area and take one of the many party shuttles the bars send back and forth - that's always a party. No matter where you park, walk through or around Cobo to get to the river, then enter JLA from the river side - not only do you get a cool view of the river, the bridge and the birth-country of hockey, but you walk right into JLA -- virtually no line.

I love the current location. Walking the river front before and after the game is as much a part of the experience as the game itself. Won't be the same going to see the Wings in some new venue surrounded by parking lots.

Some good tips. Thanks for sharing.

_______________________

"I have busted more hippies' noses than all the narcs in the free world." - Ted Nugent

Chuck Dee - AKA Chris

[Serratoni 49]

I'm torn. I would appreciate a new arena but not at the cost of the taxpayers.

[Tane 17]

When you go to a newer arena......newer as in the last 15 years, you realize what a Dump the Joe is........Great memories....always a good time....but a dump.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

I have been to the JLA, not recently but about 3 years ago. I do however go to every game that the Leafs play them in Toronto. The Air Canada Center makes a complete joke of the JLA. It's time they get a new arena, the bathroom lineups are definitely not a good thing, and like everyone else said after the game it is almost impossible to get out of the arena.

[Redwings 1926 47]

I can see the case for a new arena, but would still be pretty sad to see it go. It may not be all that old, but there is still a lot of history there. That may not mean much to those who grew up going to games at the old Olympia, but for someone who is still in his 20s, it's been there all my life.

For someone who watched them win their first Stanley Cup in 42 years, the "Russian Five", Scotty Bowman, Steve Yzerman, McCarty, Shannahan, even other characters such as "The Bruise Brothers", Dino Ciccarelli and Paul Coffey, the place has meaning.

I just hope they don't knock it down like they seem to do everything else. More of our memories reduced to rubble...

I agree. I too am sick of our throw-away/newer is always better mentality. Just look at the respect that places such as Olympia, Tiger Stadium, and even Yankee Stadium got for all of their years of service. Yeah, they were scrapped as if they were ratted out, old Toyota Corollas. In reality, and while sticking to car terms, those places were "barn finds", more along the lines of a 71' Hemi Cuda, or 67' Sting Ray 427. You don't scrap that sort of thing. You restore it, and I am sick of people saying that it can't be done.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

I'm sorry but who worries about the bathrooms and the food? I thought you go because you want to watch the Red Wings LIVE!

I've been to arenas around the country that are nice and fancy but still take the Joe any day.

My routine? Park in the Fox Theater next to Hockey Town Cafe. Eat at Hockey Town Cafe or not. Take the shuttle bus over to the Joe, watch the game, don't eat food or didn't drink enough to have to use the bathroom, catch the shuttle bus back to Hockeytown Cafe, jump in my car and catch I75 home. No worries, no problem

[StormJH1 231]

Born and raised in Metro Detroit (and went to several JLA games), but moved away at age 22. Since then, the live NHL games I've gone to are at the XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, which truly is a top-notch venue.

Around the league, JLA is getting an increasingly poor reputation. Fans and beat writers from other cities complain about the smell and the "oldness" of it. I went back to game at JLA in 2009 (which, unfortunately, was a 3-0 loss to Chicago), and it was still an overall good experience. Then again, I'm not really an "out-of-towner" - I grew up there and am accustomed to a lot of the structural degradation and general dysfunction. Also, I was just excited to see MY team in their building, which has about as much history as you could possibly cram into anything built in 1979.

But when people say "Oh, food/concessions/parking/surrounding aesthetics doesn't matter"....guys, it matters. It matters a heck of a lot, and it matters more when the prices for (most of) those tickets are as high as they are. Live hockey has the advantage over live football/basketball/etc of still being a much better experience in person than on HDTV (though the gap closed a little). If you're an out-of-towner, or even an outer-ring suburbanite, the stuff regular JLA visitors just "accept" (crappy parking arrangement, bullet holes in the Cobo/JLA tunnel, horrible public transit system) outside the building do keep people away. Then again, you can see in the Comerica/Ford Field part of downtown how some "corridor development" and a couple of nice venues can create a little bit of buzz.

I don't know if "need" is ever going to be the right word, but I think the Joe is becoming more and more of a problem. When I think about the experience of parking my car a few blocks away in a $10 or $15 lot and walking into XCel Center, it isn't even fathomable what's involved to go to a game at JLA. And remember, the people on this board are largely the people "in the know" - casual fans don't know all the tricks or what to avoid, so they probably end up facing a wall stuck on the Cobo roof for an hour at 11pm on a school night, like I used to do with my dad in the 90's. Haha.

[Guest The Axe]

Just use Ford Field

[wingslionstigers 12]

They certinaly need a new arena there is not doubt about it. I don't even want to make the trip anymore because it's not even enjoyable going to the Joe. I can't even drink a few beers because if I have to piss once or twice I missed the entire game. Let alone if me or my gf wants a god dang snack. Getting in and out is a pain in the ass, actually every aspect is a pain in the ass. If I pay big money to see a game I want to enjoy the whole experiance. If I can't enjoy it then guess what, the view is just as good if not better on my 60inch screen. I'll save my money for Tigers and Lions games.

When I think of going to a Tigers game I think about how much fun the whole day is going to be. Going there, being there, everything about it. Wings games on the other hand, I completely dread everything about it and hold on to the only postive fact that I do get to see the Wings play in person. Why should I have to feel that way for a 100$ ticket plus all my traveling expenses and hotel? It cost me 400$ to see a game coming from the U.P.

I respect you guys that are not trying to be complainers and all, but let's face it. You spend top doller to go there and 18,000 people have to be in that building. It's gotta go boys.

I mean for real. Taking a piss at a Tigers game is almost an ejoyable experiance. It's a chance to get out of your seat for a minute and enjoy the whole experiance. Check out a couple chicks on the walk, look at some cool stuff. I mean you can walk around and bulls*** with your friends that are with you. How much more beer and concession stuff would the Wings beable to sell if their fans weren't scared to leave their seat or scared to drink beer in fear of having to pisss and miss a large portion of the game?

[arag 308]

Having a new arena is good for the team and the fans. Just like when the Kings moved from GWF to Staples. I have always wanted to see Wings at the Joe, but I would love to see them at the new arena some day.

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[T.Low 1,011]

I'm a sucker for history, so I wish they'd keep it. There's plenty of sporting venues around the world that have been around since the beginning of the last century.

The JLA isn't even close to the age those buildings are.

Seriously, i wish they'd have stayed at Olympia. but I'm quirky like that.

Edited March 2, 2013 by T.Low

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

This man has other ideas.

[ogreslayer 1,069]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet in this thread is the effect that having older facilities has on recruiting free agents. If you don't think that having up-to-date facilities for the team is a big deal, you're kidding yourself. As much as a new arena would be a boost to the fan experience, it will be even more important for the fiscal & recruiting health of the organization going forward.

[beachwing 426]

Im as nostaligic as the next wing nut and being a fan since 1980 Iove the history, but Hockeytown should have a new barn.....im mean geesus jones were fricking Hockeytown...take the boards with ya to the new place.

Im in Florida now and love my yearly visits for sports and can admit although I cried when they tore down Tiger stadium, i was blown away by the Comerica experience.

The boys and the fans that have made it Hockey town all deserve a new state of the art venue and we can start building new memories AND keeping some old traditions!

[chuckdee 7]

Just use Ford Field

I don't know what would be worse, Ford Field or The Palace.

_______________________

"I have busted more hippies' noses than all the narcs in the free world." - Ted Nugent

Chuck Dee - AKA Chris

[AtomicPunk 296]

The climate is right for it. They probably are taking advantage of the construction companies lull in work and getting low bids to do the work. I think they now own all the land they need for it now. The architect is the same who did AA in Dallas, as well as Cowboys new stadium and Liverpool new soccer stadium, among others. I'm sure if they have the land and the money, the sight lines will not be the same as AA.That was probably dictated by the maximum size of the building, minus ice size and concourse, = seating area. Even though the AA Arena is just surrounded by parking lots.

Let's hope the Wings are not "pinched" like that.

[evilmrt 636]

This man has other ideas.

The gov wants to shut it down, you're saying? I'm out of the loop on the takeover and how it relates to the new arena.

[blgillett 48]

If for nothing else for more Bathrooms it bad not to mention the dangerous steps. Don't get me wrong I will miss the Joe when its gone lots of memories there but its time to join the rest of the league with a modern house. I have also been seeing a change in ice surface last 5 years we used to have a great sheet of ice now the puck is bouncing all over the place. We need new lines under the floor not that that can't be done there but is it worth doing there.

[LeftWinger 4,949]

I am all for a new stadium as long as it's not a cookie cutter one. Regarding Snyder, I do believe he signed something that allowed Mr. I to move forward (and use tax money) in the building of this, so I think he would still let it go through when he takes of the City.

My other request other than not being a cookie cutter is the name....no Amway! PLEASE!

Cadillac Centre © or The I.C.E Arena (The Illitch Centre for Entertainment Arena) ©

[chuckdee 7]

The gov wants to shut it down, you're saying? I'm out of the loop on the takeover and how it relates to the new arena.

Wonder what Kwame's take on JLA was?

____________________

"This could be complicated. You know on the first one I crashed and burned." - Maverick

[chuckdee 7]

Funny you mention that...

My memory isn't the greatest, but I'm thinking not more than 3, or 4 years ago there was some "uproar" involving Mike Ilitch/Red Wings, and the Detroit mayor, and a spokeswoman for Kilpatrick made some really foolish comments (supporting Kilpatrick) that made me think that Kilpatrick was nothing more than a glorified hoodlum.

Sadly, It's been that way since I was a kid with Coleman Young and the city has been decimated by crooked politicians.

_______________________

"I have busted more hippies' noses than all the narcs in the free world." - Ted Nugent

Chuck Dee - AKA Chris

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Thanks for the reminder; Instalment Two of my property taxes are due the end of this month.

[StormJH1 231]

I usually defer to the locals on issues involving JLA and live game attendance (having moved away when I was 22), but there's an increasing sentiment around the league that JLA is a dump. Of course, it's hard to sever some of that from the usual anti-Detroit sentiment, but if you follow other teams around the league (namely beat writers, travelling fans, etc.), JLA gets a lot of complaints.

I'm usually pretty neutral on this issue, in part because it only affects me personally once in a blue moon. But also because I just don't see what "problem" it is that will be solved by a new arena. The "it" ticket in Detroit right now, as I see it anyway, is Comerica Park. That's almost comical to me in the sense that they built that place and almost immediately...nobody cared. Then 2006 happened and it was finally "cool" to be a Tigers fan again.

I don't view hockey as being the same as baseball, where there's loads of would-be fans that will show up just for the experience of the facility. They might in the first year, but prices will invariably go up, and that's already a major problem with the Wings. I understand that many of the vacant lower bowl seats are corporate ones where the tickets are paid for, but nobody shows up, but it looks really bad on TV. A new rink isn't going to help that problem, especially if the team starts missing the Playoffs.

On the other side of it, you could argue that Detroit's days as a "major metorpolitan area" are long gone, and that this is just the new normal. People waiting for the big "turnaround" where a new tax burden to fund the new stadium will be viewed as "reasonable" may be waiting for a long time. Since we will eventually need a new arena, maybe it's just as well to do it now before things get worse.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

JLA is becoming a s*** hole, we really need a new arena, and hopefully it's sooner then later.