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Ilitch reveals plan for new $450m, 18,000-seat Red Wings arena

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Agreed. I would love a hockey name, like the Howe. If not a person, then a cool nickname. Anything but a corporate name, please!

And the reduced seats might be because of the corporate boxes. Probably will be the same number of seats for us average folks.

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I have such mixed feelings about this. I think that any rational citizen looking at this objectively would agree you shouldn't have publicly funded stadiums for billionaires, and a city as economically depressed as Detroit shouldn't have built THREE new stadiums in the span of 15 years. There is no appreciable economic benefit to building a stadium, particularly where there was already a stadium in that area. Studies have been done, and there just isn't any evidence to back it up.

All that being said, people who like the Red Wings (myself included) convince ourselves that we don't care. Or, to look at another way, we DO care about the Red Wings more than we care about a museum renovation, lowering a budget deficit, or the $12 million diverted from education funds (my number/sources may be inaccurate, but you get the point).

And as an out-of-state Red Wings fan, I actually felt guilty that I was happy about the new arena because it benefits me as a fan (though not one that gets back to many live games) without having having to pay the bill in the city I grew up around.

I guess here's the thing with Detroit that keeps coming up: If not now, when? If your argument against any new development or construction is always "wait till things get better?", has that wish ever really come true since, what, the '67 Riots? You could argue there are certain way the city has gotten better since the 90's, but what they really mean is that city has done a better job becoming a Chuck E' Cheese's for adult suburbanites (casinos, Comerica, Ford Field, etc.). JLA is old and would need to be replaced sooner or later, even if there wasn't an immediate threat (like an owner thinking about selling the team or moving it somewhere else).

Sorry, just rambling out loud. I get frustrated when I go back home, see the busted out windows and 28% unemployment, and then have my family tell me how nice downtown is because there's a skating rink at Campus Martius now. Most of my family has never moved more than 10 miles in their lifetime, and they don't know that it doesn't have to be like that. Go Red Wings.

Edited by Jedi

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If hockey arenas need less of something, it would be the damn business seats and more seats for the real fans.

Personally I am always shaking my head about such stuff. These guys are all billionaires and they want a new arena, fine go pay for it and leave the tax payers money alone for way more important things (education, safety, better enviroment).

As for the name I think should be something, like the Howe, Lidström, Illitch, Yzerman or Pasha arena just not a stupid sponsored name. Though my worries are very slim here, because the Wings are just too classy in order to do something like that.

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Regarding the naming rights - I really could care less. It was cool that JLA was named after a famous sports icon, but these things are damn expensive. Naming rights are huge in sports, so as long as its a company that isn't embarrassing and still likely to be around in 10 years (in other words, not GoDaddy.com), I'm fine.

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What do you guys think the new arena should be called? Please don't call it something after a business like Maxi Pad Arena or something haha

whatever company pays to get their name on it I really hope it's something like: "Joe Louis arena at (company name) stadium" or something. JLA is too classic to let go

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Any of you been to the JLC/Budweiser Gardens in London? I live here, have been to roughly 50 hockey games and 15 events, and I can honestly say I have NEVER had a bad seat, either in the 100's, boxes, 200's or 300's. I don't know how they did it, but if they could double the size (from our current 9 to the 18 or so) and keep the views, as well as have the way above average washroom ratio (seriously, it's actually noted about our arena), the new arena in Detroit would be the best, or rival the best in North America!

Edited by WeBleedRed

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Guest DeGraa55

I have such mixed feelings about this. I think that any rational citizen looking at this objectively would agree you shouldn't have publicly funded stadiums for billionaires, and a city as economically depressed as Detroit shouldn't have built THREE new stadiums in the span of 15 years. There is no appreciable economic benefit to building a stadium, particularly where there was already a stadium in that area. Studies have been done, and there just isn't any evidence to back it up.

All that being said, people who like the Red Wings (myself included) convince ourselves that we don't care. Or, to look at another way, we DO care about the Red Wings more than we care about a museum renovation, lowering a budget deficit, or the $12 million diverted from education funds (my number/sources may be inaccurate, but you get the point).

And as an out-of-state Red Wings fan, I actually felt guilty that I was happy about the new arena because it benefits me as a fan (though not one that gets back to many live games) without having having to pay the bill in the city I grew up around.

I guess here's the thing with Detroit that keeps coming up: If not now, when? If your argument against any new development or construction is always "wait till things get better?", has that wish ever really come true since, what, the '67 Riots? You could argue there are certain way the city has gotten better since the 90's, but what they really mean is that city has done a better job becoming a Chuck E' Cheese's for adult suburbanites (casinos, Comerica, Ford Field, etc.). JLA is old and would need to be replaced sooner or later, even if there wasn't an immediate threat (like an owner thinking about selling the team or moving it somewhere else).

Sorry, just rambling out loud. I get frustrated when I go back home, see the busted out windows and 28% unemployment, and then have my family tell me how nice downtown is because there's a skating rink at Campus Martius now. Most of my family has never moved more than 10 miles in their lifetime, and they don't know that it doesn't have to be like that. Go Red Wings.

First I thought when this first came about illitch wanted to pay for like 95% of it himself? Did that change orno?

ALSO Detroit is a dump. There's a lot of abandoned and trashy looking buildings. So ifni had to assume the proposed location is in a spot that needs a little help. Keep in mind I've been to Detroit about 10 times total so I don't know if that's an accurate assumption in this exact location or not.

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If hockey arenas need less of something, it would be the damn business seats and more seats for the real fans.

Personally I am always shaking my head about such stuff. These guys are all billionaires and they want a new arena, fine go pay for it and leave the tax payers money alone for way more important things (education, safety, better enviroment).

As for the name I think should be something, like the Howe, Lidström, Illitch, Yzerman or Pasha arena just not a stupid sponsored name. Though my worries are very slim here, because the Wings are just too classy in order to do something like that.

I generally agree with you, but I do think Detroit city that needs to spend its development dollars on something and the area between downtown and midtown needs development badly. IMO the worst thing would be the Wings moving to the burbs instead of helping build out the downtown area. Unfortunately, the use of public money likely means the naming rights will (should) be sold.

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I generally agree with you, but I do think Detroit city that needs to spend its development dollars on something and the area between downtown and midtown needs development badly. IMO the worst thing would be the Wings moving to the burbs instead of helping build out the downtown area. Unfortunately, the use of public money likely means the naming rights will (should) be sold.

Actually, I've seen several sources indicate the naming rights are held exclusively by Olympia Entertainment, one of the Ilitch's companies, rather than by the Downtown Development Authority. As such, they would have the rights to name it whatever they wish, or seek sponsorship (read, selling) for the name.

Here's a story on ESPN that talks (albeit briefly) about the naming rights...

The city's Downtown Development Authority approved a "memorandum of understanding" with Olympia Development of Michigan, which is owned by Ilitch and his wife, and Wayne County, home to Detroit. Ilitch also owns the Detroit Tigers, and his family owns Little Caesars Pizza and downtown Detroit's Fox Theatre.

Under the plan, the authority would own the arena and event center complex, while Olympia Development would have exclusive rights to use, manage and operate it, and hold naming rights.

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Actually, I've seen several sources indicate the naming rights are held exclusively by Olympia Entertainment, one of the Ilitch's companies, rather than by the Downtown Development Authority. As such, they would have the rights to name it whatever they wish, or seek sponsorship (read, selling) for the name.

Here's a story on ESPN that talks (albeit briefly) about the naming rights...

I'm almost positive they will seek naming rights because that's just the way things work in today's world. I just hope they call it the "(Sponsor) Olympia Stadium" or something along those lines, so that we as fans can say we're going to "Olympia" or "The O" or whatever we'd end up calling it instead of some corporate name. It'd be kind of like the Scotiabank Sattledome. I almost never hear the Scotiabank part when people talk about The Sattledome, which I'm happy about.

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Regarding the naming rights - I really could care less. It was cool that JLA was named after a famous sports icon, but these things are damn expensive. Naming rights are huge in sports, so as long as its a company that isn't embarrassing and still likely to be around in 10 years (in other words, not GoDaddy.com), I'm fine.

That's a HUGE problem - see "Comerica Park." They sent cease and desist letters to radio stations forcing them to call it "Comerica Park" instead of the Copa, and then bailed on the city immediately after.

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I was hoping for a smaller venue. The most intimidating and loudest arenas are always smaller. Plus, as someone already stated, it will look fuller.

Hopefully they will reset season ticket holders so more people will get a chance. Or do a raffle so real fans and not corporations will buy the lower bowl tickets. I'm pretty sure that current season ticket holders think what I just said isn't fair, but not having a chance at all isn't fair either.

As for the name, Olympia has the naming rights so if they do sell it they will retain control of who buys it. So I don't think it's going to be Booking.com Arena. If anything maybe Amway Arena or keep it in the family and go Little Caesar's Coliseum, or maybe even go old school-ish and call it the Olympia Center.

Would be cool to see a Detroit based company buy the name though.

Edited by Wings_Dynasty

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First I thought when this first came about illitch wanted to pay for like 95% of it himself? Did that change orno?

ALSO Detroit is a dump. There's a lot of abandoned and trashy looking buildings. So ifni had to assume the proposed location is in a spot that needs a little help. Keep in mind I've been to Detroit about 10 times total so I don't know if that's an accurate assumption in this exact location or not.

Right down Woodward by the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park

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I'm guessing "the plan" is now on hold.

Or not?

Granted, he's hardly what I would consider to be an authority on the matter, but George Malik seems to be speaking with knowledge on the situation/laws, and he's saying that Detroit's bankruptcy filing will have no effect on the construction plans.

https://twitter.com/georgemalik/status/357956765997989888

Note to folks about the Wings' rink vs. Detroit bankruptcy: $ Wings receive comes from downtown property taxes.

@georgemalik so the new arena is still gonna be built?

Detroit's municipal bankruptcy will have no effect upon the construction of a new rink. @Letterberg_

@georgemalik Is the City paying any part of the bill for it?

@ChiTownSports The Downtown Development Authority is diverting about $12 million in property taxes from corporate shareholders downtown.

@georgemalik So the City isn't on the hook for any of it?

@ChiTownSports No. It's property tax money, and property tax money that was already diverted for downtown development.

@georgemalik @ChiTownSports The DDA tax capture was approved by the state for this project. It's always gone to building projects downtown.

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So the city s now officially bankrupt but willing to subsidize the new arena? As a citizen I would ask others and gather for a collective sueing of the so called city representives, unbelievable. I guess the Winter Classic is now offiicially in daknger again...

You did not read the above post....they're tax incentives, nothing out of pocket....just eating out of future potential revenue (which is pretty dumb as well).

@ChiTownSports said

@georgemalik So the City isn't on the hook for any of it?

George Malik said

@ChiTownSports No. It's property tax money, and property tax money that was already diverted for downtown development.

Edited by evilmrt

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Building up the downtown area absolutely helps a city. I've seen it first hand in Grand Rapids. Before the Van Andel was built it was run down and empty, most of the buildings were offices or cheap roach infested flop houses and nobody lived there or stuck around downtown after 6:00 if they could help it. Now there are restaurants, bars, and the area is packed at night and a lot of the unused buildings are converted into nice apartments.

The arena itself might not bring in much money, but the places that come with it will. Now that 3 of the 4 pro teams will have their buildings right next to each other and they play in different seasons, there won't be any downtime either.

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