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Going To My First Wings Game - Suggestions?

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As a fan of the Red Wings since the mid-80's i've always wished to see a game in person. I live in Maryland so coordinating a quick trip in, has typically been a challenge to pull off. But that day is finally coming. Me and one of my best buds are going to the April 2nd game against the Bruins. (unfortunately he's a Bruins fan, but a hell of a guy, so i let it slide). Anyway we are flying in that morning. I'm not familiar with the city at all, game day routines, post game hangouts, etc. We are gonna stay in the city, close enough to the people mover to get us to the Joe so we won't need a car. Can anyone suggest places to go before the game, things to do after the game, must do things, etc.

Sorry so long winded and vague about what i'm looking for, i just want to make sure my first visit to the Joe is a memorable one.

thanks!

By the way, i did splurge and we are sitting on the glass around the blue line.

Edited by daving

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Cool! Hope you have a great trip!

Great BQ!!!! http://slowsbarbq.com/

Great for lunch, dinner, after the game! http://www.americanconeyisland.com/home.htm

if you get a minute: https://www.motownmuseum.org/

Get to Ann Arbor! http://www.zingermansdeli.com/

Great ppl watching, food, lots of stuff that has nothing to do with THC: http://www.freedomactivist.net/hashbash.html

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Congrats!! Bring extra batteries to take pictures of the cathedral that is Joe Louis Arena. After the game I think you should make the same choice we've all made at some point, American or Lafayette Coney Island. The Post Bar is cool and some players go there after games. I saw Chris Pronger, and assorted St. Louis Blues there long ago and got to try on Jason Williams 2002 cup ring. Maltby and Draper used to hang there long ago.

Oh, and if you go to Windsor Ontario you'll want to know the answers to certain questions.

What is your business in Canada? The correct answer is not "To fund the revolution."

Do you have any weapons? The correct answer is not "Sure, what do you need?"

Edited by Jersey Wing

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loving the feedback, it's exactly the type of info i was hoping for. Jersey Wing, i did a quick search to find where the Post Bar is and it looks like Ciccarelli bought it and reopened it as a new place! We'll have to check that out. Anyone been there?

We were thinking about heading to windsor, but it looks like the windsor tunnel bus has their last trip back to detroit around 12:30am. won't be enough time for us to do all we would want to. certainly don't want to mess with driving, hope to be having enough fun that us driving is not a safe option.

keep the suggestions coming and thanks in advance to everyone that comments.

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Before I can give you any tips, I need to know a few things.

How far do you live from Baltimore? How much time do you spend there? What do you typically do for fun? What kind of bars/restaurants do you frequent? Are you looking for good clean fun, or do you want an edgier experience? If edgier, how much?

You can feel free to ignore my post. I did pretty much just drop popquiz on you. I just want to avoid recommending places you wouldn't like. Please, just don't go to Hockeytown cafe.

Edited by The Greek

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Cool! Hope you have a great trip!

Great BQ!!!! http://slowsbarbq.com/

Great for lunch, dinner, after the game! http://www.americanconeyisland.com/home.htm

if you get a minute: https://www.motownmuseum.org/

Get to Ann Arbor! http://www.zingermansdeli.com/

Great ppl watching, food, lots of stuff that has nothing to do with THC: http://www.freedomactivist.net/hashbash.html

Yes!! So delicious.

Have fun dood!! Being at the Joe is so great. I've never sat on the glass before but there's not a bad seat in there ;)

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Before I can give you any tips, I need to know a few things.

How far do you live from Baltimore? How much time do you spend there? What do you typically do for fun? What kind of bars/restaurants do you frequent? Are you looking for good clean fun, or do you want an edgier experience? If edgier, how much?

You can feel free to ignore my post. I did pretty much just drop popquiz on you. I just want to avoid recommending places you wouldn't like. Please, just don't go to Hockeytown cafe.

Why? I've been there a few times. You should go to Hockeytown cafe. One of the times I went there we were going to play the Pens. When you get there you usually give them your name if you're eating there and then you wait to be seated. They announce your name over a loud speaker when it's your turn. While waiting we heard the name of Crosby and everyone in the place booed lol. I'm sure it was on purpose ;).

Edited by Hockeymom1960

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I'll recommend the same things I always recommend people do when heading to Detroit. Get food at the Sweetwater Tavern (the wings have been ranked among the best in the country), Slow's BBQ, or Lafayette Coney (not American Coney, you heathen). Or better yet, all three. Drinks at the Atwater Brewery are a good choice. The beer is excellent, good atmosphere, and the prices are better than at the commercial places. Cobo Joe's is a fun place to grab a beer immediately pre-game because it's close to the Joe (and because of the aforementioned fire breathing hotties). I'd also recommend trying either of the two newer breweries, Detroit Beer Co. or Motor City Brew Works. Michigan is home to some of the best beer making in the world (true, look it up), so that's never a bad choice.

This is just a personal opinion, but I'd stay away from Hockeytown Cafe or Cheli's. It's always a madhouse on game night, it's packed, the service isn't great, and the prices are beatable. IF I go to these places it's usually after a game or night out, when I don't mind the crowd so much on account of the fact that I'm drunk too.

Edited by kipwinger

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Why? I've been there a few times. You should go to Hockeytown cafe. One of the times I went there we were going to play the Pens. When you get there you usually give them your name if you're eating there and then you wait to be seated. They announce your name over a loud speaker when it's your turn. While waiting we heard the name of Crosby and everyone in the place booed lol. I'm sure it was on purpose ;).

There's nothing "wrong" with Hockeytown cafe. I just don't think it's worth going when here for such a limited amount of time. It's not like they offer food you can't get anywhere else. sure, they have wings memorabilia all over the place, but it's really just a bunch of hockey gear and pictures from hockey games we've all seen.

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Yes!! So delicious.

Have fun dood!! Being at the Joe is so great. I've never sat on the glass before but there's not a bad seat in there ;)

Cool! Hope you have a great trip!

Great BQ!!!! http://slowsbarbq.com/

Great for lunch, dinner, after the game! http://www.americanconeyisland.com/home.htm

if you get a minute: https://www.motownmuseum.org/

Get to Ann Arbor! http://www.zingermansdeli.com/

Great ppl watching, food, lots of stuff that has nothing to do with THC: http://www.freedomactivist.net/hashbash.html

Go to slows! Go early, it gets busy. Nemo's bar is down the street to and they shuttle and have on site parking. It's a small place and it gets full so don't get there late!

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Go to slows! Go early, it gets busy. Nemo's bar is down the street to and they shuttle and have on site parking. It's a small place and it gets full so don't get there late!

I forgot about nemos! Love their burgers. Also, I agree with all of kips brew suggestions, especially Atwater :thumbup:

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Just a thought.....

We went to a game in November because we wanted to see the Joe before it meets the wrecking ball. We went downtown around 11am, parked at the police station's secure parking deck. Then walked across the street to the Hard Rock Cafe, ordered a beer (to get the parking ticket validated so we didn't have to get mugged for parking) and then went about the afternoon walking around Tiger Stadium's gates, checking out Hockeytown Cafe, grabbed a coney (or three) and went down to the GM Ren Center on the waterfront. After the game, we followed a large crowd of people back towards Cheli's and Hockeytown to get to our car safely.

It may not have been the most laid-out plan, but it worked for us. Regardless of what you do, be smart and have fun!

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From the airport... just jump on 94 east until you run into the Joe. Ya can't miss it. Stop at Cheli's Chili for a chance to see Brett Lebda's drunken speeches. :cool: Hockeytown authentics is a cool place for any gear.

Edited by KATIEBARTHEDOOR24

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Never been to a Wings game, but has anyone successfully taken those empty seats you always see by the boards?

Seems like anyone can sit there.

I've never tried moving from the upper bowl down to near the glass but we were sitting tenth-ish row before and managed to move down to the third row for the second half of the game without anyone caring.

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I've never tried moving from the upper bowl down to near the glass but we were sitting tenth-ish row before and managed to move down to the third row for the second half of the game without anyone caring.

I just watch the games on TV, so I don't know how closely those seats are monitored by security and how often they approach people asking to see their tickets.

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I just watch the games on TV, so I don't know how closely those seats are monitored by security and how often they approach people asking to see their tickets.

Pretty much just when you enter the lower bowl. It might be tough to sneak past if you don't have a lower bowl ticket (depending on the worker I suppose) but not impossible.

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I just watch the games on TV, so I don't know how closely those seats are monitored by security and how often they approach people asking to see their tickets.

In my experience the only seats closely monitored are the lower bowl on the bench side. You must present your ticket each and every time you attempt to enter. I never sit in lower bowl unless I'm given the tickets - it's more fun and a better view in the upper bowl.

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In my experience the only seats closely monitored are the lower bowl on the bench side. You must present your ticket each and every time you attempt to enter. I never sit in lower bowl unless I'm given the tickets - it's more fun and a better view in the upper bowl.

Agreed. It doesn't get any better than sitting in the bottom row of the upper bowl.

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