Illitch: Definitely a new arena coming

[unsaddleddonald 357]

http://detnews.com/article/20110930/SPORTS0104/109300378/1128/sports/Ilitch-on-the-Wings--‘We’re-gonna-have-a-new-arena’

If it is named "Amway" anything, i'm gonna cry....

LOL, IGNORE THIS AND LABEL ME A "DOUBLE POSTER"

[Din758 371]

Q . OK, once and for all, are you gonna get the Wings out of the Western Conference or not?

A . The commissioner (Gary Bettman) promised me I was next. We even had a meeting over lunch this past season, and he had all his people here, and he goes, 'Yeah, I promised Mike he'd be the next one to go in the Eastern Conference.' So I expect to be in next year. Jimmy D (Devellano) is on the phone every other week reminding them.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110930/SPORTS0104/109300378/Ilitch-on-the-Wings--‘We’re-gonna-have-a-new-arena’#ixzz1ZRnS0Aqs

[redwingmachine 189]

Please no Amway Arena

[RedBengals 27]

I'll miss the Joe but thank god we're getting a new arena. The Joe is simply getting too old and isn't nearly as modern as other major rinks. As one of the biggest and most respected teams in the league we deserve a top quality arena to play in.

[Guest 13GoWings40]

I'll miss the Joe but thank god we're getting a new arena. The Joe is simply getting too old and isn't nearly as modern as other major rinks. As one of the biggest and most respected teams in the league we deserve a top quality arena to play in.

Definitely, I will miss the memories for sure but what I really miss are the teams that played there, not the building itself. When they closed Tiger Stadium a bunch of people were upset they didn't just renovate it, but now ten years out I doubt anybody would really prefer watching a game there behind the poles (and pissing in the troughs) than at Comerica. I love the Joe, but its time has unfortunately come.

[bentcobra 0]

New Arena will probably most def be called Amway arena :< and anyone who has had a new arena built in their town knows that inevitably tick prices will rise. However the cheap seats will most likely have a much better view than the ones at the Joe. I just hope that the standing room is organized in the same manner. I have used standing room at the joe many times and it is the best!

[vladdy16 2,154]

No arena in the NHL has better sight lines than the Joe. Just ask the Sharks fans - there is an actual rule that you can't lean forward because you'll block others sight. A new arena will not be as good because of the suites. Cheap seats will suffer. Bank on it.

So the Joe is not as sparkly as other arenas - I go there to watch a game, not shop or "dine" or be seen, and the Joe is the best place for that.

Americans have no respect for history. Tiger Stadium, the oldest open-air park in the world, was left to molder and eventually be torn down. I think that's just pitiful. What if Italians just tore down the Coliseum or the Sistine Chapel because they were too old? No one back then thought they'd be standing thousands of years later. Not that I think the Joe is on par with these treasures, but it really is a monument to great planning. I'll take the run-down Joe with it's gray columns and outhouses in the smoking area over a brand-new, sparkly testament to bigger, better, faster any day.

[dallas27 7]

I'll be in the minority when I also say I don't want a new arena for the Red Wings, they do deserve one though. But the Joe reeks and oozes old school hockey and hockey in general. From peeing in a tub down to the claustrophobic seats. I was at game 6 (vs the sharks) last year and I can guranatee a new arena would not have been as loud as the Joe was that game. By far the most outrageous, insane, fun, mind numbing, voice losing game I've been to. Roof was shaking it was so loud. I don't give a s*** who you are at the Joe, if you're around me you're getting a high five. And that's exactly what I want, a close experience with other fans that share a love for a game only hockey fans can know.

The Joe provides all of this

Edited October 1, 2011 by dallas27

[crispychris 45]

Just so you know, The Joe is the way to go.

[egroen 384]

At this point I am praying for Little Ceasers Pavilion/Palace over the dreaded Amway Arena.

[Hiei 192]

Anyone wanna help me start a money pool to buy naming rights to a new arena and call it the Let's Go Wings Icehouse?

[RedBengals 27]

I'll be in the minority when I also say I don't want a new arena for the Red Wings, they do deserve one though. But the Joe reeks and oozes old school hockey and hockey in general. From peeing in a tub down to the claustrophobic seats. I was at game 6 (vs the sharks) last year and I can guranatee a new arena would not have been as loud as the Joe was that game. By far the most outrageous, insane, fun, mind numbing, voice losing game I've been to. Roof was shaking it was so loud. I don't give a s*** who you are at the Joe, if you're around me you're getting a high five. And that's exactly what I want, a close experience with other fans that share a love for a game only hockey fans can know.

The Joe provides all of this

I agree the Joe is an amazing rink. Just it's starting to get so old renovating it won't really help anything. I'll hate to lose such a classic rink, but the Wings deserve a better one, like you said. Hopefully they will go for an old school feel and not try to super modernize it.

No arena in the NHL has better sight lines than the Joe

I completely agree with this.

Edited October 2, 2011 by RedBengals

[FireCaptain 563]

[Seraph 240]

I'm not done with the Joe. That place is awesome. If we get some fancy upper bowl/lower bowl set-up with all kinds of bells and whistles, it just wouldn't be the same.

[Jwo 7]

Things around downtown/midtown are looking better. Occupancy for rentals (Condo's/apartments) are at 90%-95%. A couple suburban companies have moved downtown over the years. If Chrysler, Ford, The GM Tech Center and Nissan Tech center would move downtown, I think things would pick up in-sense for a new arena getting developed fast with all that tax base money.

[Shaman 713]

Gordie Howe Arena... Please.

[Dimaline312000 51]

As long as it's something new that's gonna be great. I have a lot of Love for the Joe but the Wings definetly need a new Arena and I can't wait to see how it looks and what they will name it. Nothing Amway or anything like that but something that would fit with the Wings or the city of Detroit!!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I can see both sides of the argument.

In terms of most arenas today, JLA is outdated. Speaking on that alone on it not being as modern, I'm not trying to make it sound like that is bad or sound snobby.

I went to a few Dallas Stars games when I was in college in the area in the late 90s/early 2000s before they moved into American Airlines Arena. Like JLA, Reunion Arena was as basic as it got, a basic bowl shape with two levels and just one concourse. If you could put up with it, games and atmoshperes in such arenas can be so much fun because everything is so compact and get loud quick. I enjoyed watching games in there, and a few games I have been able to see in JLA as well.

Wouldn't mind if they stayed at JLA for the nostagila and history, but won't be shocked if/when they move in a new arena.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

The HoweYzermanLidstrom Arena.

Although these days I suppose I'd settle for Little Caeser's Palace.

[Scott Stevens 44]

Howe Hall in Hockeytown.

[wings1110 184]

they better not build a small rink as far as attendance.

[lookalive07 251]

What about Belle Tire Arena?

[zombi 43]

Hockeytown Arena?

No?

Well, the good thing is it hopefully won't be a shared arena with the Pistons.

[ACallToArms 270]

No arena in the NHL has better sight lines than the Joe. Just ask the Sharks fans - there is an actual rule that you can't lean forward because you'll block others sight. A new arena will not be as good because of the suites. Cheap seats will suffer. Bank on it.

So the Joe is not as sparkly as other arenas - I go there to watch a game, not shop or "dine" or be seen, and the Joe is the best place for that.

Americans have no respect for history. Tiger Stadium, the oldest open-air park in the world, was left to molder and eventually be torn down. I think that's just pitiful. What if Italians just tore down the Coliseum or the Sistine Chapel because they were too old? No one back then thought they'd be standing thousands of years later. Not that I think the Joe is on par with these treasures, but it really is a monument to great planning. I'll take the run-down Joe with it's gray columns and outhouses in the smoking area over a brand-new, sparkly testament to bigger, better, faster any day.

This is how I feel as well. Nearly every seat at the Joe is good. New arena will mean packing more seats in, which means the cheap seats are going to be further away from the ice. I don't care how old the place is, it's a great venue to watch our team play. The new arena will most definitely get a corporate name, which is a shame. The Wings are already being tarnished with this Amway deal, who knows what embarrassing name will be plastered all over the new arena.

Americans really don't have respect for history. Just look at what's happening with a lot of the downtown Detroit buildings. These are architecturally beautiful buildings that are being torn down instead of restored. Perhaps if the city gov't wasn't full of crooks, they could afford to do so. (sorry for the rant...)

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

No arena in the NHL has better sight lines than the Joe. Just ask the Sharks fans - there is an actual rule that you can't lean forward because you'll block others sight. A new arena will not be as good because of the suites. Cheap seats will suffer. Bank on it.

So the Joe is not as sparkly as other arenas - I go there to watch a game, not shop or "dine" or be seen, and the Joe is the best place for that.

Americans have no respect for history. Tiger Stadium, the oldest open-air park in the world, was left to molder and eventually be torn down. I think that's just pitiful. What if Italians just tore down the Coliseum or the Sistine Chapel because they were too old? No one back then thought they'd be standing thousands of years later. Not that I think the Joe is on par with these treasures, but it really is a monument to great planning. I'll take the run-down Joe with it's gray columns and outhouses in the smoking area over a brand-new, sparkly testament to bigger, better, faster any day.

For starters, it is much easier to maintain those buildings than composite structures like Tiger Stadium and Joe Louis.

Second, the Joe is surrounded by highways, without any sort of pre-game or post-game activities. It needs to be put in a more prime location to promote business and activity in the downtown area.

Third, the Coliseum and Sistine Chapel are historic relics for many different reasons. Hell, there are other buildings in Detroit that are much more important to keep standing than the Tiger Stadium.

It is unfortunate we will lose the great sightlines that we have now, but there will need to be a new arena in the future. It just needs to happen.

Edited October 3, 2011 by Doc Holliday