Oh boy. Another new cookie cutter nhl arena.

A new arena is basically inevitable - Joe Louis is standing in the way of expanding the convention center. And you can find many faults with the Illitch empire, but he has done more good than bad for an ailing city and state.

Why do they need to expand the convention center, exactly? Are there lots of conventioneers that would be eager to spend their time in Detroit, only the building is just too small to hold them all?

Hmmmm............... I wonder if Mike Ilitch is going to pursue the Detroit Pistons to move into the new arena with the Red Wings?

Hopefully they just leave Joe Louis to rot so it can keep Tiger Stadium and the Silverdome company. (Ha Ha.) The Ilitches have actually shown a fair amount of class in their building projects and I wouldn't expect it to be cookie cutter- apart from ice surrounded by seats surrounded by concessions surrounded by parking. And despite what you see in the news, the auto industry is still huge and directly and indirectly attracts plenty of conventions. What about the old Joe Louis as an aquarium rumor?

What, exactly, has Mike Ilitch done that's so classy and beneficial for Detroit? He's a zillionaire who's bilked Detroit taxpayers for a generic, lousy new ballpark that aside from the view beyond the centerfield fence, is the same HOK junk half the major-league teams play in or are about to.

Why does Ilitch need taxpayer dollars to build, as Doug says above, "ice surrounded by seats durrounded by concessions surrounded by parking."

There's no class there. Not much with the decency, either.

Doesn't Detroit have enough arenas??

C'mon Scott, pull it out. Even the most cynical would see some class and benefit from the Fox & Gem Theaters and the whole Foxtown district, proven winners with the Red Wings and Drive, an All-Star Game and unexpected(?!) winners with the Tigers and his extensive record of charity. But he didn't become a zillionaire by being stupid. If it's the (unfortunate) norm for taxpayers to ante up for new ball parks, then a smart businessman would take it. He did pay for half of the stadium which is better than a lot of other new stadiums. Please compare.

As far as the generic argument goes, we're talking stadiums here. It's a pretty well defined design. Ice/turf/court surrounded by seats surrounded by concessions surrounded by parking. No way around that. Unless you want parking in the outfield and seating in the infield. Or maybe a ferris wheel?

Though Ilitch isn't the only reason for the improvements in Downtown Detroit over the past 10 years, his major investments have certainly been a catalyst for other development. Suppose he built the new stadium for the Tigers in Dearborn, instead of renovating and saving the historic Fox Theatre, that he just built a modern classic in Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe or Rochester Hills, much closer the the higher amounts of disposable income? Or how about putting the Little Caesars HQ in Allen Park? Without Comerica Park downtown, do you think Ford Field ends up there too? Without these investments and improvements does Detroit host the Super Bowl, the All Star Game, the upcoming NCAA BBall and Hockey Final Fours or Regional Finals? Without the improvements and continued investment, does Compuware relocate its HQ downtown, or are they in Plymouth? Do the Hard Rock Cafe and other entertainment and dining venues locate in the Downtown area?

I HATE JLA AND I'LL BE SO GLAD WHEN THEY BUILD THE WINGS A NEW ARENA AND TEAR THAT PEICE OF CRAP DOWN!! DETROIT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY CITY HUNG UP ON HISTORIC CRAP AND CAN'T LET GO. WELL I GOT NEWS FOR YOU ALL, TEAR JLA DOWN AS WELL AS TIGER STADIUM CAUSE BOTH ARE A PEICE OF CRAP!!!!

well mikey, detroit isnt the only city hung up on historic "crap". I do beleive Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are still around, and I beleive that the wings have the same amount if not more success than those two class organizations. History is history and people revel in that everytime they go to JLA. Not too many organazations or venues have the same effect as when you say you went to JLA and someone says "oh, for a wings game?" I'd truly be sad to see them move out of JLA, specially with my family being season ticket holders for many years, but from what I hear, they want to do somewhat of a replica of JLA or even the Olympia in some capacity.

I always knew the internet had it's fair amount of loud dumb people, but it's sad to see them infiltrate the better sites like these. I applaud you, Phil.

I honestly think the only people who don't like the Joe are the outsiders to the city. It's got a lot of personality for such an old, plain stadium. Most of the fans love it; the age doesn't make it bad, it kind of gives it that reminiscence one doesn't have at all the flashy new stadiums.

The big issues people have with the place are parking, location, and seating capacity.

The parking is crazy at $15, but if you go to a local structure instead of the Joe itself you can find places for about $7.

It may be downtown, but it's at the heart of Detroit with plenty to see around the area (Hart plaza, Campus Martius, etc.) and the Joe pumps some much needed flow into the economy there.

And while the place may be small, the Ilitches have trouble selling it out anyway. Even the worst seats possible still give you a decent view of the game (I would know, I bought the $9 tickets).

Maybe it's just something where you have to be a fan to understand. Like the octopus thing.

NO! dont build a new arena! if they do it will completly screw up the great view you get a the joe. the suites are at the top of the arena insted of the middle so everyone has a good view. plus "college hockey at the joe" sounds extremely cool. what are you gonna call it when theres a new arena?

I've been a die hard fan since 1995 when I was 5 and have lived 30 minutes from detroit my whole life. Not to mention, I've been to plenty of games.

As sad as it is, The Joe needs to go. Yes, it has a lot of history but me and plenty of other people are tired of feeling crammed the entire time we're there. There's no space to walk around when you're getting food and what not and the seats are so close to eachother you can hardly move!

I mean come on, the Yankees have won 40 AL pennants and 27 championships and they still built a new arena the other year.

We have a new generation of players and a new generation of fans. It's time to give us something new to be excited about.

And if that one guy is so worried about a new arena name, the new arena's name can offically just be "The Joe" because that's badass and it's one way we can continue the great Red Wing tradition.