Olympia exec to study future of The Joe
It appears the Detroit gossip-mill was onto something when it suggested that the Detroit Red Wings might leave The Joe for a new arena.
Although the Ilitch family hasn’t confirmed plans for a new arena just yet, a handful of area newspapers today announced that the Ilitch family has appointed Olympia Entertainment President-Randy Lippe as the new head of arena development. The news articles also confirm that Lippe’s new position at Olympia will involve researching a renovation of The Joe, which was built in 1979, as well as the construction of a brand-new arena.
What do you think? Should the Wings leave their longtime home for brand-new ice or should they stay put?
As much as I love seeing sparkling new facilities, particularly sporting venues, it might be in the Wings’ best interest to stay put. The Joe may be getting up there in years, but it has a great location right on the river, as well as its own People Mover station. I’m sure there are open sites where the Wings could build a new arena, but leaving Joe Louis vacant doesn’t appeal to me, unless something useful becomes of it, or a new development replaces it. If the Wings do build a new arena, I think it would also be great for Detroit to see the Pistons move downtown, although that move would be unlikely. (The Palace was built in 1989 under the orders of Bill Davidson, team owner, who politely declined Mike Ilitch’s offer to move his team downtown.)
i think they should put a new JLA behind the Fox Theater and then demolish the old one so that they can expand Cobo… at least, off the top of my head that sounds good…
Strictly hockey speaking and entertainment speaking, the Joe needs to go. It’s old, out-dated and inconvenient.
The Joe was built in the “Dead Wings” era. Since that time, the team has won 3 cups and been to 4 finals along with numerous memorable(good or bad) playoff series to boot. Most professional sports teams would demand a new arena after a certain point, especially one as out-dated as JLA. see: Pittsburg.
The Detroit Red Wings need a new arena, the city of Detroit needs the Red wings to move to a new arena. Blow up Cobo and the Joe and build a whole amazing con. center, hotel, whatever! Just get rid of that out-dated mess!
That said, JLA, do not go to Foxtown, aka “Ilitch -town”? THere are two arenas there, mas theaters, Harmonie Park. That area is quite alright.
Cheers.
It could be a mistake to move to a new stadium. I’m originally from Chicago and loved the atmosphere of Hawks games in the old stadium. Once the team moved to the United Center, the games weren’t any fun anymore. And it’s not just because the team sucks. After all, there were plenty of lean years in the Stadium too.
Thanks for all of the comments, everyone! I agree that since the Wings have done so well since the Joe was built that it would be nice to give them a new home. However, I hate to see the Joe end up just sitting there and rotting like Tiger Stadium.
Maybe they could move back to the old Olympia…
I would be really sad to see the Wings go. I have never been to a game, but having them there is part of the fun of living right beside Joe Louis Arena. I love coming home on game nights to see busloads of people riled up ready to have a good time. It is even more fun to hear people celebrating after a victory. I will be sad to see the Wings move and see the arena unloved and left to rot.