As games used to wind down at Joe Louis Arena and now, in Little Caesars Arena, when the Detroit Red Wings are winning, the iconic song "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey plays over the loudspeakers.
Of course, the crowd takes care of the line, "Born and raised in South Detroit," yelling it out as the speakers mute so they can take over. The song then unmutes and continues playing while the team and fans celebrate the hard-earned victory.
And then there was that unforgettable closing ceremony at Joe Louis Arena, when fans jammed out to the song one more time before the Wings moved to Little Caesars Arena. It's one of those songs that, 50 years from today, I can still see having a great significance to the Red Wings, their fans, and Detroit sports.
All of that said, is there really a better song out there that personifies the spirit of Detroit, Michigan, a city that faced a plethora of challenges in the later 20th and early in the 21st century? Even if there is, there aren't very many.
"Don't Stop Believin'" fits in well for the Detroit Red Wings
From its more uplifting message to the fact that the phrase "South Detroit" is mentioned, there's little wonder why "Don't Stop Believin'" continues to be a staple at the Wings current home.
In April 2025, the Red Wings honored John Keating after his final home game, and you could hear the song in the background. The Wings skated to center ice following a 6-4 win against the Dallas Stars and pointed to Keating, who, for years, served as the team's pre and post-game host.
Now, the burning question is, who else wearing the winged wheel will we remember when hearing the iconic hit song? While the Red Wings hit a definite snag in the latter part of the 2010s and into the mid-2020s, someone's bound to be part of the team's turnaround, and you can be rest assured we'll associate them with what might be Journey's No. 1 hit of all time.
Just like all of those former players who took part in the celebration during the final game at the Joe, many of whom helped erase the Dead Wings Era, there's bound to be a breakthrough, and when that day comes, "Don't Stop Believin'" will be a cornerstone for that next chapter.
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