What comes to your mind when you hear "Olympia Stadium"? You probably think about the Production Line, Gordie Howe, and maybe even the worst stretch of Red Wings hockey in franchise history known as the "Dead Wings" era.
What about when you hear "Joe Louis Arena" (or as it's often referred to as "The Joe")? You probably think of the Grind Line, the Russian Five, Steve Yzerman, and a 25-year straight playoff streak that includes the Red Wings' last four Stanley Cup wins.
How about when you hear "Little Caesars Arena"? It's probably Dylan Larkin, fantastic concourse, team rebuild, and oddly enough, Steve Yzerman again. You may even think about the Detroit Pistons if you're into basketball.
All three have their place in Red Wings history, but what are the differences in atmosphere, Game feel, and general presence of the arenas?
Olympia Stadium: The Beginning of one of hockey's most storied franchises
When the Red Wings started their second NHL season in 1927 at Olympia Stadium (Also known as the "Old Red Barn"), and were there until 1979. Unfortunately, I couldn't find many people who have been to the Olympia to talk about how it was. So I had to resort to old footage, interviews, and YouTube comments.
"What a beautiful ice surface at the end of the video. No ads on the boards, no in your face advertising on the ice, and a bunch of hokey jumbotron commands telling the crowd to make noise. Just pure hockey. Makes me proud and feel lucky inside that I grew up in Detroit and got to see a number of games at Olympia Stadium as a kid and experience firsthand what old time hockey truly was." - murphyotoole9014 (YouTube)
Many people talk about how Olympia Stadium was what hockey was meant to be. No Ads, no jumbotron, just pure, unadulterated hockey. Based on the footage I've seen from various videos, the atmosphere just seemed to be that of a hardcore small-town fanbase with the size of a major city.
"I was at the Olympia when I was 4. I remember it being loud, smoky, and dark in the corners. That was 1971." - MorningSunStdio (Twitter/X)
Olympia Stadium was witness to some of the best and the worst times in Red Wings history. While it was home to some of the biggest legends in Red Wings history, Such as Gordie Howe, Sid Abel, and Terry Sawchuk, and was witness to seven of the Red Wings' 11 Stanley Cups.
It was also witness to the worst period of hockey in Red Wings history, known as the "Dead Wings" era. A period of time from 1967 to 1982 in which the Red Wings made the playoffs just two times in nearly 20 seasons.
Olympia Stadium was demolished July 10, 1986.
Joe Louis Arena may be the most iconic arena in Red Wings History
Moving to "The Joe" was what many people consider the first turning point that took the Red Wings from "zero to hero". The same season the Red Wings moved to The Joe, Bruce Norris sold the Red Wings to the Illich family, who still own the team to this day.
There were plenty of things Red Wings fans had to say about The Joe. From the Atmosphere, to the decor, and the concessions!
"The best, and most expensive, $5 pizza I have ever had." - Fopakjak (Twitter/X)
Many fans even remember the smell of The Joe!
"JLA had a smell to it. I cannot elaborate further." - YzeRohan (Twitter/X)
"Those steep yellow stairs! The smell of stale Beer and popcorn! The Joe was the best!" - robertearl1976 (Twitter/X)
For many fans, however (Including myself), see The Joe as the last time Red Wings hockey seemed like it was all about the hockey. The Joe had the same feel as Olympia Stadium with better amenities, more space, and most importantly, the bathroom troughs.
The on-ice product was the best it had ever been, with the likes of Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, The Russian Five, and The Grind Line dominating the NHL for over a decade. The Joe had this feel of being a big-time arena, but also still felt like you were watching your local hometown team.
There was an aura around it that just screamed "tough"; maybe that has to do with it being named after one of the greatest boxers to ever live, or maybe it was because the Red Wings had some of the toughest players in the league. Regardless of what it was, "The Joe" will be missed for many more years to come.
Joe Louis Arena was Demolished in June 2019
Little Caesars Arena was needed, but is it welcome?
Little Caesars Arena (also known as "LCA") has been a somewhat controversial subject among Red Wings fans. While it's a beautiful arena and regularly ranked at the top of most arena ranking lists, many fans find it to be too corporate and doesn't have the same feel as Joe Louis Arena or Olympia Stadium did.
It doesn't feel like the events are the primary focus when you're there, with numerous restaurants, bars, and several branded concessions, it feels more like the arena is supposed to be the draw.
"I mean, it's a fairly obvious one, but LCA being a multi-use arena makes it feel a lot less hockey-centric than the Joe. The Joe felt historic and a little dirty but it brought the feeling of hockey. LCA is nice, but it almost kinda feels like a mall that hosts sports events." - FrancoisCorpel (Twitter/X)
That's not to say that the LCA wasn't necessary. Joe Louis Arena was quite literally falling apart, super outdated, and falling behind the rest of the league and other teams' arenas. So the LCA was proposed by the Illich family in 2012, funding was approved in June 2013, construction started September 25, 2014, officially opened September 5, 2017, and had its first event September 12, 2017, when Kid Rock held a concert just seven days after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Red Wings would make their LCA debut on September 23, 2017, where they beat the Boston Bruins 5-1 in a preseason game. The Pistons would make their LCA Debut soon after on October 4, 2017.
The LCA is also an insanely beautiful arena, with several areas for people to learn about the history of both the Red Wings and Pistons. The large concourse took away the cramped feeling that The Joe had when walking around and leaving the arena. More comfortable seats and more amenities. Plus, the "Portal System" has made navigating the LCA far easier than The Joe ever was.
Unfortunately for the LCA, it's been shackled with the stink of the "District Detroit Project" that Chris Illich had promised when the LCA was proposed. A project that was supposed to turn the area around Ford Field, Comerica Park, and a large chunk of downtown Detroit into a massive entertainment district with Little Caesars Arena as the centerpiece. A project that has yielded little of the promises that were made when proposed, and the LCA is a constant reminder of that.
Regardless, for better or for worse, Little Caesars Arena is here to stay for a long time.
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