OT: Joint stadium for the Wings/Pistons?
I realize this is all just rumor and posturing, but it is still interesting.
"In the wake of Friday’s news that the Detroit Red Wings, through Olympia Entertainment, weren’t renewing their current lease at Joe Louis Arena and instead would pursue a new deal — which, in turn, allows the city relief on the Cobo issue — the rumor mill has coughed, sputtered and sparked to life.
The gossip: The Detroit Red Wings might play at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Or the Detroit Pistons might jointly build a new hockey-basketball venue downtown to share with the Wings."
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/section/profile?uid=140106&plckPersonaPage…
And another link to the original blog gossip:
"The rumor mill is churning like crazy in the Detroit sports world. The latest talk is that the Detroit Red Wings are going to play one more season at Joe Louis Arena and then join forces with the Detroit Pistons as a tenant at The Palace of Auburn Hills."
http://blog.detroitathletic.com/2009/06/25/are-the-red-wings-considerin…
A co-facility would be better than Wings in the Palace.
interesting.
Nothing to get excited about . . . yet.
A joint facility is the least likely option, but as the writer (whom I know) says, you never know with Detroit politics so you have to plan for anything.
I think most likely is a small extension of the lease with some different terms until the economy improves to the point where Ilitch can build a new arena. The Ilitches own huge tracts of land (+1 reference!) in the Detroit Woodward corridor. They didn't buy that up for their health.
Davidson family still owns Palace...... not gonna happen.
Book it - Danno.
I'd hate to see the Wings at the Palace. I guess it would be good for me, personally, because I live up near Saginaw so it'd be easier for me to go to their games -- but it'd be so depressing for them to leave the history and tradition of the Joe to share the Palace.
Meanwhile, I'd love to see a joint arena in the downtown area, but I don't know that the Pistons would be big fans of that. The Palace is still in great condition and I don't think they have a reason to move anytime soon.
A joint Pistons/Wing arena downtown would be bad ass, IMHE. I don't know how it would work logistically or anything though.
HA! Is that the first time anyone has used that? I hope you don't mind if I steal it.
This is a proposal for a new Detroit Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit, to be built like and strongly resemble the old Olympia Stadium, where the Red Wings played until 1979. I came across this on the web and was wondering if anyone else seen this?
http://www.newolympia.blogspot.com/
I think it's a horribly stupid idea.
But did you seen it?
I think that's a pretty awesome idea, actually. I'm a big fan of modern things being made in an old-school tradition type of way, it looks classier. As one of the Original Six, I think it would be cool to see an old-school team play in an old-school (in appearance, anyway) venue.
I like it. Some people thought Camden Yard in Baltimore was a stupid idea. They didn't like bringing back the old style of ball park and that being a modern stadium meant being round and soulless (like Shea, Three Rivers, Busch Stadium, etc.). While I enjoyed the one game I saw in San Jose, their stadium looked like an Ikea design. I like the solid hockey church look of the old brick areans. I attended one game at Olympia and thought it had an atmosphere like Yost. On the downside, I saw my first through eleventh rats on that trip.
My problem is not with the desire to build a classic style arena, everyone does it and a new arena would have to match the surrounding area anyway.
My problem is with the idea that the new arena should look exactly like the Olympia. There's a reason no team has ever said "Hey, let's recreate our old arena", because it's a stupid idea.
My problem is not with the desire to build a classic style arena, everyone does it and a new arena would have to match the surrounding area anyway.
My problem is with the idea that the new arena should look exactly like the Olympia. There's a reason no team has ever said "Hey, let's recreate our old arena", because it's a stupid idea.
There's definitely a precedent for it in baseball. The Yankees just opened a new version of Yankee Stadium. The Mets' new stadium is based on Ebbets Field. The Red Sox were looking to do the same with Fenway a few years back.
New Yankee Stadium is not a replica of Yankee Stadium, nor is CitiField a replica of Ebbets. This is a proposal to "rebuild" the Olympia with a new interior being the only difference.
But "logistical nightmare" were the first two words that entered my mind. The seasons are so close together that it would be difficult to get the dates correct.
Then, if both teams make the playoffs, you could pretty much count on Bettman to put the Wings in a compromising scheduling position, out of incompetence if not spite.
the NHL does not hate the Red Wings. It would be like the NBA hating the Lakers. Get real!
Can't see the Wings at the Palace. Ilitch is too ingrained downtown to move the team out there even temporarily. And the Palace is still an excellent facility that's privately owned, so I can't see the Pistons moving out and giving up the 100% share in parking/concessions, etc.
Seeing that the seasons overlap so much, how would it even work out. The palace and the joe are good places for events outside of sports as well. I just don't see it working.
It works at the United Center in Chicago, and a bunch of other places across the country. The Staples Center hosts the Lakers, Clippers, LA Kings, and a shit load of concerts.
Not saying its the right thing to do, just that it works.
I just realized that Joe Louis Arena is only 9 years older that the Palace.
So, why does the Palace SEEM so much nicer?
1. JLA was built by the city, the Palace by a private company.
2. The Palace has been upgraded recently.
3. 9 years is quite a long time in terms of innovations that come along.
The Palace, with its huge number of luxury suites, is still a gigantic moneymaker, so the Davidson family has every incentive to keep it in good condition. It's cheaper to do that than start from scratch with a new arena.
On the other hand, JLA doesn't generate much revenue (relatively speaking), so it's frankly not in Ilitch's best interests to pour a bunch of money renovating it when he could get a new, more lucrative one instead. In fact, letting JLA slowly deteriorate probably helps his chances for a new building. People look at the cracks and peeling paint and say "the Wings deserve better."
There is no way this happens unless Ilitch purchases half of the Palace. A joint facility would make some sense, but not much.
I would hate to see this happen. I'd be fine with it if it were a temp thing. But full time sharing with another major sports team? No thanks.
I remember hearing rumors awhile back that the Illitch was looking at putting up something around Comerica. And if that didn't work, maybe putting something in the Novi area.
Actually it makes a lot more sense to share than to build multiple venues in the same area. They end up splitting concert money and being drains on the separate owners. In Phoenix, the Coyotes new arena can only manage 40 non hockey events a year with an equally nice facility downtown.
Sharing is not some new, scary concept. Chicago, Boston, New York, LA, Atlanta, Toronto, Philadelphia, Dallas, Denver, Washington, etc all do it.
this is off topic, but does anybody know where to or how to get class A or B fireworks? i know its kinda last minute but i'm in need this year, my dude moved
and illegal so I'll play. Call 313-642-1827 and ask for Jittery Jim.
It would be nice since all the teams would play very close. BUT, it would get pretty hectic in the fall when the lions, pistons, and red wings all play at the same time and so do the tigers if they make the playoffs.
Hectic is good. Look what FF/Comerica has done for that Fox area, with the casinos nearby. Putting all the sports down there would force more expansion (clearing space for extra parking, building up more amusements/restaurants). If ya can't build the city on the backs of the automakers, why not on the backs of the sports franchises?
Could you imagine a 1pm Wings matinee, with a 4pm Lions kickoff and a 7:30 Pistons tip on a Sunday downtown?
so I would be really upset if they decidet to build a new arena for both hockey and basketball. If they are joining at all, I would want both to play at The Palace.
I hate the Palace. Anyone who grew up on the West side does.
There is zero chance this happens. The Davidsons are committed to the Palace and the Ilitches are committed to having the Wings downtown. Floating a phony rumor about relocating to Auburn Hills might help Ilitch get another good lease deal from the city of Detroit, though.
still relatively young (20 years) and in good shape? Perfect parking...good size. I don't see this happening at all. As a sidenote, does anyone remember that bar near the Silverdome that had a referee hat over the front door and sold that massive cheeseburger? I was telling my buddies about it...