Lost in Hockeytown: The Joe Louis Arena Story

[donaldv]

Joe Louis Arena [[JLA or simply “The Joe”) is hallowed sports ground in a city whose many nicknames include “Hockeytown.” The Red Wings have won four Stanley Cups since moving to JLA from Olympia Stadium in 1979, and the arena itself deserves some credit for the franchise’s consistent success beginning in the early 90s. Thanks to the crowd noise and extra elasticity of the boards, the Wings enjoy a distinct home ice advantage. Their recent 23 game home winning streak [[an NHL record that had stood for 36 years) is a testament to this. Beyond the joy of watching a team that has made the playoffs for 20 consecutive seasons, which is the longest active streak in any major American sport, spectators are treated to good sightlines from any seat. The Joe, named after the legendary Detroit boxer, is only one of three NHL venues not named for a corporate sponsor.


But the endearing features of the Joe’s interior [[banners, statues of past Red Wing greats, and other memorabilia) are not unique to the arena’s structure. A great deal of JLA’s charm derives from the rich on-ice history. One does not laud the arena’s architecture, as was certainly the case with the Joe’s precursor Olympia Stadium. Nostalgia is the primary reason for fans’ loyalty to JLA.

....

The article goes on to detail the history and planning of the JLA/civic center complex, how the designers completely botched the project and didn't heed the advice of city planners, and finally the fate of the Joe and west riverside district.

All in all, a very interesting read. Link: http://radial-logic.com/2012/03/06/l...s-arena-story/

[EastsideAl]

That is an interesting story, and pretty much on the mark about the history and siting of JLA. I would only add a few observations.

One is that JLA was actually built on the cheap. It was built quickly and in desperation, shoehorned into a too-small space that was already city-owned [[which is why it has those ridiculously steep stairs). It's quite plain and bare-bones compared to other arenas of its time. This is actually part of its charm as an athletic facility in a way, particularly in this era of stadiums and arenas as theme parks, but it is not historically correct to look at it as an extravagant project.

Another is that the original Civic Center plan already included a sports arena - Cobo Arena where the Pistons played for over a decade. Local rumor has always had it that that arena was built with its conspicuous 'blank' end and resulting small capacity [[about 11,000) because of pressure from the Norris family, who owned and operated Olympia, so as to limit potential competition with their larger arena.

And lastly, the article makes no mention that the rather awkward site for JLA was chosen in some large measure because of its isolation from the city. Detroit, even downtown, was greatly feared by many in the post-riot era of the '70s, and it was seen as advantageous that the arena was situated next to the freeway in such a way that suburban fans could drive in and out without ever needing to walk through any part of the city itself. In other words, JLA was purposely built to be more like the Silverdome or the Palace than like Tiger Stadium or Olympia [[or Comerica and Ford Field).

In many ways the historic part of this article dealing with the planning and construction of the Civic Center dovetails with some of the discussion on the Laikon thread having to do with organic urbanism vs. planned development as its been carried out in Detroit over the years. One does have to wonder, in retrospect, what would have happened if the city had just left the semi-industrial neighborhood south of Jefferson as it was. Would it now be Detroit's Soho or Dumbo, a place like the South End in Boston, SOMA in San Francisco, or any number of other revitalized areas of repurposed older buildings in American cities? Or would it have remained largely a void and a wasteland?

[EastsideAl]

I think it's one of the large network broadcast booths that were built into the upper bowl of JLA for the Republican convention.

[schulzte]

Lost in the discussion of how out of date, and ugly, and unfriendly to pedestrians, and disconnected with downtown Joe Louis Arena is what a monster of a building this was when it was completed. It opened with a hockey capacity of 19,875, the largest professional [[NBA/NHL) sports arena ever constructed in North America to that point. It also has 82 luxury suites on an executive level, which was basically unheard of at the time. These numbers don't seem so impressive now since the Palace had eclipsed all of them less than a decade later.

While all the criticism of JLA is well taken, consider that most professional arenas built in the 1970's and 1980's are already ancient history. Dallas, Miami, Orlando, Memphis, New Jersey, and Charlotte constructed arenas in the 8 years after Joe Louis and all of them are already closed; with all but 2 torn down. For all the things they got wrong with the Joe, it was built plenty big and with lots of luxury suites, and that has kept the arena viable longer than most built in the same era. It is a bit unfair to judge what we wish Joe Louis Arena had been built as 32 years ago; it should be judged against its contemporaries.

Obligatory plug for New Olympia Stadium Plan
http://www.newolympia.blogspot.com

[Hamtragedy]

I remember being stuck in the tubes around the Joe with masses of people, and everyone would start mooing. Like a herd of friggin cattle.

I giggle thinking about it, and my wife gets embarrassed when I do it. Amazingly, a handful of other cattle out there respond. But everyone else looks at me like they want me to get away from their kids.

In other related JLA news, the best thing they ever did was get rid of all those sinks and put in actual troughs. The bathrooms were quite the free-for-all. Still are for the women

[Occurrence]

I'm only in favor of a new hockey arena if it's an old retro barn throwback like the New Olympia shown above.

If it's going to be like all the other new shiny bland corporate cookie-cutter arenas out there now, I'd rather just keep the Joe around. The way things seem to go, I'm betting Detroit is going to opt for the mediocre option.

[Don K]

It seems to me this points out what a mistake Detroit made when they sent the Lodge and the Chrysler zooming into downtown, dumping onto Jefferson Ave. This decision [[along with the alignment of I-75 just north of downtown) cut off downtown from adjacent residential neighborhoods and prevented the development of a vibrant urban culture such as exists in other cities that were comparable in size to Detroit in the 50's.

Oh, and bonus points to the author for pointing out CAY's addiction to mega-projects [[Ren Cen, JLA, Millender, Poletown) as the saviors of Detroit. The man clearly had an advanced case of edifice complex [[well, actually, just liked being at the ribbon-cutting to show how much he was doing for the city).

[Gistok]

Schultze I like your website. The inside images are great. But I don't want an exact replica of the exterior of C. Howard Crane's old Hockey Barn. Perhaps something a little more modern with some of the old attributes. Think MotorCity Casino the way they saved the architecture of the Wonder Bread Bakery... except not as jarring. But you did a good job with your ideas.

[Zackdog]

To do it right, you need to walk out of the Joe and be right in the thick of downtown, with bars, stores, and restaurants right outside the door. Look at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids for a good example.

I worked downtown at the Joe for 8 years, and being an island all onto itself was the worst thing for that building.

[schulzte]

Schultze I like your website. The inside images are great. But I don't want an exact replica of the exterior of C. Howard Crane's old Hockey Barn. Perhaps something a little more modern with some of the old attributes. Think MotorCity Casino the way they saved the architecture of the Wonder Bread Bakery... except not as jarring. But you did a good job with your ideas.

Its interesting what the responses have been. Some people hate it and think the barn look is stupid. Many are like this, thinking the replica is too literal, but like some of the elements. I have a little poll on the site and exactly 50% of respondents would like the New Olympia design, 179 out of 358. 36% want something completely different, 12% want a Joe Louis Arena renovation, and 1% want the Wings to move to the Palace. That is the good news, the backlash from the Wings moving to the Palace even for a short time would be huge; there is virtually no support for it.

[mikeg19]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I don't want to see it look like Olympia. Obviously they could pay homage to Olympia with subtle touches and aesthetics, but I want it to look different. Don't copy everything.

[Jason]

Its interesting what the responses have been. Some people hate it and think the barn look is stupid. Many are like this, thinking the replica is too literal, but like some of the elements. I have a little poll on the site and exactly 50% of respondents would like the New Olympia design, 179 out of 358. 36% want something completely different, 12% want a Joe Louis Arena renovation, and 1% want the Wings to move to the Palace. That is the good news, the backlash from the Wings moving to the Palace even for a short time would be huge; there is virtually no support for it.

The poll takers are sort of self selected though. I mean, they're at your site for a reason afterall, which is to look at your New Olympia stuff.

Even doing a scientific poll would be hard though. The overwhelming majority of people don't have developed ideas about architecture or design. Most have never, literally in their entire lives, seen real architecture built within the last few decades, or possibly any decade for that matter. They don't even know it exists.


What I hope for the new arena though, is that it's either named after a person, or Olympia Entertainment buys the naming rights.

And I hope for a thoughtfully and well designed arena. Most new arenas are tacky. Like a car dealership and a food court had a baby. I don't want a "New Olympia" though. If architecture had 7 deadly sins new olympia would probably commit most of them. That's a whole different discussion though.

[mikeg19]

The poll takers are sort of self selected though. I mean, they're at your site for a reason afterall, which is to look at your New Olympia stuff.

Even doing a scientific poll would be hard though. The overwhelming majority of people don't have developed ideas about architecture or design. Most have never, literally in their entire lives, seen real architecture built within the last few decades, or possibly any decade for that matter. They don't even know it exists.


What I hope for the new arena though, is that it's either named after a person, or Olympia Entertainment buys the naming rights.

And I hope for a thoughtfully and well designed arena. Most new arenas are tacky. Like a car dealership and a food court had a baby. I don't want a "New Olympia" though. If architecture had 7 deadly sins new olympia would probably commit most of them. That's a whole different discussion though.

I'd agree with you 100% on that. Most new arenas for any sport look like complete crap. Obviously you can't please everyone. I just hope it's not some gaudy monstrosity and feels more sterile then the birthing room in a hospital.