Q&A with NBBJ, the design firm tapped for the arena. A few quotes:


Their primary interest is making sure that the investments that they’ve made in the Fox Theatre and in the existing Tigers stadium are reinforced and enhanced with this new project. They want to reinforce that area right now, but there are still quite a few holes. They want to expand it and they like the idea of moving northward because they think Midtown is the sort of happening place. They also think that Woodward is super-important as a primary address. And you don’t have to go more than a couple of blocks before you see activity on Woodward again.

But we’re not looking at a big shopping center. We’re looking at a good, urban district that has good, active street life. And we’re looking at the kind of street life that doesn’t necessarily depend on game days. We’re looking at something that can be more year round.

A lot of people have talked about the barn [[Olympia Stadium) and how intimate the barn felt. I think that’s a major factor [[in the design stage right now). [[With a release of renderings to the public) that remains to be seen.
It’s amazing that this is one of the few places in the country where you have football, baseball and hockey in one very tight location. You add the theaters to that and you really got a year-round entertainment destination. It’s unrivaled, really.

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/d...ena_pl.html#/0