What is going on at Red Wings arena site?

**night-timer** · August-10-17, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by Zads07

Sadly, Ilitch tore down the Wolverine Hotel for a parking lot. And yes, NHL/MLB teams have stayed at the Book-Cadillac. Not sure on NFL though.

MGM over on/near Michigan Avenue? Plus there's a hotel [[Marriott, I think) in the Ren Cen, too.

**emu steve** · August-10-17, 05:31 AM

I'm absolutely fascinated by what will go up at the corner of Woodward/Henry, a hotel. For whom? Visiting teams or tourists? [[hope tourists, rather than visiting teams).

For a tourist visiting Detroit for a few nights, a great opportunity to be in the hub of the sports and entertainment district.

E.g., maybe a Lions' game on Sunday afternoon, and something at the Opera House Saturday night. Or Wings or Pistons. Or a great weekend with Detroit Opera House [[or Fox or whatever) Friday night, Wings or Pistons on Saturday night, and Lions on Sunday.

It would be heaven for many people.

Too many hotels, I think, are say: Here is a vacant building which can be rehabbed into something and the first words are: Hotel. It might be in an area with plenty of hotels and no real unmet demand, but ends up being a hotel.

This is the opposite: An empty lot with a real unmet demand, I think, for a hotel.

**DetroitSoldier** · August-10-17, 04:07 PM

New developments inside the arena today...

1. Construction of the hockey rink is complete, minus ice. As a hockey player I am not a fan of the wide glass stanchions--they are not as forgiving for body checks. Also alternating sizes behind the net could change playability of pucks rounding the glass...but that's just my hockey nerd side overthinking things.

Also there are championship banners hanging from the rafters now [[only visible on the panoramic camera). I am going to miss having 50 different Red Wings banners at The Joe, but I do like seeing the two teams represented in the same building!

**emu steve** · August-11-17, 05:01 AM

LCA officially has a name:

https://twitter.com/LCA_Detroit/status/895709381848961024

**mikeg19** · August-11-17, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitSoldier

Also there are championship banners hanging from the rafters now [[only visible on the panoramic camera). I am going to miss having 50 different Red Wings banners at The Joe, but I do like seeing the two teams represented in the same building!

Well they had to make room for the 80 jersey numbers the Pistons have retired so far. I think Hooper gets his retired this year too...

**Maof** · August-14-17, 06:35 AM

The "Piazza" is taking shape as the Little Caesars Arena sign is up and the logo is going on the facade of one of the buildings that is reminiscent of the old red barn.

**emu steve** · August-14-17, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Maof

The "Piazza" is taking shape as the Little Caesars Arena sign is up and the logo is going on the facade of one of the buildings that is reminiscent of the old red barn.

And LCA officially has a street address:

https://twitter.com/LCA_Detroit/status/896731871186497537

**emu steve** · August-19-17, 07:44 AM

BTW, when we have these debates about what is or isn't going to happen and where it will [[or will not) happen in various parts of District Detroit, it might be helpful to read a Crain's article [[Jan. 2016) when the Ilitch folks put out their RFPs for various properties.

IF we had carefully read that article we would NOT have been surprised by the announcement earlier this year about the Eddystone, Alhambra, and the United Artists building.

Apparently those three are a small subset of available projects for which RFPs had been announced.

So we sit back and see if more are announced in say the next year? [[this article is 18 months old. Has a very good map with stick pins).

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ena-teems-with

**Rock N Rye** · August-19-17, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by emu steve

I'm absolutely fascinated by what will go up at the corner of Woodward/Henry, a hotel. For whom? Visiting teams or tourists? [[hope tourists, rather than visiting teams).

For a tourist visiting Detroit for a few nights, a great opportunity to be in the hub of the sports and entertainment district.

E.g., maybe a Lions' game on Sunday afternoon, and something at the Opera House Saturday night. Or Wings or Pistons. Or a great weekend with Detroit Opera House [[or Fox or whatever) Friday night, Wings or Pistons on Saturday night, and Lions on Sunday.

It would be heaven for many people.

Too many hotels, I think, are say: Here is a vacant building which can be rehabbed into something and the first words are: Hotel. It might be in an area with plenty of hotels and no real unmet demand, but ends up being a hotel.

This is the opposite: An empty lot with a real unmet demand, I think, for a hotel.

It looks like they are starting some work on that site. Saw some concrete going up along Woodward.

**southen** · August-19-17, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Rock N Rye

It looks like they are starting some work on that site. Saw some concrete going up along Woodward.

It looks to me as though they are putting in the small landscaped area that leads to the entrance as shown in all of the renderings. Im wondering what the concrete half way is for, but the bollards next to it suggest to me a public space vs. some sort of building.

**Atticus** · August-19-17, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by southen

It looks to me as though they are putting in the small landscaped area that leads to the entrance as shown in all of the renderings. Im wondering what the concrete half way is for, but the bollards next to it suggest to me a public space vs. some sort of building.

I have always heard upscale hotel. One thing downtown [[arguably) lacks is a true luxury hotel. There are high end business hotels [[Westin Book Cadillac), and the MGM casino hotel is probably the nicest hotel downtown [[and arguably luxury), but there really is no true hotel catering to the luxury market chain [[Ritz Carlton, St Regis, Waldorf Astoria, etc.) or boutique luxury hotel.

Being next to the arena is kind of an odd location for that type of hotel, but it could fill a void.

**southen** · August-19-17, 04:38 PM

There is still plenty of room for a hotel there, but the plan was always for whatever building went in that it would be on an angle to maximize the view of the arena going north down Woodward.

**emu steve** · August-20-17, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Atticus

I have always heard upscale hotel. One thing downtown [[arguably) lacks is a true luxury hotel. There are high end business hotels [[Westin Book Cadillac), and the MGM casino hotel is probably the nicest hotel downtown [[and arguably luxury), but there really is no true hotel catering to the luxury market chain [[Ritz Carlton, St Regis, Waldorf Astoria, etc.) or boutique luxury hotel.

Being next to the arena is kind of an odd location for that type of hotel, but it could fill a void.

Two quick thoughts:

1). I think it would be an odd site for an luxury hotel. I don't see it as a hotel for POTUS, CEOs, etc. but more for folks staying a few days in the sports and entertainment district.

2). What is the chance that the hotel at the Gilbert/Gores fail-jail site will be a luxury hotel?

**SpartanDawg** · August-20-17, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Atticus

I have always heard upscale hotel. One thing downtown [[arguably) lacks is a true luxury hotel. There are high end business hotels [[Westin Book Cadillac), and the MGM casino hotel is probably the nicest hotel downtown [[and arguably luxury), but there really is no true hotel catering to the luxury market chain [[Ritz Carlton, St Regis, Waldorf Astoria, etc.) or boutique luxury hotel.

Being next to the arena is kind of an odd location for that type of hotel, but it could fill a void.

I think the Shinola hotel is going to fill the void of luxury boutique hotel. It's going to run i would imagine 350 a night min

**Maof** · August-30-17, 05:49 PM

The original Olympia letters were installed today next to a mural of Gordie. Looks great!!

**EGrant** · August-30-17, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Maof

The original Olympia letters were installed today next to a mural of Gordie. Looks great!!

Some photos from the LCA Twitter account. I think this is an amazing touch. Hopefully, it will quiet the Wings fans who constantly complain about the name of the arena and the logo for at least a day or so.

I do wonder if we'll see anything like this for the Pistons. I know this was planned to be a Wings arena originally, but I'm not seeing as many cool things like this for the basketball team. Either way, this is looking great.

**Maof** · August-30-17, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by EGrant

Some photos from the LCA Twitter account. I think this is an amazing touch. Hopefully, it will quiet the Wings fans who constantly complain about the name of the arena and the logo for at least a day or so.

I do wonder if we'll see anything like this for the Pistons. I know this was planned to be a Wings arena originally, but I'm not seeing as many cool things like this for the basketball team. Either way, this is looking great.

Thanks for uploading that photo. I was trying to do so from their instagram account with no luck.

**mikeg19** · August-31-17, 06:07 AM

That is a pretty cool touch, I must say. Makes you wonder waht other gem memorabilia they have sitting up in the attic at the Joe.

**tkelly1986** · August-31-17, 08:27 AM

It seems that all pictures, and decor on the arena facade [[see pewabic title on Woodward side going up today) is Red Wings heavy. Will the Pistons get an equal billing? Will half the memorabilia etc..in the building be dedicated to their history? That had to be part of this deal...right?

**Zads07** · August-31-17, 11:00 AM

I've blasted Olympia and Ilitch, but the letters and the mural are a great touch.

**EGrant** · August-31-17, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by tkelly1986

It seems that all pictures, and decor on the arena facade [[see pewabic title on Woodward side going up today) is Red Wings heavy. Will the Pistons get an equal billing? Will half the memorabilia etc..in the building be dedicated to their history? That had to be part of this deal...right?

100% agree. I saw someone on twitter mention a Bob Lanier mural, but haven't seen anything more. I get that this was built for the Wings, but some Pistons touches would be nice.

**emu steve** · August-31-17, 02:57 PM

https://twitter.com/LCA_Detroit/status/903309468770983937

**Zads07** · August-31-17, 03:38 PM

Thank you Metro Times for making some solid points.

https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits...-the-new-arena

**EGrant** · August-31-17, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Zads07

Thank you Metro Times for making some solid points.

https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits...-the-new-arena

And on the flip side, Gandhi could come back to life to donate $1 trillion dollars to Detroit, and the MetroTimes would find a way to criticize it. And then give you an ad for the hottest strip club in Taylor.