Little Caesars Arena

[Honky Tonk]

Brad Galli tweeted it.

https://twitter.com/BradGalli/status/725712235243405312

I don't know how I'll be able to go on with my life.

[Scottathew]

Looks like the LED roof is not happening.. to be replaced with a giant LC logo instead.

Any links to what the new roof will look like?

[Tramhamck]

Brad Galli tweeted it.

https://twitter.com/BradGalli/status/725712235243405312

Is it safe to assume that this is the first of many concessions we should expect? If the LED roof [[which seemed like a pretty defining characteristic of the plan) was just meant to be extra glitz for the renderings, I'd imagine that there are plenty of other aspects of the plan that will be dismissed in the same manner.

[1953]

The name is bad. If they wanted a 'legacy' name, call it Ilitch Arena.

PS - I can never remember if that name has 1 l or 2.

[Danny]

So it won't be named Olympia, Gordie Howe Arena or some famous African American boxer.

[Danny]

The name is bad. If they wanted a 'legacy' name, call it Ilitch Arena.

PS - I can never remember if that name has 1 l or 2.

If you all want a REAL legacy name called it Gordie Howe Arena. Not some cartoon Roman dictator that says PIZZA PIZZA!

[Danny]

Any links to what the new roof will look like?

Very blinding bright LED colors that will light up the whole sky that it can be seen from outer space.

[DeLemur]

Same ring and focus to it as the Mike Ilitch School of Business.
I guess the silliness is better than the coldness of "The District Detroit" name for the area. I preferred naming it after a great athlete like Joe Louis!

[subsidized]

Any links to what the new roof will look like?

Here's a rendering released by Olympia.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

To everyone disappointed by or hostile to the arena name: I think this has happened when most arenas have adopted corporate names. I know a lot of people hated Comerica Park, even more so when they up and left Detroit. The only one offhand that I can remember not being controversial was Ford Field. I think the name was predictable [[as noted above, many of us predicted it). It is also a Detroit-based sponsorship, which is nice both for the hometown connection and the likelihood that LC won't up and leave the city. My only [[slight) disappointment is that they didn't include a nod to the Olympia name [[I preferred the Little Caesar's Olympia Arena as the name). Corporate naming rights are reality for almost all major venues now. I don't think Little Caesar's Arena is in any way worse than MetLife Stadium or Staples Center or Amway Arena.

[Shai_Hulud]

Here's a rendering released by Olympia.

Less than appealing.

[casscorridor]

To everyone disappointed by or hostile to the arena name: I think this has happened when most arenas have adopted corporate names. I know a lot of people hated Comerica Park, even more so when they up and left Detroit. The only one offhand that I can remember not being controversial was Ford Field. I think the name was predictable [[as noted above, many of us predicted it). It is also a Detroit-based sponsorship, which is nice both for the hometown connection and the likelihood that LC won't up and leave the city. My only [[slight) disappointment is that they didn't include a nod to the Olympia name [[I preferred the Little Caesar's Olympia Arena as the name). Corporate naming rights are reality for almost all major venues now. I don't think Little Caesar's Arena is in any way worse than MetLife Stadium or Staples Center or Amway Arena.

Or Barclay's. A bank that has no branches in the US.

[emu steve]

To everyone disappointed by or hostile to the arena name: I think this has happened when most arenas have adopted corporate names. I know a lot of people hated Comerica Park, even more so when they up and left Detroit. The only one offhand that I can remember not being controversial was Ford Field. I think the name was predictable [[as noted above, many of us predicted it). It is also a Detroit-based sponsorship, which is nice both for the hometown connection and the likelihood that LC won't up and leave the city. My only [[slight) disappointment is that they didn't include a nod to the Olympia name [[I preferred the Little Caesar's Olympia Arena as the name). Corporate naming rights are reality for almost all major venues now. I don't think Little Caesar's Arena is in any way worse than MetLife Stadium or Staples Center or Amway Arena.

Indeed. It's not like what the Ilitches are doing is unusual.

It was so predictable that many of us predicted it when we had a name-the-arena thread... earlier this year. Don't have to be a $100 / hour consultant...

EDIT: Here it is. Not only the arena name but naming rights of specific parts of the arena and adjacent are. Mikey also nailed that date [[late April).

"MikeyinBrooklyn

Join DateDec 2009Posts1,455

Originally Posted by emu steve
can they work Olympia into something?

Will they have a lot of naming opportunities for the arena itself, the offices, residences, stores, plaza, etc.

The plaza can be "The [[name) at Little Caesars Arena.



There really are no rules, except ones they impose on themselves. I would imagine significant sponsorships are category killers, though. For instance, since Meijer is a major Wings sponsor, I doubt the name would include Target or Walmart or another retailer.

There is almost a certainty as well that different areas [[Pepsi Plaza, Chrysler Concourse, etc) and events [[Fifth Third Bank Concert Series, Pure Michigan Halftime Show, etc) will be sponsored. It is widely done nowadays. As for the attached buildings that are not the arena proper [[apartments, shops, offices). I suppose they could be named without sponsorship or they could be named directly for a sponsor other than the arena. I bet, however, they carry names like "The Shops at **** Arena" and "The Residences at **** Arena."

Also, Hypestyles, Chris Ilitch said 2 weeks ago the name would be announced within 60 days. It has also been reported elsewhere that whoever the sponsor is, it is a done deal [[agreeing to sponsorship and agreeing to the actual name are not the same thing, however. A company might want to use a specific product or slogan or just the company name). So I'm hoping by the end of April we will know.

[emu steve]

Now that we know the name of the arena, how about the "Gordie Howe Plaza at Little Caesars Arena"? Can they put a statue of Gordie there?

[401don]

It was obviously going to be a corporate name so what does it really matter which one? It's important that Little Caesars is doing so well on a national/international level if only because it means the family is flush with cash and Chris Ilitch may choose to do a better job of development than his parents [[not to mention having 130 million laying around to spend on the MLB strikeout leader Justin Upton).

[Hypestyles]

Interesting. I'm not offended, but I am curious about the finance aspect- Since the Ilitch family owns Olympia Entertainment as well as Little Caesars' Pizza, how does it work exactly that LCP pays Olympia Entertainment for the stadium branding rights? Is it as simple as one family owned corporation cutting a check to another? [[I am mindful, for example, that Mike Ilitch is not a named stakeholder in the Motor City Casino gambling operation, due to MLB restrictions on that kind of thing). As such, does it "really" help to offset costs in building/maintaining the stadium by having a wholly-owned "sister" company be the main sponsor?

[Towne Cluber]

I am irate, and the social media reactions are quite bad. LC is an inferior fast food product like Taco Bell or McDs, and you do not see arenas named after such chains. This reflects poorly on Detroit and the franchise and I hope they change it.

Note: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium [[at the University of Louisville)

[Bobl]

I do not care what they call it. It would be nice if a night out for dinner and a hockey game for two would not cost hundreds of dollars, and nicer if the whole project was not subsidized, though.

[Wesley Mouch]

I am irate, and the social media reactions are quite bad. LC is an inferior fast food product like Taco Bell or McDs, and you do not see arenas named after such chains. This reflects poorly on Detroit and the franchise and I hope they change it.

Boise: Taco Bell Arena
Louisville: KFC Yum! Center 4th largest arena in US, 22,600 seats
Providence RI: Dunkin Donuts Center [[which has me thinking about Tim Bits)
Fresno CA: Save Mart Center

1) Social Media reactions are meaningless and mostly crowd mentality. Should be ignored.

2) I don't think it reflects poorly at all. Sure, LC targets the budget market -- but they run a fine operation. I don't think anything about the chain is anything but professional. Good ads, good store designs [[of course not all), good value product, good reputation. Don't see the problem at all. But then again, I like Mike Ilitch -- so I'm dusting off my asbestos leisure suit.

[bust]

By far the most obvious outcome. And I don't care if there is no LED roof. What tiny percentage of people would have even been able to have seen that? I care much more whether they follow through with residences, a hotel, and retail in the vicinity. That they create a good neighborhood [[as promised), not a hockeyland that serves only hockey fans a few dozen nights a year. And sorry to say, but were I to guess: a few residences - yes, a hotel - perhaps, lotsa parking - of course, and bars and [[minimal) retail that cater to the hockey crowd, but a thriving neighborhood even for those not attending the game -- I doubt it. I'm still skeptical but much more optimistic about the potential MLS stadium, based entirely on the past performance of the individuals involved.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Now that we know the name of the arena, how about the "Gordie Howe Plaza at Little Caesars Arena"? Can they put a statue of Gordie there?

They really should have a statue to Gordie Howe. I would also like to see in or around the arena statues of the other players who have had had their jerseys retired. My single favorite picture of myself is a picture I have with Gordie Howe.

Interesting. I'm not offended, but I am curious about the finance aspect- Since the Ilitch family owns Olympia Entertainment as well as Little Caesars' Pizza, how does it work exactly that LCP pays Olympia Entertainment for the stadium branding rights? Is it as simple as one family owned corporation cutting a check to another? [[I am mindful, for example, that Mike Ilitch is not a named stakeholder in the Motor City Casino gambling operation, due to MLB restrictions on that kind of thing). As such, does it "really" help to offset costs in building/maintaining the stadium by having a wholly-owned "sister" company be the main sponsor?

As long as both the Wings and Olympia are privately held companies controlled by the Ilitch family [[Note: only 1 L in Ilitch), it is just accounting minutiae. But if either company is sold or goes public, you can bet that they want to have the signed agreement in place about who has to pay what, when, and for how long. Little Caesar's will benefit from the exposure, because familiarity is a driver of consumer behavior. If naming it the Little Caesar's Arena makes the average person hear "Little Caesar's" X-number more times per week, they will sell more pizzas. How much is that worth? Well, I am sure some people are paid to study that exact question.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

But then again, I like Mike Ilitch -- so I'm dusting off my asbestos leisure suit.

I like him a lot, too. He's a good guy in the story of Detroit. I think the desire to hate him exceeds the reasons to hate him for many people.

Prediction: an Olympia announcement about the UA building and theatre before fall.

[bust]

Prediction: an Olympia announcement about the UA building and theatre before fall.

Let's hope so. But if there is an announcement I'll hold my applause until we see the execution. We've heard announcements from them that have not materialized before.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Let's hope so. But if there is an announcement I'll hold my applause until we see the execution. We've heard announcements from them that have not materialized before.

I think there is plenty of financial motivation now. With demand and prices going up for square footage in every category downtown, I think Olympia wants to capitalize on the upswing. I bet an announcement this year, construction work starts next year, occupancy 2018 [[note: the theatre's restoration work will be a longer-term project than the rest of the building, due to detailed craftsmanship needed).

[Hamtragedy]

The Pizzarena