Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Little Caesars Arena 2645 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48201
Year Opened: 2017
Capacity: 19,515
The Red Sea Of Detroit
Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Red Wings 3rd home, is a sea of red. Between the home fans’ jerseys, the red banners hanging from the rafters, and the arena with robust red lighting is almost an assault on the eyes. But there’s no doubt whose building this is as fans file into the seating area.
It’s hard to believe the facility is already seven years old but it is still tied for the third youngest in the NHL with T-Mobile in Las Vegas. The Red Wings played at the Olympia from 1927 to 1979 before moving to Joe Louis Arena on the Detroit River from 79 until 2016. Little Caesars, which anchors The District Detroit, a 50-block, mixed-use development connecting downtown and midtown, is also home to the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
The Red Wings are one of the Original Six – the group of six teams that made up the National Hockey League between 1942 and 1967. Detroit, which plays in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, was once a major player but has not been to the playoffs since 2016.
From 1997 through 2008, the Wings won four Stanley Cups including back-to-back crowns in 97 and 98. The post-season drought has diminished the enthusiasm to an extent but the city is a hockey hotbed referred to as Hockeytown.
A glass roof is erected between the buildings and the arena itself. The roof forms an indoor "street" that serves as the arena's concourse which is open year-round. There is also an outdoor plaza with a large video display. The east side of the building is connected to bars and restaurants.
The BELFOR Training Center, the official practice facility of the Red Wings, is connected to the building on the north side. It is also home to Little Caesars Amateur Hockey.
Food & Beverage 5
The four restaurants at Little Caesars Arena are:
• PointsBet Sports Bar
• Mike's Pizza Bar
• The Mixing Board
• UWM District Market
There are at least 10 different bars. Coca-Cola products are the arena soft drink of choice.
The Coop, 313 Grill Co., and Little Caesars Pizza (with traditional Detroit style available) are found on both the power and upper concourse. For more local fare there is the Dearborn Sausage Haus and National Coney Island. There is also standard stadium food such as hot dogs and a taqueria.
Atmosphere 4
The stadium has an old-time feel combined with an impressive brick facade.
The Southwest entry might be the most impressive next to the Via Sports Bar and the Ted Lindsay statute. The concourse is an open bright space with high ceilings in which you can see outside through the glass ceiling. There is a band playing before the game which creates a festive atmosphere.
There are manhole covers with names and numbers of many of the Red Wings/Pistons’ greats.
The Red Wings have no trouble drawing fans but enthusiasm and winning go hand in hand and the Wings have not made the playoffs since 2016. The Wings averaged 18,980 last season (2023 - 2024) and are sold out for almost every game. On this weeknight visit, there were many families and younger fans which is great for the team and the league. The crowd is knowledgeable but maybe not as passionate as one would expect from an Original 6 team.
The Red Wings have a great organ led by famous organist Lance Luce but rely more on recorded music to pump up the crowd. Luce has been at LCA since 2017. The music and PA announcements are played at an acceptable level. The LED lighting exhibition leading up to the game is impressive. The arena has smoke machines in each corner of the rink that billow white and red smoke following Red Wing goals.
Neighborhood 4
The city of Detroit gets a bad rap. The city is clean with no graffiti and few homeless people around. The area around the arena is safe. Hockeytown is a great spot for fans to congregate pre and post-game. LCA is close to the Fox Theater with Comerica Park and Ford Field in reasonable proximity.
The two most famous hot dog places (American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island) are 19 minutes away on Michigan Avenue. Detroit dogs are topped with chili, onions, and mustard. The legendary Buddy’s Pizza, famous for its Detroit-style square slices, is just a 15-minute walk from the stadium.
The Greektown area with its casinos is about a mile away and the Hollywood Greektown Hotel is a good option with lower prices than most. Hotels are expensive as there are not a plethora of choices downtown.
Fans 4
Red Wings jerseys with the well-known winged wheel are worn by most of the fans in attendance. The Wings have averaged 19,393 for the first month of the 2024 season just short of capacity. Other than Let’s Go Red Wings the fans have no other chants.
Access 4
Downtown Detroit is quite a distance from the Detroit Airport and minimal public transportation is available from the airport. An Uber ride will cost $50 – $60 each way to and from downtown. An above-ground People Mover train and QLine streetcar (both are free) can be taken to get close to Little Caesars Arena. The People Mover stops about half a mile away, while the QLine drops fans off right in front of the arena at Sproat St/Adelaide St.
There are numerous parking lots with a 10-minute walk to the arena. Parking ranges from $30 to $50 and the LCA website will direct you to parkwhiz.com to pre-purchase. Ride share drop off and pick up is on W Fisher Service Drive.
There are four entry points to Little Caesars Arena. Two on Woodward Avenue, one on Sproat, and one on Henry Avenue. Gates open 90 minutes prior to puck drop.
The arena has 20 portals in the lower bowl which provide access to the seating area. Sections 119-124 have a lower portal to get to the seats closest to the ice. It is a bit burdensome as fans have to go down/up two sets of stairs to enter or exit the seating bowl. Portals 21-72 are on the upper concourse, and 73-77 are in the Labatt Blue Club and 78-82 are in the Michigan First Gondolas.
Concourses are wide but still can get congested between periods. The upper-level seating area is extremely steep and the seats have minimal legroom.
Return on Investment 3
The Red Wings rank 13th on the Fan Cost Price Index at $436.16 for four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one hour, two game programs and two least-expensive, adult-size adjustable caps. Weeknight tickets can be had for around $130 (including fees) behind the net and $75 in the upper level behind the goal depending on the opponent. Craft beer is $12.99, Dasani bottled water is $5.99, small soda is $7.43, and a hot dog is $6.99.
Extras 3
One point for the Michigan First West Gondola which is designed to entertain from the most unique vantage point imaginable. The Gondola, which also includes the press box, gives guests a unique view that not all stadiums offer.
Another point is awarded for exhibits, sculptures, and artwork displayed on the concourse and in the Cadillac Plaza and many Red Wing retired numbers and championship banners that hang from the rafters.
A third point is for a small museum in the upper bowl devoted to Detroit sports. There are exhibits dedicated to both the Red Wings and the Pistons.
Final Thoughts
Affectionately known as Hockeytown, Detroit is a unique market in the United States where a pretty substantial argument can be made that it is a hockey-first market.
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