Olympia Entertainment Inc   

2211 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48201
313-471-3200
www.olympiaentertainment.com

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Take one look at the banners hanging from the ceiling inside Joe Louis Arena and you'll know exactly how much professional hockey means to the city of Detroit. Home of the Detroit Red Wings, Joe Louis Arena opened in 1979 and withstood nearly a decade of hair-band rock concerts and mediocre-at-best hockey before reaching its glory years. Though "The Joe" struggled early on trying to replace the legendary Olympia Arena as one of the NHL's holiest of holy places, three Stanley Cup Championships between 1996 and 2002 have made hallowed this ground on the banks of the Detroit River in the shadow of the Renaissance Center. Joe Louis Arena seats 19,983 fans for hockey games -- not including the octopi hurled onto the ice by overzealous fans -- and is consistently one of the toughest tickets to find in Detroit when the Red Wings are in town. The Red Wings practice and play in The Joe, but the arena welcomes other sporting events throughout the year, including professional wrestling, boxing and rodeo. Joe Louis Arena also hosts concerts from Kid Rock to Enrique Iglesias and Eminem to Elton John. What's nearby: A plethora of bars and eateries in Detroit's bustling Greektown, Foxtown and Corktown districts are within a short distance of Joe Louis Arena. Many offer free shuttles to and from the arena on game days in return for patronage. Extras: The Olympia Room and 86 luxury boxes are treats for hockey fans lucky enough to have VIP access, while the concourses of Joe Louis Arena are home to booths selling Red Wings and "Original Six" NHL merchandise. The steps on the arena's south side offer a great view of the Detroit River and the Canadian shoreline. Arena food: Like pizza? Wings owner Mike Ilitch also owns Little Caesar's and for some reason his pies always taste better at The Joe. Hungry patrons will also find gourmet deli sandwiches and the usual stadium fare: hotdogs, Polish sausage, peanuts, ice cream and popcorn. A full array of mixed drinks, domestic and Canadian draft beers are also available. Access notes: Joe Louis Arena is ADA compliant, and all 19,983 regular seats are easily accessible and free of obstruction. The arena's restrooms are plentiful, but lines can still be lengthy during event intermissions. Smokers will be unhappy with the sparse, and consequently crowded, areas where smoking is permitted. Parking is abundant in nearby private lots and structures, including the Joe Louis Arena Garage, directly accessible from M-10 (Lodge Freeway) in the city center.