Built in 1979 for $57 million, the Joe Louis Arena (Also known as ”The Joe” or ”JLA”) is a sports stadium in Detroit, Michigan. It hosts several Detroit teams, the most known probably the National Hockey League team the Detroit Red Wings. It is one of the few remaining arenas that does not have a corporate sponsorship name (the other two being Madison Square Garden and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum). The name “Joe Louis” comes from a former heavyweight champion boxer, Joe Louis who grew up in Detroit.
The Red Wings
The Red Wings played their first game at the Joe Louis Arena on the 27 of December, 1979. The same first season, it hosted the first NHL All Star game, and hosted it in front of a record crowd: 21,002 people. This record was before the new NHL.
The Red Wings have won 4 Stanley Cups whilst playing in the Joe Louis Arena.
The West Entrance of the arena has been named the Gordie Howe entrance, the legendary Red Wings player, and a large bronze statue of him has been placed there aswell.
Other Teams Playing at the Joe
The Joe has been known to host Detroit junior hockey teams, the Detroit basketball team the “Detroit Pistons”, some games of the WNBA finals and also the Arena Football League team “Detroit Drive”.
Statistics
Built: 1977-1979
Cost: $57,000,000
Seating Capacity: 20,058 (including suites), 20,338 for end stage concerts, 21,152 for center stage concerts.
Opening event: Basketball game between the University of Detroit and the University of Michigan.
Opening hockey event: The Detroit Red Wings against the St. Louis Blues (Blues won with 3-2)
Other events: Alice Cooper, Queen and Lady Gaga are some of the artists that have performed at the Joe.
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