Wings Reportedly Move Forward On New Arena
DETROIT (97.1 The Ticket) Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock told 97.1 The Ticket earlier this year he wants the team to have a new arena.
And it looks like he may get his wish.
Sports Business Journal reported Monday the Red Wings have selected an architect to design a new 18,000-seat NHL stadium, saying it could go behind the Fox Theatre. The journal said "according to three industry sources," the project will be led by HKS, co-designer of American Airlines Center, and Chan Krieger NBBJ, "a Boston architect specializing in urban developments."
This step comes after Babcock joined Stoney & Bill with Sara in February. Toward the end of the conversation, Sara asked Babcock to share his thoughts on the current state of the 33-year-old Joe Louis Arena. She asked the coach if he would prefer The Joe be rehabilitated or replaced with a new arena.
Without skipping a beat, Babcock said he would prefer "a new facility, no question."
"Detroit, if we want the city to come back you've got to revitalize downtown … A big part of that is going to be a new arena, the mall, the stuff going around it," Babcock said, adding, "The sooner the better, if you want to revitalize Michigan, it's got to start right here in Detroit."
