Detroit Considers Deal On Joe Louis Arena's Future
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A proposed lease before Detroit City Council would prevent ticketed events from being held at Joe Louis Arena after the Red Wings stop playing at the downtown site.
The council is reviewing terms for the Wings to play at Joe Louis Arena until a new hockey arena is built as early as 2016. Detroit owns Joe Louis Arena, but it would stay dark after the Wings leave until it's demolished.
The lease is part of a package of agreements to resolve several issues surrounding Joe Louis Arena, including a plan for the state to pay up-front costs for the demolition and a $5.2-million payment for any unpaid bills due the city under the previous lease, which expired in 2010.
Bill Nowling, spokesman for emergency manager Kevyn Orr, told the Detroit Free Press that negotiators for the Red Wings insisted on the non-compete clause, saying it was "a condition that they brought to the table."
The council is expected to discuss the deal on Tuesday, and has until the end of the month to make a final decision.
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