This upcoming Red Wings season will be the final season they play at Joe Louis Arena.  It will be sentimental for many of the fans that have seen them make the playoffs 25 straight years at “The Joe”.  I have only lived in Detroit for a year but I was lucky enough to make it to handful of Red Wings games and a Madonna concert there.  The Joe is gritty, it reminds me of going to the old Yankee Stadium growing up.  They both have basic stadium food, beer, narrow seats and good teams.  I find in newer stadiums and arenas many have a wide range of food selections, lounges and bars that take away from the actually sporting event.  That being said, I am excited to see what they will offer at the new Little Caesar’s Arena (I’m guessing there will be pizza).

I am hoping that in this final season, that the Wings can make the playoffs for a 26th straight year and carry that unprecedented success into the new arena.  When the Yankees moved to their new stadium something was lost, the games were no longer fun, the team didn’t play well and I felt my great childhood memories got taken down with the old stadium.

I’m hoping I can take in as many games as possible this year and really cherish the Joe for what it is instead of what it lacks.  I know when I first go the new Little Caesar’s arena I’ll be sentimental about going to the bathroom shoulder to shoulder with strangers in a trough.