  Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 430 Registered: 08-2004 |
Sorry if this has been mentioned already, but Terry Foster suggested that the Wings might end up building there new arena on the site of the Jefferies East projects. The idea being that post game traffic will spill over to the Motor City Casino. This would also solidify another Ilitch controlled entertainment district with Olympia entertainment now handling the bookings for the Masonic Temple. Considering the Jefferies East seems to burn on a fairly regular basis, this might not be a bad idea. Is it at all feasible though? I thought plans were approved to create low income single family housing on the land like they did with the Jefferies projects. Did this deal fall through? http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/O PINION03/801070355/1126/ | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 1141 Registered: 11-2003 |
I thought the plans were to expand Woodbridge Estates across the freeway onto this site. | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 196 Registered: 08-2006 |
the location could spark efforts to renovate old cass tech | ||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 451 Registered: 06-2007 |
This would be better that destroying the streets behind the Fox to create yet another new superblock. | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 382 Registered: 04-2005 |
There would be plenty of surface parking!  | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4313 Registered: 02-2005 |
I'm ALL for that, as long enough new development across the city is 'affordable,' to make up for the loss of low-income housing. There's no reason to put the poor all together in pent-up areas like that in the year 2008. Plus, removing that ugly landscape and not having to build another superblock would be great. This might even forge a bridge over the Lodge between the casinos and Cass Park and a revitalized mid-Woodward corridor. That northwest outer necklace of the downtown is a great place to put major developments, and then hopefully the parking lot district in between (behind the Fox/Park Ave) would fill in with mid-rise housing etc. | ||
Civilprotectionunit4346 Member Username: Civilprotectionunit4346 Post Number: 586 Registered: 06-2007 |
Delray is a prime spot for a new Arean. Just don't mind the smell. | ||
Joeyp1982 Member Username: Joeyp1982 Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2007 |
If the arena is built behind the Fox it would create one of the most unique stadium districts in all of sports...and it will also help that area of downtown tremendously....I understand why he would maybe wanna build over there by Motor City..but at the same time it just wouldnt be the same as building it behind the Fox...If you add over 40 wings games plus over 80 tigers games and 10 lions games a year thats alot of nights where foxtown would be rockin.... | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 495 Registered: 12-2006 |
I say this is another ploy to get the property owners behind the fox to drop their asking price. | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 4450 Registered: 02-2007 |
^not a bad guess^ | ||
Hybridy Member Username: Hybridy Post Number: 198 Registered: 08-2006 |
i concur we need density in the cbd not superblocks | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1369 Registered: 10-2003 |
nice job mr. rohn! | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 4452 Registered: 02-2007 |
^not a bad guess^ | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 498 Registered: 11-2003 |
I vote ploy... however, it does make sense from an Illitch perspective. They now manage the Masonic Temple I do believe, and it creates an uber Illitch destination not far from their Comerica property. It'll clean up that neighborhood, that's for sure. However, I would prefer to see it downtown. But the above location will be better from an auto-access perspective and not too bad for walkability if developments can be made that link the two not-so-far-apart districts together. But this location is all about a place where suburbanites (the majority of Red Wings fans, for sure) can hop off the freeway and instantly be right at the arena, which is what most people want. | ||
Joeyp1982 Member Username: Joeyp1982 Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2007 |
Just think if quicken moves to the statler site and illitch builds his new arena behind the fox....that would basically build up a part of downtown that right now has nothing there...it makes perfect sense.. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 11737 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ya think Terry might be reading the forum? I speculated this under the "What's Kwame's big announcement gonna be?" about 2 months ago! https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/5/122113.html?1195430258 quote: | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6110 Registered: 08-2004 |
I can see why Ilitch may want to build it across the street from MotorCity, as opposed to building it near MGM Grand. BUT... if you build it too close to MotorCity, then folks will just park their cars (for free) in the MotorCity parking garage. Not a good income generator for Ilitch, and potential parking problems for regular non-arena patrons at MotorCity. On the flip side... if the arena is built behind the Fox... what's to stop a lot of people from parking at MGM Grand for free, and going to the arena. Nothing will stop those who just want the free parking, and not want to gamble at MGM. Hmmm... maybe the Motown site north of the Fisher Fwy. may be the best alternative... from a parking revenue perspective! | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 2494 Registered: 04-2006 |
I vote for the Tiger Stadium site. | ||
Monahan568 Member Username: Monahan568 Post Number: 260 Registered: 04-2004 |
if he builds the arena behind the fox he is going to have to pay for all the land and that will get very expensive. if he uses the the old housing project the city will most likly give him the land for free. also the state/ city will not help him with development cost like they did with comerica park so all development costs will be directly paid by him. however if you build it across the street from moter city the casino might help off set some of the construction cost if they own a portion of the area and my even have the m=naming rights this would give motor city a hudge advantage over the other casino's because when the wings are not using the area the big concerts would be there and motor city would be the prime sponsor | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 234 Registered: 05-2007 |
Many of us already park for free at the greektown casino and walk/people mover to various events around town. What's the difference if we do the same thing at MGM or Motor City? If they make you go in to validate parking, I'd imagine 50% of the people are going to put at least a buck in a slot machine, which is a buck revenue the casino wouldn't have if it weren't for free parking. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 235 Registered: 05-2007 |
Motor City Arena actually doesn't sound too bad... | ||
Kslice Member Username: Kslice Post Number: 260 Registered: 04-2007 |
Hybridy makes a lot a sense. We don't need big stadiums with super-blocks right downtown. I vote for anywhere outside the Lodge, Fisher, Chrysler square that is downtown. Even though I know it will never happen here, I love Wrigley field in Chicago. The way it's in a neighborhood really brings the nostalgia level to high. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 11738 Registered: 10-2003 |
Two things: First, I don't know what the NHL's policy is in regards to gambling and casinos, but there may be something in place preventing a Casino sponsoring the building. That being said, "Motor City" is a fairly generic term which they could argue has nothing to do with the casino. Secondly, perhaps most importantly, why would Ilitch give up the $66 million like he got for 30 year naming rights on Comerica Park? Don't hold your breath that the place will be named "Motor City Arena." | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 1361 Registered: 09-2007 |
I would rather see our array of surface lots developed and I can't see any huge dense high rises there for another 100 years. As Joeyp1982, it would be very unique and combining it with Quicken will pretty much help to boost that part of the CBD. If you need high rise density so much, continue building up woodward or on the other surface lots downtown. | ||
Warrenite84 Member Username: Warrenite84 Post Number: 205 Registered: 01-2007 |
The Jefferies Project site or the motown site on Woodward would be good spots for a new Olympia Stadium. I'll admit I hadn't thought of the Jefferies site. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 1075 Registered: 11-2004 |
I thought mixed income housing was slated for this land? Just even the thought of replacing public housing with an arena isn't going to sit well with many, you can bet someone like JoAnn Watson would be organizing a protest in a second. | ||
Queensfinest Member Username: Queensfinest Post Number: 150 Registered: 08-2006 |
so, number 1, has the plan been finalized for the demo of joe louis arena? second, aren't there maybe 100,000 acres of available land in detroit to build this arena on? why speculate on a site... they're plentiful third, and last, who gives a shit about hockey? especially when you have a competitive team in baseball. finally!! you are able to compete with the yanks and shitsox. the ONLY reason why peoples went to see the wings in the late 90s when i was there ws because the tigers, lions and pistons sucked at the time. when your baseball team does well, the only sport that matters, embrace it! look forward to yanks, red sux and tigs next year. who gives a shit about honkey. for reals. | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 851 Registered: 07-2006 |
how would this site rejuvenate anything? At best, you'll get some fans going to the casino, but the vast majority are going to jump right on the freeway and go home, just as they do at the Joe. maybe a new bar will open up, but much more than that is a pipe dream. The surrounding area will become 'Foxtown North', but not in the sense that it has any entertainment options, but in the sense that there will be plentiful parking (see Corktown). I can't imagine why anyone can support leveling another part of the city when so much damage has already been done. (Message edited by scottr on January 11, 2008) | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 2208 Registered: 10-2006 |
"how would this site 'rejuvenate' the cass corridor? At best, you'll get some fans going to the casino, but the vast majority are going to jump right on the freeway and go home, just as they do at the Joe." I wouldn't be so quick to say that it couldn't do something for the surrounding area. Just look at the Old Tiger Stadium and all the related activities around there back in the day. It was in the neighborhood and not downtown. I would like to think that you could at least expect that much spin-off for a new Red Wings arena outside of downtown. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 496 Registered: 12-2006 |
Charlottepaul, No way you would see that much spinoff. The scale of crowds is different. For hockey, 20,000 tops. For baseball you are talking 30,000-50,000 fans. | ||
Kslice Member Username: Kslice Post Number: 261 Registered: 04-2007 |
Scottr, you hit the nail on the head. How much development have we seen from Ford Field or Comerica? Not much if any. There already enough bars and restaurants there to handle any hockey crowd. Quicken will bring development, more stadiums will not. At least not downtown development. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 497 Registered: 12-2006 |
Kslice, I beg to differ about saying Ford Field or Comerica haven't brought in much. There are quite a few entertainment venues that have opened up in that area since the stadiums were built that I highly doubt would have been there otherwise. |
