Joe Louis Arena, Indoor ice rink and arena in Detroit, United States
Joe Louis Arena was a multi-purpose indoor arena on the Detroit River beside Cobo Center, completed in 1979 at a cost of US$57 million. Its exterior was clad in white and grey panels, with a deep rectangular recess cut into the upper facade and a lower corner in bright red panels; a red metal railing of horizontal bars rose diagonally across the lower right. Two grey loudspeakers were mounted on the roofline and inside the recess.
The arena named after boxer Joe Louis opened in 1979 and remained in operation for four decades. The building was demolished in 2019 and replaced by a 25-story residential tower.
Fans called it "The Joe", and it kept its name because the city never sold naming rights to a sponsor, unlike most NHL venues. The 1980 NHL All-Star Game drew a then-record 21,002 spectators, with 51-year-old Gordie Howe appearing in his 23rd and last All-Star Game and 19-year-old Wayne Gretzky in his first. The arena also hosted the 1980 Republican National Convention, which nominated Ronald Reagan.
The site is now a residential tower with apartments and private facilities for residents. Visitors can explore the riverfront area where the arena once stood.
The arena's name rights were never sold to a sponsor, making it, alongside Madison Square Garden, the last NHL venue of its kind. The Red Wings' final game there on April 9, 2017 was Henrik Zetterberg's 1,000th, and Riley Sheahan scored the last goal.
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