• Clark Park Recreation Center:  This is a semi-private, company-owned recreation center.  It includes an ice arena, tennis facilities, and a gymnasium, providing services to the local Mexicantown/west Corktown and Southwest Detroit communities.   It's located at 1130 Clark Street in Clark Park about three miles west of Downtown, in Mexicantown, and west of Corktown (313-841-8534). The Detroit Red Wings have held public practices at the outdoor rink.
  
  
• Jack Adams Center: 10500 Lyndon (313-628-0990)

Clark Park Coalition Grounds and Hockey Rink

• Farwell Recreation Center:  on Outer Drive in northeast Detroit. (TBD).
  

Semi-Private Recreation Centers

• Amurcon Casgrain Hall: on 100 Parsons St., is a private fitness center (313-833-0908).

• General George S. Patton Memorial Center, Detroit Recreation Department. Contains a 22 meter pool and fitness center. It’s located on one side of Patton Park in west Mexicantown (313-628-2000).
  
  
• Lased Recreation Center:  on 7150 W. Vernor Highway in east Mexicantown (313-841-1430).
  

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• Samaritan Center:  on 5555 Conner St. (313-923-1501).

• Considine-Historic Little Rock Family Life, Education and Recreation Center:   This center offers recreation, a swimming pool and services to youth and persons with disabilities.  The center is no longer part of the church nearby.  It's located at 8904 Woodward, New Center area (313-871-46735).
  
  
• Delray Recreation Center: on 420 S. Leigh St (313-297-9333).

Considine Little Rock Family Recreation Center

Coleman A. Young Recreation Center

• Coleman A. Young Recreation Center:  on 2751 Robert Bradby Dr.; East Town, north of E. Jefferson (313-628-0995).

• Apollo Hall:  on 1100 Conner St., is a recreation and fitness center (313-839-8030).

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Coliseum, Fair Grounds, Detroit 

Fair Grounds Buildings as seen from 8 Mile Rd., Detroit

 It includes 24 luxury boxes and 862 club seats. Events have included the Rolling Stones performance, 1994, the Cold War ice hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State, 2001 and the U2 concert tour in 2011. It's located at 300 Spartan Way, E. Lansing, Michigan, about 88 miles by car from downtown Detroit. (1-800-232-4678.)

Other Michigan State Sports and Athletic Facilities:

Note:  The Michigan State University athletics facilities are also very extensive.   This university could likewise host a Summer Olympic competition as well, but it is twice the distance from Downtown Detroit than its U of M rival.  Not all  MSU facilities are listed here. 

• Jenision Fieldhouse:  This aging facility is the home of the Michigan State Spartans women's gymnastics, wrestling, track and field teams.  It is the former men's basketball facility with original capacity of 10,000.  Today there is seating for 6,000. 
• Breslin Center, Michigan State (Spartans), E. Lansing:  Built to replace Jenison Fieldhouse in 1989, it was named after one of the school's most prolific athletes, competing in football and basketball, working with the university with a career lasting 30 years.  It contains main level and mezzanine seating, and is the primary location for all men's basketball home competition as well as a concert/entertainment venue featuring groups like Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, and Bob Dylan.  Capacity, 16,000.
  
• Berkowitz Basketball Complex:  Part of the Breslin Center expansion program, this facility was added in 2002, and provides two additional gymnasiums for both the men's and women's basketball programs, and an auxiliary training area.
  
• Duffy Daugherty Building/Skandalaris Football Center:  Built in 2008, this facility promotes the recruiting process and offers grass practice fields directly in back of the facility.
  
• DeMartin Soccer Complex: Opened in 2008 this facility offers new grandstands and field for both the men's and women's soccer teams.  Capacity 2,500.
  
• Forest Akers Golf Courses:  Offers two, 18-hole championship courses.  The 1998 and 2008 Big Ten, Men's Golf Championship was held here.
  
• Grand River Park -- MSU Boathouse: 
  
• McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field.  Considered one of the finest facilities in the midwest, this complex was dedicated in 2009, and offers baseball playing facilities with modern amenities but built to complement Jenison Fieldhouse.  Capacity 2,500.
  
• McCaffree Pool:  Opening in 1959, this 50 meter pool is the home of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams.  It features a 60-foot diving well and 10-meter platform.  Capacity 2,000.
  
• Secchia Stadium:  This baseball facility was completed in 2011.  Capacity 1,100.
  
• Rearick Golf Complex:  This facility, built in 2003, houses offices, team room and locker rooms for the men's and women's golf teams.  It features advanced V-1 Video Swing Analysis System equipment, putting green and hitting nets.  It overlooks the 13th green of the Forest Akers West Golf Course.
  
• MSU Indoor Tennis Facility and Outdoor Tennis Courts:  Opened in 1986, the indoor facility offers 69,000 square feet of building space and boasts one of the finest complexes in the country.  Capacity 150 seats; 1,200 spectator capacity.  The outdoor facility has 20 courts.
  
• Ralph Young Field:  Opening as a combination track and field and field hockey playing field, it first saw service in 1937, but was last renovated in 2002.  Capacity 1,500.
  
• Munn Ice Arena:  First opened in 1974, this rink offers a facility for the Spartan hockey team, and was most recently renovated in 2002.
  

• It's attendance record was 7,121 in 2002.  Capacity 6,470.
  

• Cooley Law School Stadium:  (Not directly affiliated with MSU, but closely associated.)  This facility is a baseball stadium in the downtown, Cooley Law School complex in Lansing.  It's the home of the Lansing Lugnuts.  A benchmark game between the Spartans and the Lugnuts, known as the Crosstown Showdown drew a record 12,862 fans.  Capacity is normally 8,000.
  

Windsor, Ontario Canada Stadiums

• WFCU Centre: This is a recreational, entertainment and sports facility complex that seats 6,500 and has three community ice rinks and a community center. It's located at 8797 McHugh Street, Windsor, Ontario. (519- 974-7979 www.wfcu-centre.com.)
  
• University Of Windsor Stadium: Also known as the South Campus Stadium, this venue features soccer and Canadian football, and is the location for the CIS Windsor Lancers. It also hosted the 2007 Track and Field Championships and Canadian track and Field Trials in 2008.
  
• Windsor Stadium: This stadium has a capacity of 3,000 and hosts soccer, Canadian football and rugby. The Border Stars soccer team plays here and the stadium hosted the CSL Allstar game in 2007.
  
• Windsor Ice Park, Inc.: This is a multi-use sports park with two ice surfaces in summer that offer figure skating and ice skating lessons, as well as adult or youth hockey and broomball.  It's located at 3400 Grand Marais Rd. E., Windsor, Ontario. 519-944-3773 www.icepark.ca.)
  
• Tecumseh Arena: This is an indoor rink open all year that offers figure skating and ice skating lessons, as well as adult and youth hockey. It's located at 12021 McNorton Street, Tecumseh, Ontario. (519-735-4756.com/.../tecumseh_arena_skating_rink_arena_tecumseh_on.cfm.)

Stand Tiers in Profile, left and from behind, right

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Baseball Ferris Wheel

Monument Park Statues and New Digital Scoreboard, Right

Like Yankee stadium, there is a Monument Park.  Big 15-foot statues of Al Kaline, Ty Cobb, Willie Horton, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg and Hal Newhouser stand in the concourse of left center field.  A pedestrian museum is available. 

Comerica Park Outfield (with a peek from the street)

Portion of Integrated Warehouse Stadium section

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​√Rec Ford Field (Lions Football): This indoor facility is home to the Detroit Lions football team and was completed in 2002.  As a result of a $100 million upgrade in 2017, Ford Field has become a state-of-the-art venue with the latest electronics and fan accommodations.

​​​The Joe Louis Arena, with 21,152 seats, was the recent home of the Detroit Red Wings NHL hockey team, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and numerous entertainment events. It also hosted WNBA Finals games in 2006 as well as spectaculars like Cirque du Soleil and the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus. (The Joe has been replaced by the LCA previously described.)

True to its namesake, it's had its share of fighting/boxing tournaments. This Arena is otherwise known as "The Joe" and the "JLA" in honor of Joe Louis, the boxer of Detroit fame who beat German phenom Max Schmeling for the world championship in 1938 on the eve of WWII.  It has 86 premium suites, the Legend's Club seating and SkyBox with instant replays and good sight lines.  However, its dated design looks like a giant aluminum mausoleum.  There are virtually no windows facing the river, ignoring one of the city’s best assets.  (The city’s planners have vowed all future waterfront projects will take maximum advantage of the beautiful river like those for the new Cobo Convention Center or the stunning RiverWalk for its great success.)

The Joe is located at 600 Civic Center Drive, west of Cobo Convention Center on the Detroit River bordering the RiverWalk.  A People Mover station is located here, one story above the box office. Memorable events featured Lady Gaga, Blue Man Group, Slayer and Megadeth in the American Carnage Tour. The facility is showing its age and the owner of the Red Wings has built a new 20,000+ seat stadium in nearby Midtown to house both the Red Wings and the Pistons.  The Joe is expected to be demolished to eliminate competition with the new arena in a couple years, barring investment by another sports interest.  (If it avoids demolition, maybe someone will finally cut some windows in this riverside wonder.  For current venue information contact 313-396-7901 www.olympiaentertainment.com.) 

The Original Cobo Arena, Former Sports and Concert Venue

Downtown Detroit Map and Stadiums

Map of Detroit

​​                                                         “America’s Sports City”

• Detroit offers great sport spectaculars from the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, NCAAI and NCAAII. 
  

• U of M and MSU have split Big Ten loyalties down the middle over their football and basketball programs. These fiercely competitive rivals are like two more pro teams joined at the hip by a bitterly opposed fan base.
  

• Thrilling races are held in and around town, at events like the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, the Michigan Speedway, the Off-shore Hydroplane Races, the Red Bull Airplane Races, the Dorais Thunderdrome Races and the Road Kill Drag Races.
  

• Several grueling Running and Cycling Marathons are held each year attended by tens of thousands. 
  

• Pony Polo, Cricket, Rugby, Soccer and Lacrosse offer intense competition for the sophisticate or the weekend warrior.
  

• Thoroughbred Racing has thundered back to the Detroit metro area.
  

• Bowling, Bocci Ball, Curling and Broom Ball provide strategic contests for the traditional and serious.
  

• Boxing and Wrestling still draw good, combative crowds.
  

• Sculling, Rowing, Sailing, Water Polo, Diving and Swimming send waves of enthusiasm crashing through the region.  

How to use this Page:

This page offers a description of Detroit's sports attractions both inside the city and in the suburbs.  Detroit has a long tradition of fierce rivalries in athletics and sports.  Numerous sports opportunities in the city and southeast Michigan give the enthusiast tremendous access to professional and collegiate competition.  (ENJOY THE MOTOR CITY AND HAVE A PLEASANT STAY!) 

Temporary Venues near Comerica Park

Warming Tents and Attractions near Comerica Park

• Butzel Family Recreation Center:  on 7737 Kercheval St.  (313-852-4734).  Includes recreation facilities, a youth computer lab, dance workshops, gym activities, art and music; inside Harmony Village, next to Marcus Garvey Academy and a block from Indian Village.   

Farwell Recreation Center

Detroit Athletic Club, left and Detroit Yacht Club, right

Michigan State University Stadiums and Facilities (88 miles from Downtown, by car)

√Rec Spartan Stadium (East Lansing):   This is a Big Ten football stadium with capacity for 75,005 fans, and is the home of the Michigan State Spartans football team.

Spartan Stadium Façade, Offices, Facilities, Broadcast Booths, Boxes and Suites

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Natatorium overlooking Valley, Oakland University

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“O’rena” (and mascot grizzly statue), Oakland University

 Capacity Crowd awaits Battle with St. Louis Cardinals on 6-21-12

A baseball-style Ferris wheel and carousel are in a concourse behind the stands, making the stadium popular with kids. 

 It was sometimes known as Comerica National Park for what many considered too large an outfield, and was later reconfigured for shorter distances. Left center field is now 370 feet. Center field is unchanged at 420 feet. A unique keyhole line of dirt connects home plate to the pitcher's mound as it had at Tiger Stadium. 

√Rec Comerica Park (Tigers Baseball): This entertaining ball park opened in 2000 to replace the venerated Tiger Stadium. 

Comerica Park Main Entrance, Left and Stadium Interior, Right

Note:  Ford Field and Comerica Park have been criticized for not providing enough fan accommodations in the empty space between them.  It’s true.  There are only about 100 feet, wall-to-wall.  However, each stadium has several in-house bars and eateries.  The historic Elwood Bar and Grille is a favorite standout.  Nearby Foxtown provides bars, restaurants and theatres.  Many more attractions are just a short walk Downtown.  In addition, you’ll find nine live theatres and about 70 bars and restaurants within 300 yards.  Refer to Page 5, Restaurants and Bars for a detailed list.  Any of the design abuses of the present should be addressed by the new Wildcat Corner planned for the vacant spaces between the two structures and other shared locations. ​

​​The venue hosted the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer competition on June 7th, 2011, in which the U.S. team competed.  Ford Field has bid to host another Super Bowl, and the chances look good considering the vast in-crease in downtown hotel capacity.  Ford Field is located at 2000 Brush St., very close to the Gem and Century Theatres, the Music Hall Theatre, The Michigan Opera House Theatre, the City Theatre, The Fox Theatre, and The Fillmore Theatre -- all live performance venues. The People Mover, Broadway station is just 4 blocks away. There are also many fine hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, Comerica Park, Greektown Casino and the modern Boll Family YMCA, within a third mile. (313-965-7824 http://www.detroitlions.com/ford-field/concerts-events.html.)

The Brush Street Gap between Ford Field, Left and Comerica Park, Right

​​​​warehouse portion along the south sidelines. Most of the grandstand seats are located at the north and at the end zones. Recent events include Detroit Lions Youth Football Camp -- Offensive Skills Academy, Detroit Lions Youth Football Camp -- OL/DL Academy, Lions Uncaged, MSU vs. FAU, and Monster Jam (with Grave Digger).   

It has seating capacity of 70,000 for Football and 78,000 for Basketball with a total of 1,826,250 square feet. 230,000 square feet can be leased by businesses.  Ford Field has hosted portions of the NCAA Div. I, Final Four basketball tournament in 2009, the Frozen Four hockey tournament in 2010 and WrestleMania 23, in 2007 (when a record 80,103 fans attended). It's also hosted several college bowl games, the 2006 Super Bowl, and Michigan High School band competitions.  At the time of its construction, it was considered a groundbreaking design when it incorporated a large warehouse into its layout, which accommodates concert performances, athletic events and conventions. Some of the same concepts were used in the new LCA.  The layout includes banquet facilities, restaurants, office space, retail services, lounge areas, and food courts. Many later projects have imitated this successful building concept.  Most of the 132 luxury suites and the lounges are found in the 

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General George S. Patton Memorial Recreation Center

Butzel Family Recreation Center

Michigan Stadium Façade, Offices, Facilities, Broadcast Booths, Club Seats and Suites

The Silverdome (Pontiac): Formerly known as the Pontiac Silverdome, this stadium had a fabric-domed profile like a giant Sealy Posturepedic.  It re-opened in April of 2010, and was initially saved from demolition with fresh cash and optimism. This was the home of the Lions, Pistons and Panthers since opening in 1975, and saw record attendance at 93,682 with the visit of the Pope in 1987.  Super Bowl XVI was held here, as well as WrestleMania III and the 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. Even Pink Floyd appeared under its billowing fabric top in 1994. The World Cup Soccer match was hosted by the stadium, which grew specially planted turf for the event in 2008.

With seating capacity of 80,311, this facility was considered better than Detroit stadium proposals at the time of its design, since many suburbanites spurned Detroit as a sports fan's nightmare. Since then fortunes have smiled on Motown resulting in the Lions departure to Ford Field. However, new life was injected into the Silverdome with new owners, new renovations and new events. The new owners bought the stadium at the price of a 2-bedroom California bungalow, proposing great success for the Silverdome location with millions in investment.     

Former Renovation Plans in Pontiac.  In 2013 the Silverdome’s cover was deflated in part due to storm damage.  Its top, seating and luxury boxes had been scheduled for replacement.  One design proposal called for a soccer facility with a capacity for 40,000, a concert facility with a capacity for 20,000 and a meeting area designed for 10,000.  Sadly, the facility will not undergo any renovation at all.
                           

Downtown Detroit Proposal.  A new soccer stadium was also proposed for Downtown Detroit                             near Greektown, next to Ford Field near the abandoned jail area with seating for 25,000 fans.                               Further political wrangling over this site ended any prospects for stadium development from this                             investor.  Another investor has renewed interest, however. 

Recent events at the Silverdome included the soccer game between the AC Milan and Panathinaikos FC European soccer teams -- when attendance far exceeded predictions -- and the Jai Ho Ar Rahman concert.  A new soccer franchise was planned given that success.  A new professional American football franchise was tentatively approved for the Michigan Coyotes, in a league with four other teams.  (Both team proposals were dropped.)  While the stadium was still in excellent condition just a couple years ago, it stood exposed to the severe Michigan weather, waiting for demolition, and was brought down in December of 2017.  The Silverdome was located at 1200 Featherstone Rd. in Pontiac, about 23 miles from Downtown Detroit. (248-338-7000 www.silverdomeevents.com.)

The Silverdome Minus its Top in 2013

U of D Mercy’s Calihan Hall

Joe Dumars Fieldhouse

Tom Adams Stadium and Running Track (Wayne State University, Detroit)

Palace of Auburn Hills

Comerica Park viewed from Woodward prior to Game 4, vs. Giants, World Series, 10-28-12

Events have included appearances by Eminem, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, the Vans Warped Tour, Kiss, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Saliva, Kid Rock, and the Dave Matthews Band.  Recent Opening Day attendance reached a standing-room only capacity of 45,000, prompting speculation the stadium may be expanded once more.  The park has received major upgrades to its electronics, scoreboard and food options.

Tiger Stadium (now demolished)

Jubilant Fans exit Comerica Park after 9-28-14 Division Winning, 3-0 Game vs. Twins

Comerica Park

Comerica Park

The New Cobo Emerges

Comerica Park Beer Hall, Left and Historic Elwood Bar and Grille, Right

Ford Field Main Entrance

Ford Field

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​Cobo Arena has further merged with expanded convention facilities promised to the North American International Auto Show.  All seating was torn out and large new window galleries provide a spectacular new river-friendly theme. The Cobo Arena building has transformed into a large new ballroom seating 2,250 people that offers exhibit space to luxury vehicles during auto shows connected by a glass enclosed corridor to the rest of the facility.  It contains one of the world’s largest retractable partitions and a hydraulic stage lift for auto shows.  The building is located at 300 Civic Center Drive, within the Cobo Convention Center, between the Ren Cen and the Joe on the Detroit River bordering the RiverWalk.  A People Mover station is located at the Jefferson side of the Convention Center.  (313-983-6616 www.olympiaentertainment.com.)

Cobo Convention Center: This center is comprised of 2.4 million square feet overall and 723,000 square feet of convention space.  (Another 80,000 square feet of convention space were added with the completion of the former Cobo Arena portion.)  The original convention area also contains a large ballroom and conference areas recently renovated with a river-oriented design upgrade of its own.  One of the world's largest new digital displays welcomes visitors to events at the main entrance near Jefferson.  The People Mover has an integrated station in the Center. The new M1 transit, Q-Line includes a major station nearby on Larned and Woodward just one block north.

The Convention Center hosts the North American International Auto Show each January, the Autorama in March, followed by the Home and Garden Show, and the Boat Show -- among the big draws at Cobo.  The Antiques Road Show appeared at the Center in 2013.  Events bookings have more than doubled since renovation was announced driving more demand for hotel construction. 

Still At least a Part-time Sports Venue

While not the main focus of its facilities, Cobo will continue to host sports programs in coordination with other events like the Final Four, the Super Bowl, Junior Olympics wrestling and fencing competition when needed.  

Ford Field West Elevation

New Little Caesars Arena (LCA) replaces Joe Louis Arena and The Palace, September 5th, 2017

LATEST LIONS GRAPHICS

HOCKEYTOWN CAFE (Woodward)

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One of the traditional hangouts for Detroit Red Wings fans, "Hockeytown" deservedly portrays Detroit's intense fan identity with hockey.

Other towns like Chicago have recently tried to emulate this name association.  But only the Red Wings have earned the title with a record run in the playoffs.

Detroit is the greater of two pro hockey franchises  with a loyal but critical fan base found directly across the border in Canada, the birthplace of modern ice hockey.

 Detroit is the true Hockeytown!

​​​NEW MICHIGAN LACROSSE STADIUM, INDOOR-OUTDOOR TRACK FACILITIES

The university has just announced plans for a new $168 million lacrosse stadium, including new housing and  track facilities.  The stadium will have a 3,000 seat capacity.  

PARTIALLY RENOVATED KEYWORTH STADIUM, HAMTRAMCK

Detroit City FC (Futbol Club)

Great enthusiasm has met the reopening of Keyworth Stadium inside the enclave of Hamtramck (a city inside Detroit).  The Detroit City FC league has grown rapidly in the past few years, adding several new soccer teams. (Keyworth Stadium capacity: 7,000.)

​​​​​​NEW  "WILLIE HORTON FIELD OF DREAMS -- MEIJER STADIUM" 

The New Jimmy John's Semi-pro Baseball Stadium in Suburban Utica

This 8,500 seat stadium was built for $12  million.

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​​Comerica Park is located at 2100 Woodward Avenue next to Ford Field in downtown Detroit near the City Theatre, The Fox Theatre, The Fillmore Theatre, the Gem and Century Theatres, the Music Hall Theatre, and The Michigan Opera House Theatre, -- all live performance venues. The Hockeytown Cafe, Chellie’s Chili (owned by Chris Chelios, former Red Wing), the Boll Family YMCA and two People Mover stations are within walking distance and close to parking at Woodward, the adjoining avenue.   Comerica Park hosted the Red Wings Alumni Showdown on Dec. 31st, 2013 against Toronto Maple Leafs alumni.   (313-962-4000 tigers.mlb.com.)

NUMBER1SPORTS CITY IN AMERICA!                                                     

Detroit was ranked first among the top five "Sports Cities in America" by SPORTS CHEATSHEET, September 26, 2015.                

Motown will ace that title with the building of three new stadiums within its borders by 2020.

(Since electing not to build a new soccer stadium, its promoters will wait for acceptance of their new bid for an MLS expansion team using Ford Field as the location.  If they can't win a bid that way, they may be back to offering a new stadium.)                                                              

​​​​​IN WITH THE NEW!  

Jimmy John's Semi-pro Baseball Stadium Cont'd.

THE "VIA," INTERNAL STREET                                                                                   The Via offers a broad avenue of bistros, shops, amusements and numerous fast food options, But among the less visible arena features, there are more surprises.                                                                                       The Ilitch family insisted that every arena amenity contain at least three innovations. These include large locker rooms with family quarters, meticulously appointed dressing rooms for concert performers, and separate amateur sports accommodations.                                                                                           No stone was left unturned, right down to the Gordie Howe mural and the original Olympia sign (shown above).                                                                                                           But the story doesn't end there. The new basketball practice facility, just blocks away, will start a groundbreaking collaboration with Henry Ford Hospital's sports medicine program.

The Boll Family YMCA, Downtown, lt. & Ren Cen YMCA area, rt. 

Adjacent Yost Arena Concourse, Entrance and Marquee

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Practice Facilities in Valley

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The playing field is actually below ground level. 

There are 102 suites for luxury viewing and 3,039 club seats. The stadium boasts an impressive view of the Detroit skyline from its location Downtown. The summer sun can be a real issue for some, however, so adequate clothing is recommended. Game viewing for most fans provides good sight lines, but distances may seem remote on parts of the upper deck. The park is extensively decorated with tiger heads with illuminated baseballs clenched in their teeth. Giant tiger sculptures skulk along the scoreboards and grounds. Many a tiger's eyes alight during a homerun. A large fountain graces the area behind center field and erupts in torrent of water and tiger growls during a homerun. Real fireworks are displayed during Friday and Saturday games. 

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​Cobo Arena Transformed (part of Cobo Convention Center): Cobo Arena, with stage and 12,191 seats, provided staging areas for sports, concerts and meetings for five decades. It hosted the 1980 Republican Convention with Ronald Reagan, track and field events and basketball games for the Detroit Pistons.  The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is featured in a nearby hallway.

Legendary rock performances filled the Arena with echoes of approval for generations.  Memorable events of the past few years at the Arena included American Carnage Tour, featuring Megadeth with Testament; Stone Temple Pilots with Cage the Elephant; Budweiser Superfest 2010 featuring Anthony Hamilton with special guests KEM, Jaheim and Raheem Davaughn; and Eminem & Jay-Z.  More events like these will be accommodated at the new Little Caesar's Arena in South Midtown.  

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​Stadiums in Detroit  

“Yield the Field!”

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​The following stadiums are in Downtown.  The first four built or planned are barely more than a half mile apart.  Most are accessible on foot and three are near stops on the People Mover elevated tram.

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​Overview

Few downtown attractions can boast "3" pro sports stadiums.  While Cobo Arena has been deconstructed for car shows, Comerica Park and Ford Field still draw top competition.  The new Little Caesars Arenahas opened while a new Velodrome and ballpark rise nearby, But Detroit will remain home to thousands of rabid fans wherever there’s an inch of standing room. 

As regional attractions, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University offer great venues and exciting contests.  They score BIG  with thousands of Walmart Wolverines  and  Party Sparties!  Loyal fans throng to Detroit pro teams and the Big Ten -- not to mention Detroit’s U of D Titan basketball team, once a powerhouse under Dick Vitale.  Add to these the NCAA Division I college teams in the outlying towns.  Even Detroit’s own WSU Warriors staked brilliant home stands on their way to the NCAA Division II football championship. 

With 9 and perhaps 10, large sports venues in metro Detroit, stadium viewing rivals the mega towns.  Visitors and residents of this city have GREAT  sports options that don’t stop at the box office.

As Cubs fans know, the vast nomadic hordes of Tiger camp followers are more tenacious than the Huns.  On June 15th 2012 they “POURED OVER” Wrigley Field in a seething sea of orange, beating the park attendance record!  Their cheers and jeers drowned out their home team rivals.  There wasn’t so much DEEEE troit Muscle in Chicago since the **St. Valentine’s Day Massacre!  

They made a big show in Cincinnati, too, and the invasion force rampages on!  This is what it means to be

IMPORTED FROM DETROIT!

So we ask:  Who offers better Sport Venues, Quality Competition and a more Rampant Fan base than Detroit?  

This page still being written.​​

​​​√√Rec The Boll Family YMCA: This is a newer and larger YMCA fitness facility located Downtown, close to hotels and entertainment with a People Mover station near the entrance. Numerous activities are offered for adults and children. The YMCA contains a lap pool, a recreation pool, a climbing wall, weight machines, a cardio area, a live theatre, an elevated running track with a view of the city, and many other fitness areas and programs. It's located at 1401 Broadway and Grand River, within view of Comerica Park and near the Opera House, Music Hall and Gem and Century Theatres. If you're a serious fitness buff and plan to spend some time Downtown, it makes sense to see what kind of short term pass you can arrange, if only because of the convenience. The YMCA also offers Childcare services (313-309-9622 http://www.ymcadetroit.org).

40th Floor Marriott Hotel Fitness Center (within Renaissance Center).  It has a circular layout consistent with the unique cylindrical hotel structure, offering beautiful views of the river and surrounding area.  It’s well-equipped with newer machines and treadmills.  The entire hotel has undergone recent renovation.  (There is no pool at the hotel.)  

√Rec   Renaissance Center YMCA: This is a compact YMCA fitness facility with big windows on the Detroit River, facing the GM Promenade from the south side of the gargantuan Renaissance Center at street level. It offers Pilates, cycle, yoga, cardio and weight training equipment. It's located at 300 Renaissance Ctr., Ste A305 near some good restaurants in the Ren Cen.  If you are a serious fitness buff visiting the Ren Cen for several days, you might consider the benefits of a short term pass here or at the Boll Family YMCA on the same People Mover route, less than a mile away (313-309-3377 www.ymcadetroit.org).

Curves (in Ren Cen “East” 400/500).  This is a private fitness center franchise that's located in the same general complex of buildings.

Downtown Independent Facility

Corporate Mind and Body Spa, 600 Renaissance Ctr., Detroit (313-393-7995).  This is a massage therapy center open to all.  No membership required.  Services can be ordered for workplace visits. A massage at this facility can be a welcome follow-up to a tour Downtown... or a workout.  This is a good anniversary present.  So is the nearby Bon Bons Chocolatier store.

Detroit Professional Sports Teams

Detroit professional teams offer an unprecedented, year-long season of sports entertainment.  Three of the teams presently play in downtown Detroit where regular season games can be attended at one stadium or another every month. Both Hockey and Football share four months of a season Downtown (September through January).  Baseball shares one month with Football, while overlapping the end of the Hockey season.  If you're adventuresome, Basketball can be attended just 22 miles north in Auburn Hills.  The Detroit Pistons basketball team joins the Detroit Red Wings at the new arena in south Midtown Detroit when construction is completed in the fall of 2017, offering a fourth professional sport within walking distance.  (If a new soccer expansion team is added and the bicycle Velodrome is completed, six major sports will be accessible on foot from the Midtown-Downtown area alone.)

Michigan Coyotes (program cancelled)

This is a Pro Spring Football League franchise (American football).  One of five teams, its home field was to be the Silverdome near Pontiac, Michigan.  The team’s introduction has been abandoned along with plans to renovate the Silverdome. (313.886.6800   www.starsfootballleague.com
eMail: operations@starsfootballleague.com).

√Rec  Detroit Red Wings

Regular Season:  October to April

Logo:  A wing connected to an automobile tire

Location:  Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit on the riverfront

The Detroit Red Wings were purchased from the Victoria Cougars in 1926.   For a short time they were named the Detroit Falcons and became one of the Original Six, NHL hockey teams as the Red Wings.  The wing logo was inspired by the speed of the falcon wing and the tire from the auto industry.   

The Wings hold the record number of playoff appearances for the league in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.  The Red Wings originated one of hockey's great traditions with the tossing of dead octopi onto the ice, the Wings fans' way of throwing down the gauntlet to the opposing team.  It's not much loved by the referees, who often retrieve the slimy critters.  Among the other members of the Original Six with great traditions of their own are:  The Boston Bruins, The Chicago Blackhawks, The New York Rangers, The Toronto Mapleleafs and the Montreal Canadiens.

The Red Wings played in Olympia Stadium, known as the "Red Barn" for many years.   Perhaps their most legendary player ever, was right winger, Gordie Howe of the famed "Production Line," with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay.  Howe or "Mr. Hockey" dominated much of the play from the late 1940s to the late 1950s.  A Russian line dominated offensive play for the Wings in the late 90s.  But Steve Yzerman (retired), Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom (retired, June 2012) have earned both the respect of the fans and their teammates in recent decades. Since the 90s, the Stanley Cup came to the Wings in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008.  The Wings have appeared in the playoffs 25 years in a row as of 2016, an NHL record.

Today the Red Wings play in Joe Louis Arena.  Their owner Chris Ilitch has built a new arena near Comerica Park and Ford Field in MIdtown.  Joe Louis Arena may be demolished to avoid competition with the new stadium.  A bid by Ilitch to buy the Pistons fell through and with it plans to build a new stadium shared by both teams.  However, the current Pistons owner, Tom Gores, moved the Pistons into the new facility with the Wings.

The Red Wings were in the Central Division and one of five teams in the Western Conference in a league of 30 teams.  They have moved to the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference with many of the Original Six teams that play a physical style like their own.  But they have left Original Six rival, Chicago behind. 

Games begin in the Pre-Season, the last week of September.  The first regular season game begins the second week of October and ends the second week of April.  The regular season schedule includes 82 games.  Post Season championship games begin shortly afterward with the best of seven, 4-round playoff series.  The last round is for the Stanley Cup, League championship.   

O'Rena, Oakland University:  The O'Rena Athletics Center opened in 1998 with the Grizzlies losing a blowout men's basketball game against the Michigan State Spartans at the time.   Previous to 1998 the school’s only athletic facilities were the Holly Lepley Fieldhouse comprising a gym, pool and racquetball courts.  Current facilities are more than three times larger and may expand. The 4,005 seat arena offers a competition venue for women's and men's Division I Golden Grizzly basketball and Volleyball teams. Teams like Texas A&M, Missouri and Michigan have played here.

The men's basketball team had posted a 36-6 overall record for the prior three seasons until it joined the Horizon League encountering better competition.  Oakland competes in all major sports.  It added a football club in the autumn of 2013 reversing a prohibition in force since the school’s 1957 founding.   

√Rec The Palace of Auburn Hills (city of Auburn Hills): Opened in 1988, the Palace was built with private funding.  It's was recently home to the Detroit Pistons and the former home of the Detroit Shock, the Detroit Vipers, the Detroit Safari and Detroit Fury. It has the NBA's largest seating capacity -- enough for 22,076 fans -- and the highest home attendance record. Boxing matches have also been held here. It reportedly has end-stage seating capacity of 23,000 and 24,276 for center stage productions. Memorable events include Pet-A-Palooza at the Palace, Justin Bieber wsg Sean Kingston, "My World Tour," The Wiggles Wiggly Circus, Aerosmith wsg Sammy Hagar and the Wabos, Lady Gaga, "The Monster Ball Tour," Roger Water's The Wall, and Disney Live! Presents Mickey's Magic Show. More than $40 million in upgrades were recently made to the stadium.  In spite of this, the Pistons moved to downtown Detroit's new Little Caesar's Arena with the Red Wings.  While empty, the Palace remains one of the finest facilities in the nation, but it may meet the same fate as the Silverdome. It's located at 6 Championship Drive, Auburn Hills, Michigan, about 22 miles from Downtown Detroit. (248-377-0100 www.palacenet.com/.)

Rynearson Stadium, Eastern Michigan, Eagles:   Home of the Eastern Michigan University Eagles, Football and Track teams, this stadium was opened in 1969.  Over 2 million fans have attended events at the stadium since then.  Its capacity has grown to 30,200.  The Detroit Wheels football team played here back when it held 15,500.  But seating was added to bring it to its current total in 1992.  A StadiaTurf surface was installed and a new team building with locker rooms was constructed.  It's located 43 miles from Downtown Detroit in Ypsilanti and is an immediate neighbor of Ann Arbor's U of M facilities.

Glass Bowl Stadium, University of Toledo, Rockets:  Opened in 1936, this is the University of Toledo Rockets football stadium.  The name, "Glass Bowl" derives from the city's predominant industry of glass production and the period dating from the stadium's first major renovation after WWII.    A 1-ton supersonic rocket placed just outside the stadium is said to be aimed at the arch-rival, Bowling Green, Perry stadium 50-yard line.  The largest attendance was 36,852 when the U.S. Naval Academy played here.  True capacity is 26,248.  It's located about 62 miles from downtown Detroit.

**THE ST. VALENTINE'S  DAY MASSACRE

The revenge killing of Bugs Moran by Al Capone is well-known in Chicago. 

Less understood, is the role of Detroit's Purple Gang in the setup.  New York hit men did the deed, but it was the Purple Gang who sent a truckload of booze from Detroit, delivering the bootlegger Trojan Horse.

A PREPONDERANCE OF BRICK

Detroit loves the brick, walled up in so many of its buildings. 

Part of  Detroit's wealth and pride, the best homes had brick that stood the test of time.

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There's something brick-visceral, brick-tangible and brick-reassuring in the hefty multiple of carefully laid rows.

Don't be fooled, though.  Almost every Detroiter, from the hood to the burb demands the latest high tech. construction. 

Every brick is mortared around the best gadget, glass and alloy that money can buy, and bears its weight upon tradition.

Let there be BRICK!

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WALMART WOLVERINE  OR  PARTY SPARTY?

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For those unfamiliar with Michigan lingo: A Walmart Wolverine is a snarky reference to a University of Michigan fan who never attended the school.  

Walmart stores sell Michigan Wolverine team-logo T-shirts and other sportswear on the cheap, allowing fans to dress like alumni at zero the cost of tuition.

Party Sparty is the Michigan State Spartan version of  "unofficial" fandom. 

Everyone in the state pays taxes that support the schools, and no one needs an alumni card to prove it.

But this makes the pretentious alumni fan club less exclusive than it wants to admit.

LCA Arena Interior Bowl

Out With the Old (Joe Louis Arena)

A Dream is realized in a State-of-the-Art Facility

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