When the Detroit Red Wings take to the ice at Little Caesars Arena for the 2026-2027 season, fans will not go hungry.
There’s a collection of new food items throughout concessions and suite level seating this season, from vegetarian to beef to pizza to interactive offerings.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Red Wings and the chefs at Delaware North Sportservice, the arena's food and beverage partner, invited the media for a sneak peek of the new offerings. The sampling of food options is ahead of the home opener Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers.
Free Press hockey writer Helene St. James joined me to feast on the new and returning options.
And it was tasty one.
We sampled filet mignon sandwiches, charcuterie boards with slices of meats, cheeses and chutney,
steakhouse burgers, nachos and, of course, pizza.
Last year I raved about Mike’s Pizza mushroom, and goat cheese pizza from Mike’s Pizza bar. It’s back this year and remains a favorite. This year’s favorites include the tenderloin sandwich, the nachos and the Western chicken sandwich. A favorite of Helene St. James is the charcuterie board with the sweet chutney.
LCA’s new food lineup includes Detroit-inspired options and those from local sources such as Fairway Packing beef products, interactive suite offerings, premium cocktails and rotating menu options.
Delaware North Sportservice teamed up again with a local fan on food, collaborating with Eric Hambleton of St. Clair Shores, a local food influencer known as Eric Loves Cooking on social platforms. During last season’s Detroit Pistons playoffs, Hambleton created several options that included his name on the food box. This season Hambleton created new items available at Eric Loves Cooking Portals 13 and 28. There you can get Hambleton’s creative Detroit steakhouse burger with a Fairway Packing Co. burger patty topped with white cheddar cheese, lettuce, crispy onion straws, dill pickle chips and a steakhouse burger sauce. Hambleton’s Woodward Wrap is a filled with ranch seasoned Coop chicken tenders plus sliced ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, shaved red onions and peppercorn mayonnaise.
New suite level food options include seasonal and monthly specials, plus the build-your-own ramen action cart and the Mexicantown food package featuring chicken and beef street tacos, charro beans, fire-roasted elote, citrus-marinated shrimp, Yucatan salad and fried churros. The package includes a bottle of Patrón, margarita mix, lemons and limes, according to a news release.
Delaware North’s executive chef Troy Michalkiewicz at LCA, said there’s a lot of great options all around the arena, from restaurants to clubs to the concessions. Michalkiewicz said he’s most excited about the new beef tenderloin sandwich.
“It’s fresh tenderloin with caramelized onions and Detroit zip sauce with little bit of Boursin cheese on a toasted sesame roll,” Michalkiewicz said.
Other options for fans, he said, are the light the lamp hot dog, loaded hot dog and the new limited offerings through the year.
New LCA concession and suite items
- Arena Cantina Pizza Box Nachos: Tortilla chips with a choice of smoked tender pulled chicken or barbacoa topped with Hatch chile queso or white queso, pico de gallo, salsa verde, corn salsa, diced jalapeños and other toppings. Find them at Portal 46.
- Meat lovers’ hot dog: A beef bacon wrapped cheddar brat topped with pulled pork, crispy onions and drizzle of hot honey. Available at Portal 42.
- Detroit Street Lab has globally influenced street food and Detroit-inspired flavors from coney’s topped with chili cheese and Fritos to the Korean corn dog with brick cheese and crushed Red Takis and Kewpie mayonnaise. There’s also the Hamtramck Salchipapa featuring crispy smoked kielbasa served and topped with charred Jimmy Nardello peppers, cool cucumber mizeria slaw and horseradish honey mustard.
1701 Deli
- Filet Mignon sandwich has seared Fairway Packing beef tenderloin topped with balsamic-caramelized onions, creamy Boursin cheese, peppery arugula and garlic butter zip sauce on a toasted sesame seed roll.
- Corned Beef stack is piled-high corned beef layered with melted cheese and spicy mustard on fresh-baked rye bread.
Beer and cocktail initiatives
The Red Wings are launching Hockeytown Blonde, an arena-exclusive White label beer brand for the 26-27 season that will be available in the Labatt Blue Zone and the Labatt Blue Club.
There’s also the “Original Six Shooter” with Tito’s Vodka, agave, dragon fruit syrup and fresh lemonade, garnished with dehydrated dragon fruit and presented with a shooter, blinking ice cube and Original Six sticker.
Club-level new specialty cocktails include Rock n Rye Old Fashioned, Midtown Melon Margarita, Woodward Waffle Old Fashion and the Corktown Spritz.
LCA restaurants onsite also featured new options at the preview.
Bell’s
There’s pastrami panini, a vegetarian option called the Halloumi Hash Stack and the Western fried chicken sandwich at Bell’s. New drinks at Bell’s are the Bell’s Arnold Palmer with Earl Grey-infused vodka and the Tequila Eastsider with blanco tequila, lime, cucumber syrup and mint.
The Mixing Board
There's a bread and butter board, with a spread of cultured butter topped with roasted garlic, shaved radish, artisan sea salts and grilled sourdough.
The artisan meats and cheese board features cheese, shaved artisanal meats, sweet chutney, Marcona almond brittle, brown sugar fudge and house pickles. Accompaniments include brown butter fudge, cranberry mostarda, almond brittle, pickles and fruit leather.
And there's the Stewed Bean Hotpot: A bean pot cassoulet with chicken confit, chicken apple and fennel sausage and toasted cornbread.
Mike’s Pizza Bar
The menu features: carbonara, with spaghetti with egg, Pecorino Romano and cubes of guanciale and black pepper; New York-Style Sausage Pizza featuring sausage prepared two ways with roasted garlic and caramelized onions; and the New York-Style Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza (a returning favorite) with a sautéed mushroom blend, creamy goat cheese and basil finished with a white truffle drizzle.
UWM District Market
Mediterranean melt, curried chicken salad, PB&J Parfait and selection of grad-an-go items.
Fan experiences
Along with the new food offerings, there are special giveaways and events throughout the season, including Sergei Fedorov, Niklas Lidstron and Scotty Bowman bobbleheads.
New this year are six Hockeytown happy hours presented by Michelob Ultra, including on opening night and Halloween, with specialty themed cups. Also taking place throughout the season are seven “We are Hockeytown” theme nights featuring an Hispanic Heritage Celebration opening, plus a Pride Night and Black History celebration.
There’s also Kids Days and programs with special game-day experiences and other events.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SusanMariecooks. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best bites of the new food items at Little Caesars Arena for hockey
