The opening of Little Caesars Arena in September 2017 marked a significant turning point for two of Detroit's most storied professional sports franchises: the National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings and the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Detroit Pistons. This new multi-purpose venue became the shared home for both teams, ushering in a new era after decades spent in their respective previous arenas. The transition brought with it a mix
of excitement for a modern facility and challenges related to fan experience and the broader urban development vision.
Moving from Historic Homes
For the Detroit Red Wings, the move to Little Caesars Arena meant departing from Joe Louis Arena, their home from 1979 until 2017. Joe Louis Arena had been a significant part of the Red Wings' identity, following their even longer tenure of 52 years at Olympia Stadium. The Red Wings are a franchise with a rich history, having won the most Stanley Cup championships of any NHL team based in the United States, totaling 11. They are also third overall among active teams in total Stanley Cup championships, behind the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. The team's success led to the Detroit area being colloquially known as "Hockeytown," a registered trademark since 1996. The move to a new arena, therefore, represented a major shift for a team deeply embedded in the city's sports culture.
The Detroit Pistons also made a significant move, leaving the Palace of Auburn Hills. This transition brought the NBA team back to play within the city limits of Detroit, consolidating major professional sports teams in the downtown area. The shared venue for both hockey and basketball was a key aspect of the Little Caesars Arena project, aiming to create a central sports and entertainment district.
Initial Fan Reception and Attendance Challenges
Little Caesars Arena officially opened on September 5, 2017. The Red Wings played their inaugural preseason game there on September 23, winning 5–1 against the Boston Bruins, and their first regular season game on October 5, securing a 4–2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. The Pistons' first preseason game at the arena was on October 4, a loss to the Charlotte Hornets, followed by their regular season home opener on October 18, where they defeated the Hornets 102–90. Notably, the Pistons unveiled a new basketball court featuring the Platinum Equity logo, making them the only NBA team at the time not to display any arena signage on the court.
Despite the excitement surrounding the new venue, the inaugural season saw concerns raised about attendance at both Red Wings and Pistons games. During the Red Wings' first nationally televised regular season game, a noticeable number of empty seats in the lower bowl drew attention. Olympia CEO Tom Wilson explained that many fans were exploring the new concourse, a common phenomenon during initial events. While the team announced that all home games up to early November 2017 were sellouts, the visible empty seats persisted. The Pistons faced similar issues, though they also reported an increase in ticket sales despite the empty seats. To address the visual impact of empty sections, particularly the red seats which made them more obvious, all red seats in the arena were replaced with black ones in October 2018, aiming to improve the aesthetic perception of attendance.
