Joe Louis Arena
Saying goodbye to the Joe was a bittersweet moment for many Detroiters in 2017. The arena opened in 1979 as the replacement for Olympia Stadium and became the house of worship for devout Red Wings fans. Joe Louis Arena was also the epicenter of major concerts for Detroit, where you could see everybody from Aretha Franklin, Elton John, the Eagles, Kanye West, N.W.A., Lady Gaga, and the Black Keys. Who could forget Big Sean’s epic performance in 2015 when he brought Eminem on stage for a rendition of “Detroit vs. Everybody,” or Prince’s seven-night stint in 1984 to kick off his “Purple Rain” Tour? The Red Wings played their final game against the New Jersey Devils in April 2017 and relocated the hockey franchise to the new Little Caesars Arena in Midtown. If you’ve grown up with Detroit, you’ve probably shared and made some memories with the Joe.
