What advice can you guys give a visiting fan at that arena?
I'll coincidently be in Detroit during their first round series so I'll be dusting off my old Coyotes sweater and attending my first game there. Where do you recommend staying? Near the arena? Downtown? Suburbs?
Seems like there's no good options when you're in Detroit.
What advice can you guys give a visiting fan at that arena?
I'll coincidently be in Detroit during their first round series so I'll be dusting off my old Coyotes sweater and attending my first game there. Where do you recommend staying? Near the arena? Downtown? Suburbs?
Seems like there's no good options when you're in Detroit.
My practice has season tickets to the Wings. The Joe is smaller in volume like the old Chicago Stadium, it's a great place to watch the game from just about anywhere in the arena. I've gone there sporting my Hawks jersey at games vs the Hawks without difficulty, as has one of my sons (the other wears his Datsyuk jersey ). Our original seats were in the upper deck, and our current seats are down low. Never have had one problem with any fan, ever, over the past 10 years or so. As we live 2.5 hours away and I have to drive home, I'm not drinking, and I don't get offensive (though I openly root for the Hawks). As expected, Wings fans know the game.
If you're into gambling, there are a couple of hotel casinos very close by the Joe. I've always driven home after the games, so I don't know which would be better.
Don't listen to these know-nothings that only get information from the media...
Detroit's back alleys and surrounding suburbs are no worse than any other major city's. Hockeytown Cafe is nice, might be a little much for a Hawks fan though.
Other places of note:
Hart Plaza and the Riverfront
St. Andrew's Hall is a great place to see live music.
The Casino's, obviously. Motor City has the best buffet imo.
Tons of little hole in the wall pubs, Cobo Joe's, Old Shillaley (sp)
Greektown has some amazing restaraunts, along with a Casino
You'll have a great time if you don't hide in your hotel room. Detroit is no different than any other major city, if you are looking for trouble, you will find it. If you stick with the game crowd, you have nothing to worry about. Don't go down any dark alleys though, cuz they are way worse in Detroit than anywhere else.
You can always cross the bridge and check out Windsor, but I wouldn't bother. It's no different than any other little city and barely worth the trouble of the crossing the bridge to visit. Been there a bunch of times and it's generally pretty boring. It used to be kinda cool when they had the only Casino, but now Detroit has them, so there really isn't much of a reason to go there.
Last edited by TheLotusEater: 04-14-2011 at 11:28 AM.
We always get really "nice" downtown hotels for dirt cheap using priceline. I'm talking like 65 bucks. But I've never stayed longer than one night and all we ever do is go to the game and then eat in Greektown for dinner.
And if you have to go to the bathroom or buy beer...keep in mind there is only one concourse. So plan your bathroom breaks accordingly.
The Windsor Casino hotel is fine, but it's super annoying to have to cross the border multiple times.
Don't listen to these know-nothings that only get information from the media...
Detroit's back alleys and surrounding suburbs are no worse than any other major city's. Hockeytown Cafe is nice, might be a little much for a Hawks fan though.
Other places of note:
Hart Plaza and the Riverfront
St. Andrew's Hall is a great place to see live music.
The Casino's, obviously. Motor City has the best buffet imo.
Tons of little hole in the wall pubs, Cobo Joe's, Old Shillaley (sp)
Greektown has some amazing restaraunts, along with a Casino
You'll have a great time if you don't hide in your hotel room. Detroit is no different than any other major city, if you are looking for trouble, you will find it. If you stick with the game crowd, you have nothing to worry about. Don't go down any dark alleys though, cuz they are way worse in Detroit than anywhere else.
You can always cross the bridge and check out Windsor, but I wouldn't bother. It's no different than any other little city and barely worth the trouble of the crossing the bridge to visit. Been there a bunch of times and it's generally pretty boring. It used to be kinda cool when they had the only Casino, but now Detroit has them, so there really isn't much of a reason to go there.
I also appreciate this more serious advice as well! I have tickets in hand for game 7 so I'm really hoping this series goes the distance. If not I'll probably check out some stuff on this list before heading home Thursday.
I really have no idea what to expect my first time in Detroit. I'd like to think that living in Chicago and Los Angeles has prepared me for the worst, but who knows.
I also appreciate this more serious advice as well! I have tickets in hand for game 7 so I'm really hoping this series goes the distance. If not I'll probably check out some stuff on this list before heading home Thursday.
I really have no idea what to expect my first time in Detroit. I'd like to think that living in Chicago and Los Angeles has prepared me for the worst, but who knows.
Detroit has bad areas, but it's not nearly as bad as Chicago. One bad area of Chicago can be as big as the whole city of Detroit. There are no really horrible spots in DT Detroit, you just have to stay out of the neighborhoods and industrial districts. Like every other major city in the world. You know... don't knock on doors in the housing projects asking for directions...
It's easy to dump on Detroit, but it's small. There's a very strong underground music scene always happening which is cool.
Seriously, if you live in Chicago and have been to Los Angeles, you will get a kick out of how harmless Detroit is despite what the uninformed/irrationally paranoid would have you believe.
We like it that everyone is afraid to come here. We get a pretty good laugh out of it for the most part.
I stayed in Windsor for a game a few weeks back. There is a bus that takes you through the tunnel and drops right at Cobo Centre (or whatever it's called) which is basically a 2 minute walk from the rink. You go through customs on the way. Caesars Casino in Windsor was awesome, not for my bank account though.
). Our original seats were in the upper deck, and our current seats are down low. Never have had one problem with any fan, ever, over the past 10 years or so. As we live 2.5 hours away and I have to drive home, I'm not drinking, and I don't get offensive (though I openly root for the Hawks). As expected, Wings fans know the game.
