Olympia Sign at Little Caesars Arena | Spaces Where We Play
The Spaces Where We Play series allows us to pay homage to the ballparks, arenas and race tracks we partner with, and the human stories contained within them. Our partnership with the Detroit Red Wings has provided us access to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit, allowing an up-close-and-personal view of one of the premier facilities in the country. New arenas certainly make for a better fan experience overall, but part of the appeal of Little Caesars Arena is the attention paid to the history of their Original Six tenant. One of those odes to yesteryear is the original Olympia sign (apart from the “O” which mysteriously disappeared) taken from Olympia Stadium where the Red Wings played from 1927-1979.
Olympia Stadium was located at 5920 Grand River Ave. and was born with the idea of making Detroit an attractive locale for national conventions and sporting events. Architect C. Howard Crane, known for his mastery of acoustic engineering, designed the building, having previously created Detroit’s Orchestra Hall and the Detroit Opera House (originally the Capitol Theatre). When it opened in October 1927, it was the largest indoor skating rink in the United States and boasted 11,563 seats.
Detroit sports aficionados can recall that much of the city’s sports history took place at Olympia Stadium, from the Red Wings’ first Stanley Cup championship in the 1935-36 season, the debuts of legendary players Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Terry Sawchuk (among many others) and the rise of hometown hero Joe Louis. The stadium also hosted incredible concerts from the likes of Elvis, The Beatles, Cream, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, KISS and The Jackson 5.
On Dec. 15, 1979, the Red Wings played their final home game at Olympia Stadium and the building was eventually demolished in 1987. Having the letters featured inside Little Caesars Arena provides a connection for multiple generations of fans to nostalgically recall one of the city’s most important landmarks and pays proper respects to the “Old Red Barn” that played a key role in turning Detroit into an entertainment destination on par with any in the world.
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Matt McCormick
What a great piece on the legacy of the Detroit Red Wings and the iconic Olympia Stadium! It's fascinating to see how the history of one of the NHL's Original Six franchises is preserved and celebrated, especially with the Olympia sign now gracing Little Caesars Arena.