Terry Foster
Many Red Wings fans have fond feelings about Joe Louis Arena. Some went with their parents at a young age. Some recall Stanley Cup victories.
But the reality is that the stadium itself was poorly designed and was one big safety hazard as former Detroit News reporter Lou Mleczko wrote in a detailed analysis for Deadline Detroit.
Now, former Detroit columnist Terry Foster has a CBS Detroit essay headlined: "Stop Romanticizing Joe Louis Arena, It Was The Worst In The NHL." He writes:
We tend to romanticize everything in this town.
Even a dump like Joe Louis Arena, a hastily built building that failed in so many ways is getting love. I’ve read the tributes to the building from journalist to players and Red Wings management. People are not paying tribute to a building, as much as they are paying tribute to a great organization.
The truth is Joe Louis Arena is one of the worst arenas in the National Hockey League and is not deserving of the name Joe Louis, who is one of the most accomplished athletes in Detroit history.
I will not miss Joe Louis Arena. They can dump the bricks and mortar into the Detroit River for all I care. It was ill planned, did not provide fans comfort and was placed in a spot that did not benefit the city and was an inconvenience for fans.