Joe Louis Arena to be demolished starting this spring

Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena will be slowly demolished this spring under a $5.9 million contract with the city. Detroit-based Adamo Group hopes to wrap the demolition by early 2020.

The former home of the Red Wings has been empty for months, with anything of value removed in early 2018—some of it for auction, including old seats retailing for $150 each, per the Free Press’ JC Reindl. The Red Wings played their last game there in April 2017.

Named for the famed boxer who grew up in Detroit, Joe Louis Arena opened in December 1979, in part to keep the NHL franchise from relocating to Pontiac.

In addition to Red Wings games—which are now played at Little Caesars Arena—the downtown dome has hosted numerous concerts and other sporting events as well as the 1980 Republican National Convention.

There are no plans as of yet for building something on the site of the doomed arena.

• Joe Louis Arena demolition to start soon [Free Press]