Seeing the City of Champions
As the City of Champions, Detroit is an awesome place for sports lovers to explore. Although the stadiums are best experienced on a game-day, you can get a taste of this city's sports anytime of the year.
Begin with one of the oldest teams in sports history: the Tigers. Travel to the infamous corner of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull, to see where the famed Tiger Stadium once stood. Next, head over to the Tiger's newest home, Comerica Park. Don't miss the gigantic stone tiger statues that guard the entrance. Also, peer through the street-level gate at the field and pop into the retail store for some official Tiger merchandise. Always retro, the old English "D" will add a hip little punch to your wardrobe.
By now you're probably hearing growls--not the Tigers, but your stomach. To tame the beast, head to Hockeytown Cafe for a taste of the Red Wings (no pun intended). Filled with Red Wing memorabilia, Hockeytown is a great place to grab a burger and brew (more than 50 types) and recount the victories of this remarkable franchise. Don't miss the Wings & Wheels exhibit, which includes 12 custom motorcycles each representing a particular Detroit Red Wings season. Cheli's Chili Bar is another option. Owned by former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, this downtown eatery is equally filled with hockey-themed accessories. It's also good for Red Wings sightings.
After lunch, you should be ready to roar. So, head to Ford Field to explore the newest home of the Lions. If you have a large group, Ford Field offers behind-the-scenes tours of this hip stadium. On this tour, you can get a peek at a suite and an NFL locker room, walk down the tunnel to the field, as well as stand on the turf for a player's view of the stadium. For a little extra coin, you can arrange for a 30-minute football clinic hosted by Lion staff.
Another key City of Champions sight is the memorial to the Brown Bomber, better known as Joe Louis. Raised in Detroit, Louis is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions ever. Located at Jefferson Avenue and Woodward, the bronze, 24-foot long arm with a fisted hand sculpture created by Robert Graham represents the power of Louis' punch both inside and outside the ring. The nearby Joe Louis Arena is also named for this legendary athlete, and is the current home of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Palace of Auburn Hills is your final destination. Home of the three-time world champion Pistons and one of the largest arenas in the nation, the Palace also hosts concerts and other special events. A great way to get a glimpse is to dine at the Palace Grill. Open two hours before every event (as well as for lunch), this elegant restaurant lets you get a small sample of this Piston palace. For a more casual option, head across the street to The Post or down the road to Hoops. Both are big-time sports bars, offering a zillion big-screen TVs with every game imaginable, making them ideal places to eat, drink and cheer your favorite team to victory. And as you'll see, Detroiters do it all quite well.
