Detroit is the Place to Stay & Play for Visiting Hockey Fans

Detroit has plenty to do for hockey fans coming into town for a Red Wings game, so be sure to get into town and check into your hotel early.

1. BEFORE THE GAME
2. AT THE ARENA
3. AFTER THE GAME
4. THE NEXT DAY

1. BEFORE THE GAME

Photo courtesy of the Aloft Detroit

There are several hotel options that are great for hockey fans. MotorCity Casino-Hotel has a free shuttle to and from Red Wings games. Or stay at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center for incredible views of our city and Canada.

If you want to stay within walking distance, the Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney offers a location that’s half a mile from the arena and a few blocks from the heart of downtown Detroit.

After unpacking your bags, head out for some food and drink before the hockey game with one of these perfect options for fans.

Hockeytown Café is down the street from Little Caesars Arena and has Red Wings memorabilia from floor to ceiling. There are several custom motorcycles to gaze at as well as the Red Wings and Tigers hall of fame. Plus, the location offers great views of Comerica Park.

If you’re looking for a classic sports bar, head over to Harry’s Detroit, which is right next to the arena, or to Nemo’s in Corktown, a bar that is often ranked among the best in Detroit and serves up delicious burgers. Plus, they have a shuttle to the arena.

For a taste of Detroit, Bucharest Grill is just across the freeway from Little Caesars Arena and is the place for shawarma. If you’re not familiar, shawarma is marinated meat, tomato, lettuce, pickles, mayo and garlic spread wrapped in a pita.

2. AT THE ARENA

Photo by Rob Kohn

When Little Caesars Arena opened in 2017, it became one of the premier arenas in the United States for hockey fans.

Keep your head turning as you walk through the Via on the main concourse. You’ll see statues of Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, murals of Howe and Steve Yzerman, the original letters from Olympia Stadium and the former Red Wings bench from inside Joe Louis Arena.

There are also several places that honor the past in Detroit sports, including Heritage Hall – upstairs above the team store – and the Ring of Honor on the second level, honoring the 11 Stanley Cups the Red Wings have won.

If you want to grab a bite to eat at the game, Little Caesars Arena is filled with plenty of restaurants and bars for your enjoyment.

Mike’s Pizza Bar and Sports & Social Detroit are two sit-down spots that serve up a combination of sports bar food and pizza. Several different stands like The Coop and 313 Grill Co. are serving up delicious foods, and on the main concourse, there’s Detroit House, which has three different restaurants in it where you can get tacos, shawarma or coney dogs.

If you want some Michigan beer, there’s a Bell’s beer stand, and most of the markets offer a variety of domestic, imports and local craft beers. Take a walk outside to the Budweiser Biergarten, which is located on the main concourse between portals 16-18. In addition to an outdoor area with lawn seats and corn hole, there is a pavilion bar that will help you stay warm but feel outside.

3. AFTER THE GAME

Photo by the Visit Detroit

When the game is over, head a couple blocks north for bowling at Garden Bowl. The bowling alley has been open since 1913 and has an incredible history.

After that, hop on the QLINE or walk into downtown Detroit and try some of Michigan’s best beer inside Grand Trunk Pub. The bar is inside the old ticket station for the Grand Trunk Railway and has been around since the late 1800s.

There’s no better place to be late at night in Detroit than a Coney Island, and downtown Detroit has two of them – American and Lafayette. The restaurants are right next door to each other and have been in a rivalry for decades. With either choice, you’ll enjoy a delicious hot dog with chili, mustard and onions. Try both and pick your favorite.

4. THE NEXT DAY

After an awesome night out, you’ll be craving some breakfast and Detroit won’t let you down. There are a few great options within walking distance of your downtown hotel for a delicious breakfast. Those include Dime Store, Hudson Cafe or Parks & Rec Diner.

After breakfast, take a walk through the beautiful downtown and see some of our other arenas – Ford Field and Comerica Park – which are right next to each other and part of the District Detroit.

You’ll also want to stop at two of the city’s iconic statues – the Spirit of Detroit and the Joe Louis Arena fist. Both are within walking distance of each other, and hockey fans may remember seeing a Red Wings jersey adorn the Spirit of Detroit when Detroit was in the Stanley Cup Finals.

If you plan ahead of time, you might be able to book a tour of Little Caesars Arena, to see behind the scenes of the Red Wings’ new home.

Next, the Detroit Historical Museum will give you our city’s incredible history, that also features several Detroit Red Wings historical items like booklets, magazines and yearbooks. Admission is only $10.

If you’re visiting in winter, strap on the skates yourself and take to the ice at Campus Martius Park. You’ll skate in the heart of downtown Detroit surrounded by the lights and sounds of the city.

Finally, on your way out of the city, stop at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor if you’re headed that way. The home of the Michigan Wolverines hockey team was built in 1923 and at the time was the largest indoor hockey building of its kind on any campus in the U.S.