<P> In April 2017, the Red Wings hosted their final game at Joe Louis Arena; the venue was succeeded by the new Little Caesars Arena, in Midtown Detroit, for the 2017--18 season . Joe Louis Arena will be demolished, and its site slated for redevelopment . The arena closed on July 30, 2017 . Demolition was scheduled to begin in September, but Olympia renewed the lease of the arena with the city and are using The Joe as storage and offices until November . Olympia Entertainment moved out in November, and demolition is planned to begin in May 2018 . </P> <P> Joe Louis Arena replaced the Detroit Olympia, where the Detroit Red Wings had played since 1927 . The neighborhood around the Olympia had gradually deteriorated, especially after the 1967 Detroit riot . After two murders near the Olympia, Red Wings owner Bruce Norris seriously considered moving to a proposed arena in suburban Pontiac . However, the city of Detroit countered with a proposal for a new riverfront arena at one - third of the rent Pontiac was offering . The package also gave the Red Wings operational control of the arena, nearby Cobo Arena and nearby lots . </P> <P> The arena hosted its first event on December 12, 1979: a college basketball game between the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit . The Red Wings played their first game at Joe Louis Arena on December 27, 1979, hosting the St. Louis Blues . Later that first season it hosted the 32nd NHL All - Star Game on February 5, 1980, which was played before a then - NHL record crowd of 21,002 . Joe Louis Arena was the site of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, which marked the first NHL Entry Draft to be held in the United States . In 1980, the arena hosted the Republican National Convention that nominated Ronald Reagan as the Republican candidate for President of the United States . </P> <P> In 1990, color matrix boards were installed on the scoreboard; these were replaced by four Sony JumboTron video walls three years later, when the matrix boards were placed in the corners of the fascia . In 2006, LED video screens replaced the JumboTrons . The screens debuted November 22, 2006, when the Red Wings played the Vancouver Canucks . That same day, the arena's West Entrance was named the "Gordie Howe Entrance" in honor of the legendary Red Wing player, and a bronze statue of Howe was placed inside the entrance . Joe Louis Arena houses 86 premium suites . In 2008, the arena introduced the Comerica Bank Legend's Club, a 181 - person private seating location in the arena's southeast corner . </P>

When did the red wings move to joe louis arena