I think your standard for hockey arenas is much too high if Joe Louis is "old and decrepit".
Yes you have to climb stairs to get in....yes the access to the suites is limited....yes there is only one concourse. That doesn't make it decrepit.
Joe Louis arena is just fine....it's no Staples Center or Air Canada Center....but Illitch doesn't need a new arena as badly as other teams have (Pittsburgh).
I've never had a problem with the suite access....never had a problem with the concourse...never had a problem with bathroom line ups.
I think the instant gratification wanted by fans now is showing. This building is 30 years old....Maple Leaf Gardens was 68, The Forum was 70, Chicago Stadium was 65. Those buildings closed because they didn't have the room modern buildings needs. Joe Louis has ample room.
If you ever got the chance to see a game at the Chicago Stadium...compare those concourses to those at Joe Louis Arena.
The Joe is just fine....people don't opt not to go to Red Wings game because of the building. They have time to find a new home...this isn't a pressing issue.
I'd like to know when you were at the Joe because you are describing a different arena than the one I've been going to for the last 30 years.
Ask any woman about the bathroom situation. It's pathetic. They are not nearly enough womens bathrooms. Not even close. Most women I know don't like going to the Joe for that reason alone. The men's have two stalls per restroom and troughs instead of urinals. It's common for men to use the sinks as urinals because the lines are so long.
There are no handrails going up the steps, so there have been incidents of people falling. Check the records. The steps are extremely steep trying to get your seat. Nobody with even a minor disability can make it there since there aren't any hand railings. That right there, stops people from going to the games.
The concourse is too narrow and lacking in concession stands. There's no room to move and no room to stand. It's like herding cattle. No room for a team store. That's a minor quibble but these days, money talks. Only two ways in and out of the arena and again, its a hazard with all those steps. Hardly a safe environment with herds of people going down all those steps at the same time.
The seats have no cupholders. Again, a minor detail but that does matter especially when you are paying hundreds of dollars. The seats are too small, ripped and/or taped over. Many seats are literally falling apart and some views are obstructed. The roof leaks. There's a ton of maintenance work that needs to be done inside and outside of the arena. The suites are tiny and at the top of the arena so they are largely useless and nearly impossible to get in and out of.
The basement/locker room area is too tiny. Even with renovations, the arena lacks amenities that most players are looking for. There is a lack of office space. The press box is way too small. When the Joe was built, somehow, they didnt even build a press box so it was added as an after thought and it shows. During the playoffs, the Wings have to build makeshift studios on wood and in the suites since it lacks enough space for the media. It's common for at least one set of broadcasters to be pushed to the suites since they have no place else to go.
The location of the arena is a hindrance. It's barren and looks unsafe. Surrounded by a maze of parking structures that takes hours to get out of. There's nothing to do around it and it's uninviting, not to mention it's in the way of future riverfront development i.e. a new convention center.
As far as comparing it to the Igloo, it's not much different. They suffer from many of the same problems. Sure, they could keep playing there for a few years, but it's not a pleasant place for anybody. The world has moved alot faster these past 30 years then the previous 60 which is how MLG, the Forum, etc. survived as long as they did.
It's a nice arena, and it would a shame to see it get mothballed. (unlike the Silverdome, which like the JLA has the charm of a bunker.)
