Conceptual drawing from above of the new Detroit Red Wings arena set to open in 2017. Photos courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]lympia Development of Michigan, an Illitch organization, has announced its plans to build an enormous sports and entertainment district in Detroit.
With the addition of a new arena for the Detroit Red Wings and other sorts of entertainment, the Illitch family, along with the city of Detroit, wants to provide a connecting point between midtown and downtown Detroit.
“We’ve done business in Detroit for nearly 50 years, and this is our most significant and ambitious project here yet,” said Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “Our great city is home to some of the world’s most legendary people, teams and venues in sports and entertainment. Detroit deserves no less than the best – a world-class sports and entertainment district we can all be proud of. And that’s exactly what we will build.” The plan calls for turning the area around the Fox Theater, Ford Field, and Comerica Park, into a super district, basically connecting Motor City Casino to Grand Circus Park. The idea is to split that part of the city into 5 different areas:
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Mixed-use private development concepts in The District, Detroit.
Columbia Street – A neighborhood near the Fox Theatre and the Fillmore Detroit that offers entertainment and dining at its finest.
- Wildcat Corner – this neighborhood, anchored by Comerica Park and Ford Field, offers energetic, athletic experiences at their best.
- Working name to be determined – The bustling home of the new Detroit arena.
- Cass Park Village – An energized, eclectic and primarily residential neighborhood.
- Columbia Park – A fresh, modern neighborhood anchored by a new public green space.
As for what this brand new stadium and brand new entertainment district bring to the city, it’s estimated that the project will generate at least $1.8 billion in total economic impact, 8,300 construction jobs and over 1,000 permanent jobs. Ground will be broken in the Fall of 2014, marking the first time a new sports facility has been built since the completion of Ford Field in 2002.
The new arena and entertainment district is scheduled to be open and ready for the 2017-2018 NHL Season.
