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Detroit Red Wings new downtown arena to be called Little Caesars Arena

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XiaNaphryz

LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2016/04/is_name_of_new_detroit_red_win.html

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DETROIT, MI - Little Caesars Arena is the name of the new Detroit Red Wings arena that's been rising along Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit.

Olympia Entertainment announced the name at an event Thursday morning. The naming rights are part of a 20-year, $125 million deal.


Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, said the naming rights agreement is the largest in the country for a professional stadium. It amounts to more than $6.25 million a year.

According to a release, Little Caesars will be advertised on the roof of the arena, the exterior, entrances and at center ice. Conceptual renderings of the ice surface still bore the "Hockeytown" moniker, too.

A name means a lot, Ilitch said. Little Caesars CEO Dave Scrivano said the same. When asked why the arena wasn't named after an iconic Detroiter or Red Wings alumnus, Ilitch said there were a lot of possible names considered, but Little Caesars Arena was decidedly best.

It will result in the "largest Little Caesars character in the world" adorning the roof of the stadium.

The big glitzy Red Wings logo fans have seen for over a year was just a placeholder, Ilitch said.

When asked, Ilitch said the sponsorship is huge. It's the biggest of any U.S. stadium, he said, and it's going to roll out over 20 years.


Ilitch only said that Little Caesars will pay the roughly $125-million fee to "the entity that's managing the facility," Olympia Entertainment.

He didn't directly answer how or why Little Caesars, a company that bought the naming rights and is owned by his family, will pay Olympia Entertainment, the company that will manage the Little Caesars Arena and is also owned by the Ilitch family.

"This is the type of company that any city in America would be happy to have" sponsor a big arena, Ilitch said.

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I live near Chicago, so I can't comment on the cultural impact this has in Rock City, but after how damned good Lil' Caesar's Deep Dish pizza (for being a "cheap" chain), who am I to complain?
 

malfcn

Member
Not surprised. They are "Detroit's pizza" and have sponsored teams for as long as I can remember. Now they in the show for real.
 

Saganator

Member
Being kinda old and remembering Little Caesar's being almost dead in the late 90's, that 15 year gap in the timeline is kind of amusing. They've come along way.
 

Fury451

Banned
Missed opportunity for Robocop Arena.

When asked why the arena wasn't named after an iconic Detroiter or Red Wings alumnus, Ilitch said there were a lot of possible names considered, but Little Caesars Arena was decidedly best.


Well yeah, for obvious reasons.

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WedgeX

Banned
First off, real surprised the Illitch family didn't sell the naming rights like they did for Comerica Park. Which people in Detroit hated at the time and more so when Comerica moved its headquarters from Detroit to Texas the year after the park was named.

Nonetheless real disappointed that the Red Wings have gone from the Detroit Olympia to Joe Louis Arena to Little Ceasars Arena. Such a downgrade in names.

Now we can begin with the obvious Dough Louis Arena jokes for the next twenty years.
 

Ether_Snake

安安安安安安安安安安安安安安安
All arenas now are pretty much named after the sponsors. Bell Center, TD Garden (that's Toronto Dominium, a Canadian bank, for a Boston arena), Staples Center, etc.
 
Said it before when the Red Wings come up, but they really need to find a good player named Cecil and make him captain. Also, this arena name is not befitting of hockey's winningest franchise. It's one thing for the New Orleans Pelicans to play at Smoothie King Arena, but this ain't right.
 
Definitely loving the new location right next to Comerica and Ford Field right there on Woodward. Name is meh but no biggie.
 

Zackat

Member
Naming rights are trashy bullshit.
It's why college stadiums are the best. My colleges stadium has a benefactor who it was named after, but it is called The Swamp and everyone knows it. I suppose that will change in the future though with everyone looking for the dollars.
 
"Hey guys you know who would be a great arena sponsor? This other company I own."

I really hope the arena is encircled with fake bacon. Just like Caesar intended.
 

jred2k

Member
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I used to think the old arena was named after one of those, so the new one being named after pizza doesn't seem that weird.
 
It's why college stadiums are the best. My colleges stadium has a benefactor who it was named after, but it is called The Swamp and everyone knows it. I suppose that will change in the future though with everyone looking for the dollars.

It's too bad this doesn't extend to the bowl games, which have some of the most ridiculous names I've ever heard.
 

GatorBait

Member
It's why college stadiums are the best. My colleges stadium has a benefactor who it was named after, but it is called The Swamp and everyone knows it. I suppose that will change in the future though with everyone looking for the dollars.

Probably will always be referred to as The Swamp since that's a nickname and not an official name, even if they ever get a corporate sponsor. "Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field" isn't quite as catchy, though it is the official name now.

I wonder what Louisville students/fans call their stadium? I assume just "Cardinal Stadium" even though they are sponsored by Papa John's?
 
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