Detroit Blog

Ann Knapp asked:


Beyond championship teams like the Detroit Pistons and the Red Wings, Detroit’s passion for sports and ability to host huge events makes it a city of championship events. This includes World Cup Soccer, the MLB All-Star Game, Super Bowl XL, the Buick Open, and the Ryder Cup. With numerous state-of-the-art sports venues and more than 35,000 competitively-priced hotel rooms, the city of Detroit can handle championship events on a grand scale.

The Steelers weren’t the only champions during Super Bowl XL. The city of Detroit and Ford Field hosted the incredible event, which ended with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The Rolling Stones rocked the half time show - which has become a show unto itself. Motown made their presence known preceding the half time with a performance from Stevie Wonder, who was joined onstage by Joss Stone, India.Arie and Grammy-nominated artist John Legend. Aaron Nevill and Aretha Franklin were accompanied by Dr. John during the National Anthem. In preparation for Super Bowl XL, Detroit officials attended dozens of public and private events in San Diego during the 2005 Super Bowl. The game was attended by more than 68,000 spectators and provided a $273.9 million boost to the Detroit economy.

NCAA March Madness comes to Detroit in 2008 at the Ford Field. The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games will be the first Regional Games to be played in the city of Detroit and will determine one of the four teams that will advance to the Men’s Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. The University of Detroit will serve as the NCAA host school for the Midwest Regionals. The games at Ford Field are expected to eclipse the all-time attendance record for the NCAA Regional Games. The current attendance record for a single Regional game is more than 42,500, set in 1999 at St. Louis’ Trans World Dome. The BasketBowl at Ford Fiend, which featured Michigan State vs. Kentucky in a regular-season match-up in 2003, holds the 2003 NCAA attendance record for a single game at more than 78,000.

Comerica Park, constructed for the Detroit Tigers is located next door to Ford Field. In 2005, Comerica Park hosted the 76th MLB All-Star Game, the first to be held in Detroit since 1971. That was followed in Fall 2006 with the first World Series game in the history of the ballpark (Game 1 of the 2006 World Series). The well-recognized sports venue is marked by a 15-foot tiger statue, as well as other heroic-sized tiger statues throughout the park.

Both Ford Field and Comerica Park are located in the heart of downtown Detroit’s entertainment district, making them ideal venues for major sporting events. Visitors have access to numerous restaurants, theaters, gaming, and other entertainment options.

In 2004, the PGA of America announced that the Oakland Hills Country Club would play host to the Ryder Cup, the prestigious golf competition between the United States and Europe. Oakland Hills’ South Course is world-renowned and is consistently ranked among the top ten tests of golf in the United States. Team Europe took the championship during Ryder Cup 2004. In August 2008, Oakland Hills will host the PGA Championship.

Home of the Buick Open, Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club hosts Michigan’s only annual PGA Tournament. Located in Grand Blanc, 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the Buick Open, held in June. Past winners of the event include Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, and Kenny Perry. The Buick Open consistently draws top names to the PGA Tour, including Tiger Woods, John Daly and Mike Weir are just a few of the golf superstars to tee up at Warwick Hills.



DURAN

Ann Knapp asked:


Detroit is a city of possibilities. From world-class museums to ethnic communities, endless shopping and events galore, the city of Detroit knows a thing or two about how to entertain its guests. The fun doesn’t end with the five o’clock bell. In fact, parts of Detroit are just starting to heat up. For couples and singles, Detroit rolls out the welcome mat to an exhilarating nightlife.

Greektown

There’s always a party on in Greektown. Home to various restaurants and the Greektown Casino, those in search of some nightlife are never disappointed in Greektown. Considered Detroit’s entertainment center, it’s the liveliest place downtown. Monroe Street is packed with authentic Greek, American and ethnic restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs and more. The area’s largest restaurant, Fishbones Rhythm Kitchen serves up Cajun cuisine and sushi, along with live entertainment. An Irish-themed local’s favorite for 30 years, the Shillelagh is the place for live Irish music and tasty bar food.

Of course, if casino action is your thing, Detroit offers a total of three casinos in three distinct regions of downtown. The party’s gaining momentum at the Greektown Casino, with the introduction of a new hotel in 2008. The stunning 30-story hotel is complemented by 100,000 square feet of gaming space, a 1,100-seat live theater, and two new restaurants. Greektown Casino is located within a short walking distance of Comerica Park, Ford Field, and the Fox Theatre.

The newly-opened MGM Grand Detroit offers gaming in a sleek, sophisticated atmosphere - complete with a profusion of eateries and lounges, as well as a 401-room hotel. Detroit’s most aptly named casino, Motor City Casino embraces its Detroit locale, putting a sleek Vegas spin on the auto theme. Motor City also recently opened a 17-story, 400-room hotel.

Ferndale

For the artist-at-heart, Ferndale celebrates the urban spirit with galleries, coffee houses, and assorted entertainment venues. Here, poets, artists, and musicians showcase their creative talents. Ferndale is also one of the host cities for the Woodward Dream Cruise, where more than a million people pack Woodward to cruise or check out the classic cars on parade.

Royal Oak

Nearby Royal Oak exudes warmth with beautiful tree-lined residential streets and one of the area’s most active downtowns. The community has maintained the appeal of a small town, while affording many of the amenities of a large metropolis. The “Live After Five” crowd head to spots like Cafe Habana for Cuban cuisine and hot Latin music or Memphis Smoke, metro Detroit’s premier venue for live music and barbecue. For late-night entertainment, the Comedy Castle offers up Detroit’s best stand-up acts, while at Luna, DJ-inspired rhythms keep the crowds jumping until the wee hours.

Pontiac

Pontiac’s downtown is always bursting with energy. As the northern terminus for the Woodward Dream Cruise, Pontiac attracts almost 500,000 people who watch the classic cars drive by, and get a close-up look at hundreds of cars on display.

For a late-night spin, singles head to Clutch Cargo’s, a turn-of-the-century church. Offering superb acoustics, the club and has drawn the likes of The Foo Fighters, Less Than Jake, Aphex Twin, and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Bodies also groove to alternative, disco, funk, and Motown dance music on numerous floors. Also in Pontiac, the multi-level Tonic night club features a variety of musical styles spun by the area’s hottest DJ.

Novi

With a combination of retro accents and modern technology, Lucky Strike Lanes in Novi is the area’s first true bowling lounge, featuring more than 200 video games, basketball hoops, pool tables, a dance floor, and state-of-the-art bowling lanes. Inside the colossal venue’s VIP Lounge, a 40-foot bar serves up an endless roster of libations and a menu that boasts signature tomato and cheese s’mores, pizzas, and the hearty Lucky Burger. Just for kids and teens during the day, Lucky Strike morphs into the adult hotspot after 9 p.m. for the 21 and older crowd who sport business casual attire only

Hamtramck

Traditionally a Polish community, Hamtramck is one of the most culturally diverse areas in Michigan. The community is experiencing revitalization with new shops, restaurants, and bar/clubs. Voted “Best Place to Hear Alternative Music” by Real Detroit Weekly’s Best of Detroit, Paycheck’s Lounge features live techno, hip-hop, indie, alternative, and more.

Corktown

While they could have thrown in the towel when the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, Corktown instead took action. Home to the now-abandoned Tiger Stadium, this city of Detroit neighborhood has played up its history and Irish ties. Art galleries, pubs, dance clubs, and sports bars have popped up. Detroit’s most famous industrial nightclub, Leland City Club, features cutting-edge music and an occasional famous rock star. Further growth is inevitable with the development of the Detroit River that will link Corktown to Mexicantown and Detroit’s west riverfront.



PION

Ann Knapp asked:


You can literally go in any direction from Detroit’s riverfront and see why this is such a major center for African American culture. From the world’s largest museum of African American history or Hitsville U.S.A., where all Motown stars were born, when it comes to African American culture and history, all roads eventually lead to Detroit.

Near the riverfront, trace the turbulent and dramatic history of the Underground Railroad at the Second Baptist Church, the Midwest’s oldest African-American church and major Underground Railroad in the 19th century. More than 5,000 slaves passed through Second Baptist on their way to Canada. Tours of the basement, which served as the station, are available by appointment.

Just eight miles east of the Windsor/Detroit border, visitors can also explore the John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad. The property is owned by descendants of John and Jane Walls, former slaves who made the trip from slavery in North Carolina to freedom in Canada in 1846. Tour leaders, or “Conductors,” together with historic buildings provide a first-hand look at what kind of challenges fugitive slaves faced.

Also in Ontario, Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site offers visitors a look at what it was like to live as a former slave in the 19th century. Visitors look through the settlement’s original buildings, including the home of Reverend Josiah Henson, who found the settlement for escaped slaves. There’s also an interpretive museum and galleries providing information on early African-American communities in Canada.

The world’s largest museum dedicated to African American history, the Charles H. Wright Museum features “And Still We Rise,” an interactive walk-through exhibit that begins on a slave ship where casts of slaves lay crowded together and simulated sounds of the Atlantic surround you. In another section of the exhibit, visitors find themselves on an early 20th-century city street in the middle of the museum. Guests can walk into the Horseshoe Bar and Grille or watch black and white TV through an appliance store window. A replica of the Paradise Theatre allows visitors to check out a classic black movie playing on the theater screen.

Part museum, part vibrant historical village, The Henry Ford is the largest indoor/outdoor history attraction in North America. Here, visitors can enter the restored bus where Rosa Parks made history by refusing to give up her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama on Dec. 1, 1955. The act galvanized the American Civil Rights Movement. The bus is the centerpiece of the “With Liberty and Justice For All” exhibit, which focuses on the American struggle for freedom. In Greenfield Village, the Mattox House was the home to three generations of the Mattox family who lived outside of Savannah, Georgia from Reconstruction through the 1930s.

Aside from the automotive industry, perhaps nothing put Detroit on the map like Motown. Revisit the glory years that produced such stars at Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Supremes, and the Jackson Five in Detroit’s cultural center. Motown’s headquarters, founded by Berry Gordy, a one-time auto line worker, has been restored to its 1960s glory. Originally converted from a photographer’s studio, the Motown headquarters and studio stayed open 22 hours a day and 7 days a week during its peak years. Visitors are able to see the upstairs offices and the studio where vocalists and the Funk Brothers created the Motown Sound. Rare photographs, gold records, and Michael Jackson’s sequined glove are on display.

The nation’s fifth-largest art museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts was one of the first major art museums to have a permanent showcase for African art. The DIA collection features works from more than 1,000 African cultures placing it among the most extensive collections in North America. The DIA’s Egyptian collection features a wide range of artifacts including linen-wrapped mummies, sculptures, and coffins. The museum’s selection of West African art includes amazing Benin royal brass sculptures and a wood palace door carved from wood by the artists Olowe of the Ise culture. The museum’s modern and contemporary art collection features African American artists including Augusta Savage, Hughie Smith-Lee, and Benny Andrews.



MCCARVILLE

Al Terry asked:


The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are a powerful team in the Western Conference’s Central Division and are one of the original six teams of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team as well its fans have created a ravenous hunger for the Detroit Red Wings tickets. They are an important franchise in North America, to the extent that Detroit has been nicknamed as the “Hockey town”. The Red Wings have won about 10 Stanley Cup championships, which is more than any of the NHL franchises in the United States. They rank third in the Championship spot after the Montreal Canadians and Toronto Maple Leafs. Their current venue is Joe Louis Arena after over 40 years of play in Olympia Stadium.

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey in Canada and United States, is a sport played on ice. It is a quick physical sport. This game is more popular in areas sufficiently cold for having natural icy settings. However, with the use of artificial ice rinks, this game is now popular throughout the year as well. It is one of the four major North American sports and is represented by the National Hockey League (NHL). It is also the official winter sport of Canada and a very popular sport in Finland.

This physical game allows full contact and body checks and is quite dangerous and hence requires much protective equipment. This usually consists of a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, heavily padded shorts, a jock athletic protector, shin pads, chest protector and a neck guard.

Jerseys

The Red Wings updated their jerseys to the new Reebok Edge standard for this new season. There is more red color on the sleeves as the color panel begins closer to the shoulder. It is designed to be lighter than the previous jerseys, the uniforms are different looking and there is plan to make more changes with time. The Detroit Red Wings new logo and their new look jerseys will definitely increase a rush for both Detroit Red Wings tickets as well as replica jerseys.

The Legend of the Octopus is a sports tradition during Detroit Red Wings home playoff games where an octopus is thrown onto the ice surface for good luck. The Joe Louis Arena is adorned with a giant octopus named Al after their ice manager Al Sobotka. The appropriate time to throw the octopus is after the national anthem is sung or after the Red Wings have scored a goal. It should never be aimed at the opposing players. The octopus is usually boiled to reduce its slime and odor and this facilitates the cleaning of the ice without any delay.

The Detroit Red Wings performance in the 2006-07 season was commendable, ending at the top of the Central Division, with hopes being higher for the 2007-08 season. Todd Bertuzzi and Kyle Calder have been replaced with Johan Franzen and Valterri Filppula and the loss of Mathieu Schneider has been made up for by the addition of Brian Rafalski. These changes are adding more attraction to the game.

So hurry and quickly book your Detroit Red Wings tickets online through an authorized ticket broker and book your premium seats. You can get your tickets plus 2007 Red Wings games schedule, Joe Louis Arena seating chart and the team statistics, online.



WANNAMAKER

Al Terry asked:


You should get Detroit Tiger tickets to watch terrific baseball action. The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. Nicknamed “the Motor City Kitties”, “the Bengals”, “the Tigs”, and the “Bless You Boys”, the Tiger club was founded in Detroit in 1894. They are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball’s American League. Their ballpark since 2000 has been the Comerica Park. Their name, ‘Tiger’ comes from the orange stripes that they wear on their black stockings.

Tigers In The Past

In the late 1880s, the Tigers known as the ‘Wolverines’, won the National League pennant and an exhibition World Series. Their leading players at that time were Hardy Richardson, Charlie Getzein and Hall of Famers “Big Sam” Thompson and Dan Brothers.

However after the 1888 season, the team disbanded. A new club of Tigers was formed and it joined the International League in 1889 to go on to win the League championship. The fans who bought Detroit Tiger tickets, were really disheartened to see the disbanding of the league. In that decade, the Detroit Tiger fans bought Detroit Tiger tickets to watch the team play at Bennett Park and Burns Park. Briggs Stadium, that was constructed eleven years later and renamed Tiger Stadium in 1961, was used by the Tigers till the end of the 1999. After which they shifted to Comerica Park.

The Tigers, Baseball And The 20th Century

The team got Ty Cobb in 1905. He was the greatest player of all time. Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings, Bill Donovan and George Mullin also chipped in to get the Tigers their first American League pennant in 1907. In the 1920s, Cobb himself took over the executive duties; however the Tigers did not perform well. The Tiger teams of the 1930s were consistently among the league’s best with players like Mickey Cochrane, Hank Greenberg, and Charlie Gehringer.

With the end of World War II, Hank Greenberg and others from the military returned and the Tigers won the 1945 American League pennant. After their win, the Tigers again sank back through the 1950s.

The next decade, the Detroit Tigers bounced back with winning 101 games. Jake Wood, Willie Horton, Earl Wilson, Bill Bruton, and Gates Brown contributed to Detroit’s rise in this period. Detroit Tigers repeatedly posted winning records throughout the 1960s. Lolich was unanimously voted as American League Most Valuable Player in 1968 when the Tigers defeated the World champion St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1969, the Tigers were placed in the American League East and the team spent much of the next decade in the middle or lower ranks of the AL East.

Mark Fidrych “the Bird” who made his debut in 1976 and team manager “Sparky”, George Anderson tried to give the Detroit Tigers the much needed boost during this phase.

In 1980s, John Fetzer, the owner sold the team to Tom Monaghan and in 1984, the Tigers growled all the way up to win the World Series championship. But after that the fans who bought Detroit Tiger tickets were much disappointed through the rest of the decade. During the 1990s, the Tigers did not post any winning records and their collapse was blamed on GM Randy Smith as it was under him that the Tigers squandered away their talent with futile trade offs.

Detroit Tigers Today

In 2000, the team shifted their ballpark to the new Comerica Park. Dave Dombrowski was hired as the team president and under him the Tigers demonstrated a readiness to sign marquee free agents. The team signed or traded for several veterans and the stake paid off. Tigers improved their performance. Although, after the 2005 season, the Tigers have been plagued with losses, however their fans have not given up hope. They are buying Detroit Tiger tickets to cheer their team. If you too want to watch the Tigers at play, get your Detroit Tiger tickets through an online broker.



MARX

Benered asked:


Detroit Lion Football is one of the most the famous Football team in the United States. They all went through tremendous challenges but in all of those challenges from the year 1930 to 2006 the team has maintained in unison and that is one of the most remarkable secrets of the team. There are many fans of Detroit all over United States and some people are really crazy about them.

Lions thanksgiving tradition is the one tradition that has been followed and is still being followed even today. Thanksgiving day also holds a great respect in America and is observed by everyone it means a time that is acknowledge to the nations forefathers and giving thanks to them for their paths that the nation travels today. Thanksgiving is one of those emotional moments that touch the heart of everyone in the nation and especially for the Detroit’s.

Well Detroit Lion Football team has around more than 30 current members in its team; they all come from different states in America. The history of the Detroit’s began in its 30’s along with many players who have retired or fired and the ones who left and the history is going on till today. There is a university of Detroit stadium and it is a stadium in Michigan, which hosted the NFL’s Detroit Wolverine’s, for only the season in 1928. The stadium had around 25,000 people who visited it.

The Spartan Municipal stadium, which was known as Universal stadium, is a stadium at Ohio. There were around 8, 200 people present at its peak in the year 1930. The Lions also have a special program, which is called as the Lions Legends. This program is in the honor of former players.

Hal Griffin, George Potsy Clark, Earl Dutch Clark, Elmer Gus Henderson, George Potsy Clark, Bill Edwards, John Karcis, Charles Gus Dorais, Bo McMillin, Buddy Parker, George Wilson, Harry Gilmer, Joe Schmidt, Don McCafferty, Rick Forzano, Tommy Hudspeth, Monte Clark, Darryl Rogers, Wayne Fontes, Bobby Ross, Gary Moeller, Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci, **** Jauron, Rod Marinelli all have been the head coaches in the Lions. The head coaches listed above are counted from the year 1930 to the year 2006.

The other notable alumni are Eric Andlolsek, Chuck Long, Lomas Brown, Earl Morrall, Roger Brown, Herman Moore, Jeff Chadwich, Rodney Peete, Harry Colon , Milt Plum, Chip Cox, Robert Porcher, Mel Farr, Glenn Presnell, Erik Kramer, Mike Utley.The retired people from the lions are Dutch Clark, Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Joe Schmidt and Chuck Hughes.

This is just the outline of the Detroit Lion Football fame.



JESKE