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Red Wings Announce Attendees, Commemorative Merchandise and Photo Opportunities for 25th Anniversary Celebration, November 3 and November 5 at Little Caesars Arena
October 30, 2022
The Detroit Red Wings today announced more than 30 former players, coaches and staff members set to attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration at Little Caesars Arena on Nov. 3 and Nov. 5. The Red Wings will celebrate the 1997 Stanley Cup champions on Thursday, Nov. 3 against the Washington Capitals, and salute the 1998 championship team vs. the New York Islanders the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 5.
Limited tickets for both the Nov. 3 (7 p.m.) and Nov. 5 (1 p.m.) games remain available at DetroitRedWings.com/Anniversary.
In addition to pregame ceremonies, special vintage merchandise items will be sold in the Team Store, and fans will be able to take photos with the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of his team during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Campbell Bowl, given to the Western Conference Champions each season.
The Meijer Southwest Entrance will open early for ticketed fans on both Thursday and Saturday for photo opportunities with all three trophies. The entrance will open at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, and 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 5. Photo opportunities will run from 4:30-5:45 p.m. for Thursday’s game, and from 10:30-11:45 a.m. on Saturday. All three trophies will be a part of the pregame ceremony for both games, and then will be brought back up to the Via concourse for additional fan photo opportunities throughout both games.
Fans are also encouraged to arrive and be in their seats early. The pregame ceremony honoring the 1997 team that won the club’s first Stanley Cup in 42 years will begin at approximately 6 p.m. on Nov. 3, and at Noon on Nov. 5 ahead of the early afternoon puck drop at Little Caesars Arena.
Red Wings alumni players, coaches, front office members and support staff scheduled to attend the weekend’s festivities are listed below, and subject to change:
Hakan Andersson (Director of European Scouting)
Scotty Bowman (Head Coach)
Paul Boyer (Head Equipment Manager)
Doug Brown
Mathieu Dandenault
Jim Devellano (General Manager/Senior Vice President)
Kris Draper
Anders Eriksson
Brent Gilchrist
Kevin Hodson
Ken Holland (Assistant General Manager/General Manager)
Tomas Holmstrom
Mark Howe (Pro Scout)
Mike Knuble
Joe Kocur
Vladimir Konstantinov
Mike Krushelnyski (Assistant Coach)
Martin Lapointe
Igor Larionov
Dave Lewis (Associate Coach)
Nicklas Lidstrom
Kirk Maltby
Darren McCarty
Larry Murphy
Chris Osgood
Jamie Pushor
Bob Rouse
Brendan Shanahan
Barry Smith (Associate Coach)
Tim Taylor
Mike Vernon
Aaron Ward
John Wharton (Athletic Trainer)
Steve Yzerman
“We’re looking forward to what will be a tremendous weekend for our fans and the Red Wings alumni returning to Detroit for the 25th Anniversary Celebration,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E). “We encourage fans to be in their seats early to be a part of the pregame ceremonies, and to salute both teams for the pride and joy they continue to bring to Hockeytown.”
Exclusive celebration and vintage Stanley Cup championship merchandise will be sold in the Little Caesars Arena Team Store, including championship t-shirts and hats, replica patches for hockey sweaters, branded pucks and more. Commemorative items featuring the 25th Anniversary logo will also be sold, including hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, lapel pins, glasses and pucks. All fans through the doors will receive a commemorative ticket.
In front of the Gordie Howe statue inside the Chevrolet Northeast Entrance, a historic exhibit will be visible for fans to enjoy and remember, with memorabilia, artifacts and collectables from the 1996-97 and 1997-98 Red Wings seasons on display.
Little Caesars Names Greg Hamilton New Chief Marketing Officer
October 29, 2022
Little Caesars® announced that Greg Hamilton will take on the role of chief marketing officer at the third largest pizza chain in the world, effective immediately.
Greg is being promoted from his role of senior vice president of marketing with Little Caesars. He has spent the last 20 years in marketing roles with progressive leadership responsibility and has nearly 15 years of experience in the quick-service restaurant industry. Greg helped to spearhead the digital transformation of the marketing function at Little Caesars and has played a key role in the brand’s high-profile initiatives, including the chain’s first Super Bowl commercial, its integration in The Batman movie and Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare™ II, and being named the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League.
Little Caesars, home of the Hot-N-Ready® Pizza and Pizza Portal® pickup, is a Detroit-based global pizza company that focuses on bringing customers value, quality, and convenience. The chain aims to continue its digital marketing expansion and impactful partnerships under Greg’s leadership.
“We have such tremendous talent at Little Caesars, and we’re thrilled to be able to promote from within for this key role,” said Dave Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars. “Greg has been an innovative leader here for some time and we’re confident he’s going to propel our brand forward even more as our CMO.”
Greg graduated from Cedarville University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts in marketing. Personally, he is an avid runner and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children hiking and camping. Greg and his family live in metro Detroit.
“I’m elated to take on this important role at such a storied company, with a group of people I already respect so highly,” said Hamilton, “I look forward to continuing to work with the Little Caesars team and our incredible community of franchisees to keep driving brand growth even further.”
Tigers Name Mark Conner Director of Amateur Scouting
October 29, 2022
The Detroit Tigers have named Mark Conner as the club’s Director of Amateur Scouting, joining the organization after 13 seasons with the San Diego Padres.
“I’m excited to welcome another highly talented baseball operations executive to our front office,” said Scott Harris, Detroit Tigers President of Baseball Operations. “Rob and Mark have each led some of the most successful Drafts of the last decade and I am confident they will form a dynamic partnership atop our Amateur Scouting Department. Mark’s track record of success and vision for the department made him the perfect fit for this role. He will be a great complement to Rob and an excellent leader for our area scouts, cross-checkers, and analysts moving forward.”
Conner held a variety of roles in his tenure with the Padres, most recently as a Special Assistant to the GM/Field Coordinator in 2022 and Director, Amateur Scouting from 2014-21. While overseeing the MLB Draft for San Diego, Conner selected many top prospects and current Major Leaguers, including CJ Abrams, David Bednar, Ty France, MacKenzie Gore and Cal Quantrill. That collection of talent led the Padres to having a top 10 farm system in the Majors from 2017-21 and contributed to the team clinching playoff appearances in two of the last three seasons (2020, 2022).
“I couldn’t be happier to join a historic organization like the Tigers and I’m looking forward to working with Scott, Rob and the entire baseball operations group,” said Conner. “During the interview process with Scott and Rob it was clear that all our philosophies, and perhaps more importantly passions to win, were very much aligned. I’ve seen firsthand over the last seven seasons what an impact sound yet progressive amateur draft decisions can have on an organization’s path to success, and I’m excited to get started.”
Conner first joined the Padres as an amateur scout in 2010 and was promoted to northeast regional supervisor prior to the 2014 season. He received the Padres’ Denny Galehouse Scout of the Year Award in 2010, awarded for his thoroughness and diligence in covering his territory and exhausting all resources to gather information about players being scouted.
Prior to joining San Diego, Conner served as pitching coach at the University of South Carolina, Aiken from 2005-09, where he helped guide the Pacers to a school-record 47 wins in 2008. Before his time at USCA, he was an assistant coach at Indian Hills Community College (IA), working with pitchers and catchers. Conner was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Cumberland University (TN) for four seasons before joining Indians Hills.
Conner played collegiately at Cumberland University, where he was a member of four conference championships and appeared in three NAIA World Series. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in education.
A native of Cleveland, OH, Conner and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Nashville, TN, with their daughter (Claire) and son (Caleb).
Local Black-Owned Restaurants Bring Original Food and Beverage Options to Little Caesars Arena
October 26, 2022
Local Black-owned restaurants will be part of the game-day experience at Little Caesars Arena during the 2022-23 Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons seasons. In addition to Bert’s Marketplace – which also was available at Comerica Park during the 2022 Detroit Tigers season – The Lobster Food Truck is scheduled to be in Little Caesars Arena until November 12.
The Lobster Food Truck quickly gained word-of-mouth traction after opening in 2018 and parking in different spots in the Metro Detroit area. Posting daily locations and times on the business Instagram page and website, local seafood lovers have been seen lined up at the truck’s respective locations for the last few years. Now, the Dearborn-based brick-and-mortar (as of 2021) brings its popular fare to the home of the Red Wings and Pistons.
“When we created the business, we defined success as being inside of a sports arena. This is our dream coming to fruition,” said Nick Wilson, who is a co-founder of The Lobster Food Truck with his aunt, Kathryn.
Known as Chef Nick, the Detroit native has over 12 years of culinary experience from across the country and came home to live out his dream of having his own restaurant with his aunt. “We are excited to bring Maine lobster and fresh seafood to Little Caesars Arena patrons,” said Kathryn who also noted that their catering menu will soon be expanding for the holiday season.
Voted ‘Best Food Truck’ by Hour Magazine, The Lobster Food Truck is known for its lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, seafood mac-n-cheese and salmon fried rice: all of which will be offered at Little Caesars Arena.
“We received tremendous feedback from Tigers fans after welcoming local Black-owned businesses to Comerica Park this past season, and we’re excited to continue the initiative at Little Caesars Arena,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Our goal at our venues is to amaze, inspire and unite — and connecting our fans with incredible local restaurants is a way to do just that.”
In partnership with Delaware North, which operates concessions at Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena, several other Black-owned businesses will be present throughout the season.
The Lobster Food Truck is located at 10405 Ford Road Dearborn, MI 48126, and you can follow them at @thelobsterfoodtruck and TheLobsterFoodTruck.
Detroit Red Wings Drumline Debuts During Home Games at Little Caesars Arena This Season
October 25, 2022
The atmosphere at Little Caesars Arena during any Detroit Red Wings game is electric, thanks to the unparalleled enthusiasm of Hockeytown fans and dynamic in-arena interactive experiences. This season, there’s even more entertainment for fans to enjoy with the addition of the Detroit Red Wings Drumline.
Comprised of 12 local men and women with a passion for entertainment, music and performing, the drumline’s first official performance was during the Hockeytown Red Carpet Walk festivities for the Red Wings 2022-23 season opener.
“I was a senior in 2008 when the Wings won the Stanley Cup, and that was huge. We made a little homemade Stanley Cup, and we marched around the city with it. I’ve just always loved hockey,” said Jonathan Elkins, a member of the drumline. “And to be able to drum at these games, with this organization and with the legacy that it has – that means a lot to me.”
Fans may also recall seeing the drumline last year, as the crew did a few test performances last season.
“We are always looking for new ways to connect with our incredible fans to create unforgettable in-game experiences at Little Caesars Arena, and the Red Wings Drumline is another way to deliver on that promise,” said Pete Skorich, Vice President of Entertainment Services & Broadcasting for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment.
In addition to the red carpet performance, the Drumline also performed throughout The Via pre-game, and during a 2nd period timeout. The Drumline is set to perform about half of this season’s games and is open for bookings at other metro Detroit events. Check out the Detroit Red Wings Drumline in action, here:
Experiencing Little Caesars Arena: What’s New & What You Need to Know Before You Go
October 25, 2022
Little Caesars Arena, an innovative and award-winning multi-use venue, is home to the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons and hundreds of other sports, entertainment and community events every year. The fan-centric facility located in the heart of The District Detroit offers unique heritage elements, one of the largest center-hung videoboards in the world, 3-D image mapping, a versatile sky deck, over 1,300 display screens and more.
Whether you’re a season ticket holder or it’s your first time visiting, there is so much to do and see that we’ve rounded up what’s new and what you need to know before visiting Little Caesars Arena.
Parking
Before the excitement of a live event begins, you need to get to the venue! Fortunately, with 8,500 parking spaces across more than five parking structures and multiple surface parking lots, finding safe and convenient parking is a breeze. Please note that all parking structures and lots are cashless.
Food and Beverage
Cheering on your favorite team or dancing the night away at a sold-out concert can work up an appetite! Whether you’re grabbing a bite or drink before, during or after an event, Little Caesars Arena boasts four delicious restaurants and an array of in-venue concession stands for quick service food and beverage on the go.
See below for details and great new menu offerings.
All of these venues are open at 4:00pm on event days. Pro tip: eating at one of LCA’s restaurants gives you direct access to the arena when it is time for the doors to open and events to begin, avoiding lengthy lines outside.
In addition to dine-in restaurants, concession stands throughout the arena offer a wide variety of dishes, including fan-favorite Little Caesars pizza. There will also be a rotation of local food vendors to display the array of diverse tastes you can find around the city of Detroit.
Mouth-watering new menu items this year include:
In addition, before or after your event, check out the variety of dining options in The District Detroit including a number of establishments on nearby pedestrian-friendly Columbia Street, and Basan, which is coming soon to The Eddystone, which is adjacent to Little Caesars Arena.
Team Stores
The Little Caesars Arena Team Store features quality, upscale lifestyle and fashion brands for fans to enjoy. New brands offered this season include Tommy Bahama, Travis Mathew, Lululemon, Vineyard Vines, WEAR by Erin Andrews and local brand Greyson Clothiers.
The Red Wings are also proud to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ’97 and ’98 Stanley Cup Championship with an assortment of special merchandise including novelties from pucks to glasses and pins, hats and authentic memorabilia.
Little Caesars Arena is also rolling out arena-exclusive programs this season, including: a Detroit Red Wings custom decal and sticker program; exclusive headwear for both the Red Wings and the Pistons from brands New Era, Mitchell & Ness, Zephyr and 47 Brand; custom premium souvenir puck program and a Red Wings alumni jersey program from Fanatics.
Accessibility
Little Caesars Arena offers accessible parking, entry, seating and concession areas. More information on each of these can be found here.
The arena was also named the 2021 KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Venue of the Year, as all events hosted at the venue are sensory inclusive and promote an accommodating and positive experience for guests and fans with sensory needs. Guests can check in at Guest Service Offices at Portals 10, 20 and 67 for a sensory kit.
Box Office
The Xfinity Box Office at Little Caesars Arena is open at 11 a.m. on all event days, and Monday through Friday non-event days. The Box Office closes after intermission at events, or at 5:30 p.m. on non-event days. More information, event listings and links to purchase tickets can be found here.
If you have any questions about digital ticketing, feel free to call (313) 471-7929 during business hours, or email TicketOperations@OlyEnt.com.
Bag Policy
As you plan for your night out, please take note that Little Caesars Arena has a no bag policy. For safety of guests, all bags, purses & clutches are strictly prohibited, and only wallets sized 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ or smaller are allowed. Medical bags, diaper bags with supplies for infants, breast pumps, and other medical devices sized smaller than 14″ x 14″ x 6″ are allowed. For details on permitted and prohibited items, click here. Safety and security are a top priority – in fact, Little Caesars Arena is the only arena in the United States to receive the Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Certification/Designation.
Cashless Transactions
Please note that the entire venue is cashless! If you bring cash with you to an event, you will be directed to the nearest “cash to card” machine, which allows you to transfer your cash onto a card for cashless use for concessions, apparel, drinks and more.
Additional information can be found on the Little Caesars Arena page and on 313 Presents’ Frequently Asked Questions page, here.
Rob Metzler Joins Detroit Tigers as Vice President and Assistant General Manager
October 24, 2022
The Detroit Tigers today announced that Rob Metzler has joined the organization as Vice President and Assistant General Manager. Metzler comes to the Tigers after 15 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, including the last seven as the Senior Director of Amateur Scouting where he led the club’s MLB Draft processes.
His efforts in Tampa Bay helped lead the organization to frequent rankings as one of the top farm systems in the game and significant positive results on the field at the Major League level.
“I hope all Tigers fans will join me in welcoming Rob and his family to our organization,” said Scott Harris, Detroit Tigers President of Baseball Operations. “I am thrilled to add an executive of Rob’s caliber to lead our Amateur and International Scouting departments. Rob’s track record of success with the Rays speaks for itself, and his innovative approach to talent acquisition will help us achieve one of our main goals: to acquire, develop and retain young talent in Detroit.”
In his most recent role with the Rays, Metzler was responsible for all day-to-day scouting activities within the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico in preparation for the MLB Draft. Among many accomplishments he was responsible for drafting 2022 All-Star Game starter Shane McClanahan, as well as current Major Leaguers Nathaniel Lowe, Joe Ryan and Taylor Walls. Those results helped Tampa Bay develop a great core of young talent, helping them reach the postseason in four consecutive seasons.
“This is a tremendous opportunity and I’m excited to work with Scott and the rest of our baseball operations staff,” said Metzler. “We’re going to hit the ground running to ensure our processes of amateur scouting at both the domestic and international levels are the best they can possibly be, and search for the most comprehensive information possible to help inform our decision making. I’d also like to thank the Tampa Bay Rays organization for an incredible 15 seasons, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished. The reason I’m here in Detroit is to bring that same energy, passion and innovative spirit, culminating with winning baseball on the field at Comerica Park for years to come.”
Two Rays players who were recently drafted by Metzler are currently ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects: No. 20 Taj Bradley (2018, 5th round) and No. 81 Carson Williams (2021, 1st round). In recent years numerous other Tampa Bay draft picks were on the top 100 list, including Josh Lowe (No. 73 in 2021, drafted in 2016 1st round), Greg Jones (No. 84 in 2021, drafted in 2019 1st round), and Brendan McKay (No. 12 in 2020, drafted in 1st round in 2017).
Prior to joining the Rays, Metzler interned for the Boston Red Sox, Baseball Info Solutions and the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He also served as an assistant coach at Roger Williams University.
A native of West Hartford, Connecticut, Metzler earned a physics degree from Bowdoin College, where he also played baseball, and a master’s dual-degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rob and his wife, Lindsey, have one daughter, Jordan.
Detroit Red Wings adidas Reverse Retro 2022 Jersey Unveiled
October 19, 2022
adidas and the National Hockey League (NHL®) unveiled the newest adidas Reverse Retro 2022 jerseys for all 32 NHL® teams. Reverse Retro 2022 is the sequel to the disruptive uniform franchise that fuses the storied logos, colors and designs of all eras of NHL sweaters with a lifestyle and fashion-inspired energy to introduce 32 never-before-seen on-ice looks
Slated to be worn throughout the 2022-23 NHL® season, Reverse Retro jerseys remix nostalgic elements of each club’s past in combinations that honor history and tradition while delivering a new experience for fans.
The Detroit Red Wings adidas Reverse Retro 2022 jersey will be available for purchase in the Little Caesars Arena Team Store beginning November 15.
Honoring Detroit Tigers Legend Willie Horton
October 17, 2022
For the 19th consecutive year, the Detroit Tigers and the entire state of Michigan are celebrating “Willie Horton Day” on Tuesday, October 18, marking Horton’s 80th birthday and honoring the legend’s baseball career and lifelong commitment to community.
Horton, a hero in Detroit, is known for his strong values and generosity. His work with the Detroit Police Athletic League encouraged more kids from the city of Detroit to learn the game of baseball, with the organization doubling over the years.
The youngest of 21 children, Horton was born on October 18, 1942 in Arno, Virginia. At the age of nine, Horton’s family moved to Detroit. By 13, he was turning the heads of area baseball scouts and on August 6, 1961, he became a member of his hometown team when he signed his first professional contract with the Tigers after an outstanding career at Detroit’s Northwestern High School.
His 18-year big league career included 14 seasons with the Tigers and he was an important part of the 1968 World Championship team. A lifetime .273 hitter, Horton had 1,993 hits, 325 home runs and 1,163 RBI over 2,208 games.
On July 15, 2000, the Detroit Tigers retired Horton’s uniform number 23, and a statue in Horton’s likeness was unveiled in Comerica Park, where it stands today.
