Red Wings’ new home officially named Little Caesars Arena
By @MichaelCaples –
DETROIT – On a rainy Thursday morning in Detroit, an announcement Red Wings fans have anxiously been waiting for finally took place.
Starting in the 2017-18 season, the Detroit Red Wings will play their games at Little Caesars Arena.
Little Caesars Arena. #RedWings pic.twitter.com/hHAiMCGL5a
— MiHockey (@MiHockeyNow) April 28, 2016
Ilitch Holdings President and CEO Christopher Ilitch, Olympia Entertainment President and CEO Tom Wilson and Little Caesars President and CEO Dave Scrivano were among the many guests in attendance at the event, and the trio all played a part in the unveiling.
“Little Caesars has experienced incredible growth over the last decade,” Scrivano said. “We were founded in the Detroit area 57 years ago as a family company and grew to become the world’s largest carryout-only pizza chain from right here in the city.
“As we continue to add stores in more countries across the globe, and as we prepare to expand our world headquarters campus right here in The District Detroit to accommodate our growth, now is the perfect time to sign on as a naming rights partner for what is going to be one of the world’s premier sports and entertainment destinations. This sponsorship will give us broader visibility than we’ve ever had before, and we couldn’t be more excited about this amazing investment in our brand, right down the street from our headquarters campus in the city we love.”
The 20-year naming rights agreement averages more than $6.25 million per year. The arena will feature the Little Caesars branding on the roof of the arena, on the exterior, at entrances and at center ice. Little Caesars will also become the official Red Wings website and social media presenting sponsor starting with the 2017-18 season.
The agreement is estimated to be the largest investment in a naming sponsorship for a building whose sole professional sport is hockey. Little Caesars Arena, opening in 2017, is part of the new $650 million entertainment district coming to downtown Detroit.
Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch opened the first Little Caesars pizza establishment in 1959 in Garden City. That brand would grow to become a worldwide chain that sells $4.2 billion in pizzas, according to Forbes. Ground was broken on the arena site on September 25, 2014 – the 88th anniversary of Detroit landing an NHL franchise – and with the name now set, the Red Wings’ new home is one step closer to completion.
The 2016-17 NHL campaign will be the last to take place inside the storied Joe Louis Arena, which Detroit has called home since 1979.
Here is a video played during the press conference introducing the new arena name and logo.
Official imagery released by Olympia Entertainment today:
