Detroit council meets March 31 on Joe Louis lease

3/24/2014

DETROIT — The Detroit City Council has scheduled a special meeting March 31 to vote on a new hockey lease for Joe Louis Arena, which is slated to be replaced as venue for the Detroit Red Wings.

Councilwoman Brenda Jones announced the meeting today at a meeting of the council’s Health and Safety Standing Committee.

The proposed lease with Olympia Entertainment would expire on June 30, 2015. It would be retroactive to 2010 when the old lease expired.

Olympia Entertainment and the Red Wings are part of Mike Ilitch’s stable of companies.

The City Council has approved the transfer of land just north of downtown and financing for a new hockey arena that could be built as early as 2016.

Joe Louis Arena opened in 1979.