Welcome to Hockeytown
The Detroit Red Wings are one of the Original Six, and with eleven Stanley Cups they have more than any other American club. The nickname "Hockeytown" is painted on everything from the arena to bar signs, and fans wear it with pride. In Detroit, hockey is a family inheritance. Grandparents talk about Gordie Howe, parents about Steve Yzerman and the late-1990s Cups, and younger fans about the next generation of Red Wings.
If you are dating in metro Detroit, you are likely to meet someone with strong opinions on the team, even if they rarely go to games.
Little Caesars Arena
Since 2017, the Red Wings have played at Little Caesars Arena in the District Detroit, just north of downtown along Woodward Avenue. The Pistons share the arena. Inside, a concourse wraps around the bowl, and there are plenty of places to grab food and drink before the game.
Getting there is simple. The QLine streetcar runs up and down Woodward and stops right by the arena. Drivers can find parking garages and lots nearby, but prices go up on game nights. Many suburban fans park downtown or in Midtown and take the QLine.
Outside the arena, a statue of Gordie Howe makes a good meeting point for a first date.
The octopus tradition
Detroit fans have a famous and strange tradition: throwing an octopus onto the ice during the playoffs. It started in 1952, when eight wins were needed to take the Cup and an octopus's eight arms seemed like a good omen. Today it is part of team lore. Your date might have a story about it. Do not try it yourself; there are rules about throwing things on the ice.
Skating at Campus Martius
Campus Martius Park, in the heart of downtown, sets up a seasonal ice rink with the city's tall buildings all around. It is one of Detroit's best winter date spots, especially during the holidays when the big tree goes up. Rentals are available. Check dates and hours before you go. Cadillac Square nearby has winter markets and food stalls.
Beyond the NHL
Michigan is a deep hockey state. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Michigan State in East Lansing have big programs and loud crowds. Western Michigan, Michigan Tech and others add to the mix. Adult leagues fill rinks across the suburbs, from Novi to Troy to St. Clair Shores. And frozen lakes up north turn into pickup rinks in cold winters, though you should always check that the ice is safe.
Rivalries
Detroit and Chicago have one of the longest-running rivalries in hockey, dating from Original Six days. The Wings and the Avalanche traded punches and playoff wins through the late 1990s, a feud Michigan fans relive often. Toronto is a short drive away across the border, and many Detroiters have a strong opinion about the Maple Leafs. If your partner wears another sweater, the rival-fan guide can help.
Getting home after a game
The QLine stays busy on game nights, though its last car still has a departure time worth looking up. If you parked downtown, walk with the crowd to your car or garage. Rideshare pickup zones near the arena can be busy right after games, so consider grabbing a drink or snack before heading out. More safety advice is on our trust and safety page.
Talking Wings on a first date
- Name your era. Howe, Yzerman, Lidstrom or the current roster. It says a lot.
- Mention your suburb or neighborhood. Metro Detroit is spread out. Royal Oak and Dearborn are very different commutes.
- Share your college team. Michigan versus Michigan State is a rivalry in hockey too.
- Be open about the playoffs. When the Wings are in, many fans' calendars change.
Date ideas around Detroit
- Dinner in the District Detroit, then a Red Wings game at Little Caesars Arena.
- Skating at Campus Martius Park on a winter evening.
- A college game in Ann Arbor or East Lansing.
- A summer evening on the RiverWalk, arguing over the Wings' next prospect and where he might fit.
- Watching a road game at a Corktown sports bar.
See also our hockey date ideas.
A note on cross-border dating
Windsor, Ontario, sits right across the water, and cross-border couples are nothing unusual. Readers on the Ontario side can visit Hockey Dating Canada.
Joe Louis Arena memories
Before Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings spent nearly four decades at Joe Louis Arena on the riverfront. It hosted four Cup-winning teams and a whole era of Yzerman, Fedorov, Lidstrom and Shanahan. Plenty of Detroit fans in their thirties and forties can describe the steep stands and the noise in that building. Ask your date for their best Joe story. You will learn whether they were a kid in the upper bowl or a college student who snuck down to better seats.
Suburban rinks and late ice
Metro Detroit's adult hockey scene is spread across the suburbs. Rinks in places like Fraser, Farmington Hills and Canton host leagues from beginner divisions to former college players. Many teams play after 10 p.m., and the postgame gathering at the rink bar is part of the weekly ritual. If you play, put your rink and night in your profile. If you are dating a player, a late game with a hot coffee in the stands is a nice surprise.
Watching from Windsor's side of the river
On a clear winter evening, the view of the Detroit skyline from the Windsor riverfront is spectacular, and some couples cross the Ambassador Bridge or the tunnel for dinner before driving back for a game. If you try it, carry your passport or another accepted travel document and allow time for the border on the way home.
The Wings and the wider Michigan calendar
Michigan winters are long, and the Red Wings are a big part of how many people get through them. Detroiters also follow the Lions, the Tigers and the Pistons, so a sports-loving match may have a busy calendar. Ask which team comes first. The answer is usually hockey, but not always.
A Hockeytown opener
Ask a Wings fan where they keep their playoff beard photos, or which octopus story they tell most.
Hockeytown, meet your match
Tell people your era, your suburb and your octopus opinion, then Signup Here. Red Wings fans already here can sign in to add the new season to their profile. For the old rivals, see our Chicago guide, and Pittsburgh for another Rust Belt hockey town. Our cities page gathers all ten metros in one place.