Red Wings announce 5K run to kick-off farewell season at Joe Louis Arena

Race will start off on arena steps, finish at center ice

DETROIT – While the Sharks and Penguins battle it out for the Stanley Cup, those inside Joe Louis Arena are having anything but an off-season.

The farewell season at "The Joe" will begin in September, the last season the Detroit Red Wings will play there before moving into Little Caesar’s Arena.

Jim Biewer, a Marking Director for the team, said they’ve been planning for months.

“We’re pulling out all the stops, we’re going all out,” Biewer said. “We want to make sure people remember Joe Louis Arena for what it was (and) the historic memories that they have here.”

Biewer added that almost every game and event will have something memorable for those attending.

“You’re going to see alumni, you will see giveaways and keepsakes to take home with you, so you’ll always have a piece of The Joe with you," Biewer said. 

Kicking off the farewell season is the HockeyTown 5K. a brand new run and walk that will begin outside the arena on the stairs of the Gordie Howe entrance.

“They’ll run all the way down Atwater, all the way back down the Riverfront and they’ll finish center ice here at Joe Louis arena, right underneath the video board,” Biewer said.

Current Red Wings players and alumni will also be in attendance along the course and inside The Joe to cheer on participants throughout the experience.

Afterwards, runners and walkers will get to take home a medal, which depicts Joe Louis Arena. There will also be a festival inside.

“There will be players signing autographs, alumni, things like that," Biewer said. 

Fans in attendance will also have an opportunity to tour the Red Wings locker room, play interactive games to test their hockey skills, take photos with championship and retired jersey banners, and win Red Wings prizes, according to a release.

Proceeds from the run and festival will go to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation.

To register for the race, click here. 


About the Author:

Nick joined the Local 4 team in February of 2015. Prior to that he spent 6 years in Sacramento covering a long list of big stories including wildfires and earthquakes. Raised in Sterling Heights, he is no stranger to the deep history and pride Detroit has to offer.