Brian Manzullo

Detroit Free Press

It's time to say goodbye to Joe Louis Arena.

The Detroit Red Wings play their final game there Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, a day that's sure to be emotional for everyone involved, from the organization to the players, from the arena workers to the fans.

Here at the Free Press, we're trying to send off "The Joe" the best we can, through a nostalgic look back at the greatest moments, plus a recollection of our favorite memories from a variety of perspectives and more photos than you can handle.

Our list of Joe Louis Arena greats, firsts

• Who are the best Red Wings to play at the Joe?: The first-team includes Stevie Y., Sergei and Ozzie. See which other greats made the list and where.

• Joe Louis Arena firsts: Relieve the first Red Wings game, Red Wings win and concert at the old barn.

Let's continue are list of lists with our countdown of Top 20 moments

Top moments in Joe Louis Arena history

• Nos. 11-20: Hockey, figure skating and music: From Kid Rock and Bob Seger collaborating on stage to captain Steve Yzerman's Game 7 double-overtime goal in 1996, we begin our countdown with top moments No. 11-20.

• No. 10:Isiah Thomas' finish for the ages: April 27, 1984, the night the Pistons' legend scored 16 points in 93 seconds in a playoff game against the New York Knicks.

• No. 9: Red Wings reach their first Cup finals in 29 years: June 11-12, 1995, the night Slava Kozlov eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks in the second overtime of Game 5.

• No. 8: Red Wings raise the 1998 championship banner: Oct. 16, 1998, the night the Wings put up another Stanley Cup banner, with Scotty, Vladdie and Sergei making the night extra special.

• No. 7: Gordie Howe comes home: Feb. 5, 1980, the night Mr. Hockey returned to "The Joe" to play in his 23rd and final NHL All-Star Game.

• No. 6:The GOP gathers in the Motor City: July 16, 1980, the night Ronald Reagan pursues Gerald Ford as his running mate, but settles for George H.W. Bush. This night would change the course of U.S. politics for at least three decades.

• No. 5: Red Wings rain on Patrick Roy in Game 7: May 31, 2002, the night the Red Wings destroyed the rival Colorado Avalanche 7-0 in Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference finals.

• No. 4: The Joe raises the ultimate banner: Oct. 8, 1997, the night the Red Wings raised their first banner in Joe Louis Arena history after winning the Stanley Cup months earlier.

• No. 3: The 'Hockey Gods' send Scottie out as a champion: June 13, 2002, the night the Red Wings won their third cup in six years with a star-studded roster in what would be Scottie Bowman's final game as head coach.

• No. 2: "Fight Night at the Joe": March 26, 1997, the day the Red Wings and Avalanche engaged in 10 fights after the Wings sought revenge for Claude Lemieux's hit on Kris Draper 10 months earlier.

• No. 1: Hockeytown becomes Stanleytown! June 7, 1997, the day the Red Wings became champions, knocking out the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals to win their first Stanley Cup in decades.

Our favorite memories from "The Joe"

We've collected a variety of perspectives on Joe Louis Arena over the years, from hockey legends to arena workers. And we're collecting your favorite memories, too, to include in our special Joe Louis Arena section!

• From our Red Wings writers over the years: Our Joe Louis Arena memories, from the games to the players and more.

• From the building manager, Al Sobotka: Sobotka has spent years taking care of "The Joe" for fans. This is his perspective.

• From Free Press sports writer Carlos Monarrez: How the Joe, with all its smelly charm and storied history, became a home away from home for an L.A. Kings fan.

• From Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel: Our Joe Louis Arena obituary: Saying good-bye to the heart of Hockeytown.

• From the Red Wings broadcasters: Some people call Joe Louis Arena a "dump." Don't tell that to the broadcasters who cover ever Red Wings home game there.

• From the Captain, Steve Yzerman: The former Wings legend, now general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, came back to JLA in March and shared some of his favorite memories from the arena.

• From the Perfect Human, Nicklas Lidstrom: Another former Wings captain who was integral in the team's four cups from 1997-2008 gets nostalgic about the Joe. From February 2016.

• From Vaughn at the Anchor Bar: Memories from a third-generation barkeep at a beloved Detroit hockey bar.

• From "Fight Night at the Joe" against the Avalanche: An extensive look back at the Hockeytown brawl March 26, 1997, against the hated Avs. You can also watch all 10 fights from that night here.

• From not your average Joes: One day in the life at Joe Louis Arena, by Justin Abdelkader, Ken Holland, Jeff Blashill and Leslie Baker.

• From Hall of Famer and Westland's own Mike Modano: The Joe has been a treasure trove of good times for Modano. "It just has an aura to it," he says.

• From three behind-the-scenes workers: Catching up with three unfamiliar faces who make things go at the Joe: A security worker, a longtime statistician and the public address announcer.

• From the 1997 Red Wings title team: The players are sad to see Joe Louis Arena go, but are excited for what's ahead with Little Caesars Arena.

• From Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson: Berenson has spent a lot of time at Joe Louis Arena, primarily for the annual Great Lakes Invitational that took place there each winter.

Nostalgia galore: Our best photos

We've captured some great memories over the years from Joe Louis Arena. Here are some of the best, in picture form.

• Red Wings' unforgettable moments at Joe Louis Arena. The ultimate collection of Wings moments from "The Joe." A great place to start.

• Red Wings' final home opener at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings' home opener has become an iconic event over the past couple decades. Here was the final one in Joe Louis Arena history from October 2016.

• Clippings: Memories at Joe Louis Arena. A few news clippings from over the years.

• All 25 seasons: The Red Wings' playoff streak. One photo from each year of the Red Wings' 25-season playoff streak, the longest postseason streak in major professional sports before it was snapped this year.

• Remembering Mike Ilitch: Owner, pizza magnate, Detroit champion. This gallery is a collection of former Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch over the years, including the moments he celebrated the Wings' Stanley Cups with the team.

• Joe Louis Arena turns into a basketball court. Hey, it's not just for hockey! Here's JLA turning into a basketball court for the Horizon League tournament that took place there this season.

Buy our Joe Louis Arena book!

Time for a shameless plug. We have a commemorative book on Joe Louis Arena that's for sale right now.

The Detroit Free Press presents 128 glossy pages of color photos and inside stories from nearly four decades of the heart of Hockeytown. It’s an in-depth look at the Wings’ 35 greatest moments at Joe Louis Arena, plus the 25 greatest non-Wings moments and a special tribute to Mike Ilitch, the man who brought the Wings and the Joe back to life.

“The Joe” sells for $16.95 (plus shipping & handling). To order, click here or call 800-245-5082.

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Remembering Joe Louis

He was one of the greatest and most beloved athletes in his field. He still holds the record as longest-reigning champion in his sport. His name is synonymous with the best of Detroit because he brought glory and honor to a city that craved it. So when the $600-million Little Caesars Arena opens next season amid fanfare and the celebration of surrounding neighborhoods — and the hockey lights go out on the massive house that bears the name Joe Louis — what happens then to his name and legacy? Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley asked readers, and they responded in droves with ideas ranging from putting his name on golf courses and parks to renaming Hart Plaza to creating a Champions Museum to honor Louis and other Detroit greats who deserve never to be forgotten. Mayor Mike Duggan has pledged to review all of the ideas and said: “The city of Detroit will honor Louis’ memory in the way he deserves." Rochelle is collecting ideas through April 30. Send yours to rriley99@freepress.com with the subject line: REMEMBERING JOE LOUIS.