The Edmonton Oilers marked the start of the 2016-2017 NHL season earlier this month by opening up their new home, Rogers Place, to an excited and hopeful fanbase. The city of Detroit will experience a similar sentiment when the 2017-2018 season gets underway, as their beloved Red Wings commence play in the HOK-designed Little Caesars Arena. With crews continuing to shape the forthcoming facility, Detroit Red Wings players and coaches were recently given a first-hand view of the construction progress.

Little Caesars Arena will be ready for the 2017-2018 season, image courtesy of Olympia Development

The tour presented unique opportunities for both the players and the crews. As the team, awestruck by the scale of the project, made their way through the facility, they were approached by selfie-seeking construction workers. There's over 800 workers on the site daily, and they've nearly completed assembling of the structural steel frame and precast concrete that will delineate the form of the building. Foundation concrete and structural steel has also been completed for two new office and retail buildings at Woodward Avenue and Henry Street, where Red Wings administration is set to occupy part of the space.

Crews and players join in for a collective photo, image courtesy of Olympia Development

Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg poses for a selfie, image courtesy of Olympia Development

The support structures for the project's innovative radial metal panel exterior are taking shape, and will eventually host a vibrant display of theatrical lighting and projected images. Around the arena bowl, the multifaceted Via covered concourse will contain a varied offering of shops and restaurants to activate the pedestrian walkway year round. Work for the on-site practice ice adjacent to the arena — which will also house amateur hockey play 40 feet under the ground — is approaching completion. Concrete for the above piazza, which is being laid atop metal decking, has finished as well.

Detroit Red Wings players navigate the construction site, image courtesy of Olympia Development

The Red Wings take stock of their home-to-be, image courtesy of Olympia Development

Little Caesars Arena is the centrepiece of The District Detroit development. Led by the Ilitch organization, the world-class entertainment destination is revitalizing 50 blocks around Comerica Park and Ford Field, respective homes of the Detroit Tigers baseball team and the Detroit Lions football franchise. The area is poised for a major influx of restaurants, shops, office space, residence,s and hotel rooms to create a seamless and walkable connection between the three sports facilities.

An aerial view of the progress made so far, image courtesy of Olympia Development

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