Swan song of summer (Metro Times Detroit)

Pulled from the August 2001 archives of the metrotimes

Swan song of summer :

RUMOR DEPT.
"Speaking of blights on the waterfront, a persistent rumor over the past five years has resurfaced once again: that the Ilitch folks are building a new ice arena to replace the aging, prematurely outdated blight on the water known as Joe Louis Arena, thereby allowing for the much-needed Cobo Hall expansion. Much of the speculation on where this new arena will be located has centered on the west of Woodward area behind the Fox et al, due in large part to the fact that Ilitch has amassed a considerable cache of property back there. But he also owns the old, decaying but once splendiferous United Artists theater, just off Grand Circus Park. The latest rumor has Ilitch tearing down the UA to build a new ersatz Olympia arena for the Red Wings, with possible involvement from GM (naming rights, anyone?). Well let me just put this rumor to bed ... for now at least ... as Al Sebastian of Ilitch Holdings has informed me, straight from Denise’s mouth, that there is “no truth at all” to the rumor, and they have no intention of building a new arena on the UA site “or anywhere else.” Forgive me if I’m a bit skeptical however ... it’s fairly common knowledge that the Red Wings are not staying put in JLA forever, so let’s just see how this all plays out."