New Red Wings Arena Details Expected; Ilitches Want Ground Breaking By End Of Year

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Details about the progression of the new Red Wings arena could be coming to surface sometime this week.

Thursday could be the day that the public finds out more information about the proposed arena, as officials with Olympia Development are expected to provide new details at a meeting of the Detroit Planning Commission. The Ilitch family would like to break ground by the end of the year on what is believed to be a $450 million project -- which is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

More than 1,000 construction-related jobs are expected to be included in the building of the new arena.

Ilitch Holdings Inc. chairman Mike Ilitch said in a statement that it's long been his dream "to see a vibrant and energized downtown Detroit." He says the new sports and entertainment district "will encompass dozens of blocks along and near Woodward Ave."

"By accelerating our investments in important neighborhood infrastructure and new mixed-use development, we will stabilize and develop dozens of underutilized blocks, create more jobs more quickly and allow the city to spend public funds on other priorities," added Christopher Ilitch president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.

[Full details and renderings of the proposed Red Wings arena can be found HERE]