1979 First Game Joe Louis Arena Hockey Program Detroit Red Wings St.Louis BluesDecember 27th, 1979 First Game at Joe Louis Arena Hockey Program Joe Louis Arena was an arena in Downtown Detroit. Completed in 1979 at a cost of US$57 million as a replacement for Olympia Stadium, it sat adjacent to Cobo Center on the bank of the Detroit River and was accessible by the Joe Louis Arena station on the Detroit People Mover. The venue was named after former heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis, who grew up in Detroit Peter Mahovlich on