Little Caesars Arena Earns ‘Sports Facility of the Year,’ Among Other Top Honors Since Debut
In just under a year, Little Caesars Arena has seized the attention of the sports and entertainment industry with its innovative design and state-of-the-art amenities, garnering numerous awards in several categories.
Since its September 2017 debut, the Ilitch organization and partners have earned a dozen top honors for design, construction management, popularity and overall merit.
Recently, the sports industry’s leading weekly trade magazine, Sports Business Journal, named Little Caesars Arena the “Sports Facility of the Year.” Announced in New York City in May, the prestigious award sought to honor an outstanding new, renovated or established facility in the U.S.
The Sports Business Journal noted that the arena gave the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons a new home in the heart of the city and has helped drive the city’s revival.
“Our vision for what Little Caesars Arena could offer to fans, players, artists and community members drove us to create something very special and highly innovative. Every aspect of Little Caesars Arena was designed to enhance the guest experience, and we appreciate that those efforts continue to be recognized,” said Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Other notable awards won include the Association of General Contractors’ 2018 Construction Risk Partners Build America Award earned by Barton Malow/Hunt-White for its management of the arena construction.
Boasting a deconstructed design with state-of-the-art technology, the arena includes a 600-foot-long jewel skin projection screen and one of the largest center-hung scoreboards in the world. The venue also features four full-service restaurants, office space for Olympia Entertainment and Google employees, and Chevrolet Plaza, an outdoor venue that features a 900-square-foot video board for community events and pre-game activities.
To date, Little Caesars Arena has welcomed 2.3 million guests during more than 150 ticketed events. It is also the only arena in the country to claim SAFETY Act certification, the highest level of protection awarded by U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
As the anchor in the rapidly-growing The District Detroit development, the arena will soon be joined by additional office, retail and historic renovation projects that are expected to deliver $1.4 billion in new investment to the community.
Here’s a list of awards won by Little Caesars Arena:
- Hour Detroit magazine: Best Sign of a Detroit Comeback (The District Detroit/Little Caesars Arena), June 2018
- Crain’s Detroit Business: Best in Class: Real Estate: Project of the Year, June 2018
- Sports Business Awards: Sports Facility of the Year, May 2018
- Michigan Meetings & Events magazine: Best Sports Venue, Spring 2018
- MondoStadia Awards: MondoStadia Sporting Venue award, April 2018
- National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC): Award for Outstanding Project Over $1 Million (awarded to Barton Malow),
- Association of General Contractors: Best New Construction Management Project, February 2018
- Association of General Contractors: Construction Management – New (Michigan chapter), January 2018
- Michigan Concrete Association Michigan Awards of Excellence: Mega Projects category, February 2018
- Associated General Contractors: 2017 Build Michigan Award, February 2018
- ACEC/M Surveying Merit Award (awarded to Spalding DeDecker), March 2018
- 2017 Lyftie Award Winner by Lyft: Most Visited Event Space, December 2017
About The District Detroit
The District Detroit is a dynamic urban destination in the heart of Detroit. One that includes something for everyone—a dense neighborhood experience with a variety of developments alongside Detroit’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Connecting downtown Detroit to growing nearby neighborhoods such as Midtown, Corktown and Brush Park, The District Detroit is having a dramatic economic impact on Detroit and is a driving catalyst of the city’s remarkable resurgence. The District Detroit will deliver $1.4 billion in new investment to Detroit including the new Little Caesars Arena, Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University and Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion. Additionally, new office, residential and retail spaces will continue to add momentum to Detroit’s amazing comeback for years to come.