Hockeytown Hit Hard by the NHL Lockout

The NHL lockout forced the cancellation of the 2013 Winter Classic.

This weekend, downtown Detroit should have been filled with hockey fans enjoying the Hockeytown Winter Festival and buzzing about the NHL Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium on New Year’s Day. But alas, the NHL lockout forced the cancellation of both events, robbing people in Detroit and across North America of what has become a major event.

The lockout is now more than three months old and, as of this writing, has led to the cancellation of 21 Red Wings home games at Joe Louis Arena, in addition to the Winter Classic. As you can imagine, that’s hurting businesses around the arena that depend on customers stopping in before or after games, as well as others throughout Detroit that rely on people coming in to watch the games with friends. The Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau says each game generates $1.9 million in economic impact downtown.

While there will be die-hard fans who will show up to games and follow their team no matter what, not all fans are so forgiving. According to the Detroit News, there’s been a noticeable long-term drop in the amount of fans who feel “passionate” about the NHL. Which segment do you fall into? Are you a die-hard Wings fan who will be at the Joe whenever they drop the puck next, whether it’s in a few weeks or next October? Or have you lost interest because of another prolonged work stoppage in the NHL? Or do you just not care either way?

Red Wings fans at bar — Normally this time of year, bars and restaurants are filled with Red Wings fans.

Whatever category you belong to, one thing you can do to help minimize the damage is to go to your local watering hole or your favorite restaurant and have dinner or a couple drinks with your friends. The place could probably use some extra business, especially if they’re normally packed with Red Wings fans this time of year.

If you normally go to Red Wings games or watch them at sports bars, what have you been doing instead with your free time? Are you following the Lions or Pistons more closely? Are you spending your “entertainment dollars” differently or just saving that money? Let us know in the comments section below.

–Scott

Season of Giving: U-Haul Helps Arizona Charities at Christmas

Santa’s “nice list” in Arizona grew especially long this past holiday season, as U-Haul® Team Members and their families throughout the Valley cheerfully donated their time and resources to help those less fortunate. Team Members filled the month of December with...

Planting Detroit: U-Haul funds Tree planting in Rouge Park

Through funding from U-Haul and U-Haul customers to The Conservation Fund's Go Zero program, 450 trees were planted in Rouge Park in Detroit on September 28. The volunteers came by foot, cars, buses and planes - nearly 200 of them, to plant 450 trees in the...

detroit Detroit Red Wings hockey Hockeytown lockout NHL NHL lockout NHL Winter Classic Toronto Maple Leafs

What’s New

U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage to Springfield Flood Victims

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container use to residents impacted by flooding across the Springfield area following days of heavy rainfall and severe storms throughout southwest Missouri. Powerful...

30 Days Free Storage Offered to Chicagoland Residents Impacted by Storms

Five U-Haul® Companies across the Chicagoland area are offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container use at 60 U-Haul stores for residents who have been, or stand to be, impacted by the severe weather slamming the region this week. Fast-moving storms...

U-Haul Sponsors Event to Build Beds for Children in Need

A group of U-Haul® volunteers recently spent a Saturday morning at the Sleep in Heavenly Peace workshop in Phoenix to help fulfill the nonprofit’s mission: “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town!” Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) Phoenix has been serving the needs of...

Tribute Journey Afternoon Tea Honors Gold Star Families in NYC

U-Haul® representatives, distinguished veterans, and active-duty military members paid tribute to Gold Star Families and others who have lost loved ones in the line of service during a special Memorial Day weekend event at the New York Stock Exchange. Before U-Haul...

Reyes Rings Bell for U-Haul at the New York Stock Exchange

U-Haul Holding Co.® graciously accepted the honor of ringing in Memorial Day weekend on Friday, May 22, presiding over the New York Stock Exchange’s closing bell ceremony. Sebastien Reyes, President of A&M Associates, the advertising and marketing wing of U-Haul...

Game-Changer: U-Haul Debuts 29-Foot Truck to Make Moving Easier

There is a new titan of moving trucks on the roads thanks to the latest U-Haul® vision for a vehicle that is easier to load, drive and move a lot more stuff. The U-Haul “Easy Mover” (EM) truck with a 29-foot-long cargo space arrives just in time for the busy summer...

Sandy Fire: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage to Simi Valley Evacuees

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container use at two Company facilities near Simi Valley for residents who have already been displaced or may be impacted by the Sandy Fire. The fast-spreading brush fire broke out late Monday morning near...

Nebraska Tornado: U-Haul Offers 30 Days Free Storage in Grand Island

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container use at two Company facilities in Grand Island for residents impacted by a large tornado that struck north of the city on Sunday evening. A tornado touched down near St. Libory in Howard County,...

Minnesota Wildfires: U-Haul Offers Disaster Relief at 3 Stores

U-Haul® is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container use at three Company facilities in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin for residents displaced by wildfires burning in Crow Wing and Lake Counties. Two large fires have forced evacuations across...