Jaunted

· Joe Louis Arena

Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, named after the famous boxer, has been the Red Wings' home since 1979. New stadium plans have been suggested, but for now, The Joe is still their home. With a seating capacity of over 20,000, it is definitely not a welcome place for opposing teams to get too rowdy.

The city of Detroit is all business when it comes to hockey, so there isn't a world of other attractions for taking the attention off the game. Drink your wine spritzers before you head to the game, as beer is the beverage of choice at this place. If you still don’t have tickets, check the scalpers outside as we're pretty sure some GM execs have given up their place within the arena's 86 luxury suites.

If you can’t get a ticket, even with the above advice, just go next door to the Hockeytown Cafe. The place is huge, will definitely have the game in high-definition, and you can drink yourself silly on bottled beers that cost nearly as much as those at the game.

· Mellon Arena

Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena has been alive and kicking since 1961, but its time is limited, as it will be replaced by the Consol Energy Center beginning in late 2010. Due to its unique design, Mellon is usually just referred to as The Igloo and is known for having the largest retractable stainless steel dome roof in the world, something that remains closed for the hockey games.

Creative concessions are pretty limited here, as Aramark runs the whole place. They brag about having favorites like Pizza Hut, but we’d recommend hitting up the nearest Primanti Brothers sandwich shop; it’s less than a mile's walk away on Cherry Way.

As with visits to any major sporting event, ensure that you fill up on the liquid courage early, so you can really tell the referees what you think. It's Penguin-policy to cut fans off at the beginning of the third period.

Related Stories:
· Joe Louis Arena [Official Site]
· Mellon Arena [Official Site]
· Sports coverage [Jaunted]

[Joe Louis Arena Photo: Wikimedia; Mellon Arena Photo: Wikimedia]