Red Wings Face Saddledome Farewell A Decade After Joe Louis Arena’s Final Season

The Detroit Red Wings are set to play their final game against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The venue, which has hosted the Flames since October 1983, will close following the 2026-27 NHL season as the team prepares to move to the newly constructed Scotia Place next fall. The impending closure evokes memories of the Red Wings' final season at Joe Louis Arena a decade earlier.

The Saddledome served as the backdrop for numerous significant moments in Red Wings history, including the October 1995 debut of the iconic Russian Five unit. It was also a notable venue for 1997 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Mike Vernon, alongside dramatic playoff overtime encounters featuring Martin Gelinas in 2004 and Johan Franzen in 2007.