This Day in Hockey History – December 15, 1925, 1929, 1979 – We Three Rinks

New York, Chicago, and Detroit set December 15 as opening or closing night when moving into new rinks. In 1925, the New York Americans played their first game at the new Madison Square Garden. Four years later, in 1929, the Chicago Blackhawks inaugurated the new Chicago Stadium. Fifty years later, in 1979, the Detroit Red Wings bid farewell to Olympia Stadium before moving into the Joe Louis Arena.

1925-26 NY Americans, via Wikimedia Commons

The first NHL team in New York opened (the third) Madison Square Garden with a high-society affair with the full house of about 17,000 dressed for a night out. The New York Daily News predicted that it would be the “greatest throng that ever witnessed a hockey contest” and that judging by their enthusiasm, “professional hockey is an assured success in New York.” The Americans had already played their first game, in Pittsburgh, on December 2. For their first home game, Tex Rickard insisted they play the Montreal Canadiens, a decision he may have regretted once the Canadiens defeated the Americans 3-1 and brought home the Prince of Wales Trophy. However, of Madison Square Garden, the Daily News enthused, “Never before has hockey been staged in such a splendid setting.” It had an “ice field” of 185×85 feet that the audience would be able to see “no matter what part of the amphitheatre they may be seated in.”

Leading up to the game on December 15, 1925, the team conducted an exhibition at their workout on the morning before. That afternoon, the Royal Foot Guards of Governor General Lord Byng paraded up Broadway to City Hall. The day of the game, the Royal Foot Guards and the West Point Cadets marched up 5th Avenue from the Canadian Club to the Neurological Institute of New York at 2:30 for a concert. The game would be for the benefit of the Institute. Both groups led the musical program before the game by playing the national anthems of their respective countries. The pre-game and intermission performances included “a program of fancy skating by some of the foremost skaters, including the famous Charlotte and the team of Peterson and Charlotte.” Mayor Hylan performed the first ceremonial puck drop at Madison Square Garden.

Chicago Stadium 1930 [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

Detroit seemed to delay building and moving into each of their stadiums. It took them an extra year to actually begin playing in Detroit, at Olympia Stadium (and just six months later, Gordie “Mr. Hockey” Howe was born). After 52 years there and 1,790 home games, the Red Wings played there for the last time. Ironically, their opponents, the new-to-the-NHL Quebec Nordiques, were playing in Detroit for the first time. By that point, Olympia Stadium – a 4-story brick building a block wide and another long – was in the “inner city” and “sometimes the roof leaked and sometimes it was hard to find a clean, dry towel in the men’s room.” Bill McGraw wrote for the Detroit Free Press, “Hockey games at 14,200-seat Olympia in many fans’ memories have been characterized by big crowds, witty banners, a smoky atmosphere and aggressive behavior – by the fans if not always the players.” Uncertain whether Olympia would be torn down or sold to Wayne State University, Howe said, “Save me a brick.”

Olympia Stadium 1963

For their last game there, 15,609 fans entered Olympia Stadium “armed with banners (such as ‘Thanks for 7 Cups and 52 years of memories’), boat horns, toilet paper, eggs and a fish. Much of the garbage ended up on the ice during the game, delaying play many times.” The Nordiques pulled ahead scoring four goals before the Red Wings got on the board in the second period. They managed to tie to end the game at 4-4, and it was their second tie in a row. The fans “lingered after the game had ended, booed the mention of the Joe Louis Arena on the Olympia p.a., and listened to the organist play ‘Auld Lang Syne.’”

As for the new rink, Red Wings defenseman Reed Larson commented, “Nothing against the (Olympia) rink, but the new place looks beautiful on the water. It’ll be good for the crowd and players. This is getting a little dingy down here.” The city spent $28 million constructing the new Joe Louis Arena with 19,274 seats and no pillars. However, the seats would curve at a more gentle angle “so many fans will be farther away from the action.” The important thing was that the ice-making methods would not change, assured Louis Arena assistant general manager Art Whalen. “It’s the exact same system – we’re using hot, softened water.” The Red Wings would move in after four games on the road and played their first game at Joe Louis Arena against the St. Louis Blues on December 27, 1979.

 Additional Sources:

• Al Copland, “Hockey Says ‘Howdy’ to New York,” New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 1925, p. 36.
• Paul Gallico, “Canadiens Win Hockey Inaugural: Packed Garden Sees Thrilling Spectacle,” New York Daily News, 16 Dec. 1925, p. 44 and 48.
• “Blackhawks to Play in New Home Tonight,” Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec. 1929, p. 31 (2-3).
• Harland Rohm, “14,000 See Hawks Whip Pirates, 3 to 1,” Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 1929, p. 27-28.
• Bill McGraw, “Red Wings say farewell to Olympia tonight vs. Quebec,” Detroit Free Press, 15 Dec. 1979, 1C and 5C.
• Joe Lapointe, “It’s goodby to Olympia Stadium,” Detroit Free Press, 16 Dec. 1979, 1A and 19A.
• Bill McGraw, “Wings tie in Olympia farewell,” Detroit Free Press, 16 Dec. 1979, 1D and 8D.