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Joe Louis Arena: Saying good-bye to the heart of Hockeytown

It’s like going to see an old friend one last time.

Climb the steps to the entrance of Joe Louis Arena. Careful, those steps are steep and can leave you winded.

Through the metal detectors. Down the concrete concourse — it might be ugly, but it’s our ugly.

Take one last look around before the Red Wings move to Little Caesars Arena, a new home that will open in September.

Duck through one of the stiff, red plastic curtains — and the memories and emotions come flooding back.

Suddenly, it is June 7, 1997, and Steve Yzerman, with his missing front tooth, lifts the Stanley Cup — the organization’s first in 42 years.