Hockeytown wants a PWHL team
Players set up for a faceoff during the PWHL game at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, March 16, 2025. (Alana Dackiw/Elevated Media)
The PWHL Takeover Tour stop in Detroit was more than just another game. It was a statement. As the Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens faced off in front of a record-breaking crowd of 14,288, it became clear that Detroit is more than ready for its own professional women's hockey team. The game not only set a new U.S. attendance record for a professional women’s hockey game but also marked the league’s one-millionth fan milestone. Sirens forward Taylor Girard summed it up best: “I had chills skating out there and to see all the little girls in the stands wearing their home jerseys – it was a special touch.” The chants of "We want a team" echoing through the arena only reinforced what the numbers already show. Women's hockey has a home in HockeyTown.
Where Would a PWHL Detroit Team Play?
If the PWHL were to expand to Detroit, the biggest question is where they would play. Little Caesars Arena is the premier hockey venue in the city, hosting both the Red Wings and Pistons along with concerts and major events, but adding another full-time tenant could stretch scheduling and resources. While it would be the top choice for establishing a PWHL team as a major market franchise, it might not be a realistic long-term solution.
Wayne State University's facilities have worked for the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League, but it likely wouldn’t be sustainable given the league’s strong attendance during their Detroit tour dates. USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth could serve as a temporary solution due to its history of hosting hockey events, though its suburban location presents challenges for building a city-based fanbase. Another potential option is Huntington Place, formerly Cobo Arena, which briefly hosted the OHL’s Detroit Ambassadors and the 1994 U.S. Olympic trials. While the venue has a history with hockey, its interior was completely renovated in 2015 and repurposed as exhibit space, meaning a major overhaul would be needed to make it viable for a professional team.
The real answer may not be an existing venue but a new development altogether. With conversations heating up about bringing the WNBA back to Detroit, with Eminem and others voicing their support, there is a real opportunity to build a facility that could house both a new PWHL team and the Shock. A combined basketball and hockey venue could serve as the anchor for growing women's professional sports in the city.
A Perfect Time for Expansion
Detroit's passionate hockey culture is only part of the story. The city is seeing a surge in professional women's sports momentum. The effort to bring back the Shock has put a spotlight on the demand for high-level women's sports in Detroit, and the PWHL has the chance to be part of that movement. The Takeover Tour game proved beyond a doubt that fans will turn out in force for professional women's hockey. Now it is about making sure they have a team to support.
For years, Michigan has been a powerhouse in developing hockey talent, but the opportunities for women to continue playing at an elite level within the state have been lacking. Players like Abby Roque and Mellissa Channell-Watkins had to leave Michigan to play college hockey, and without an NCAA Division I women's program in the state, that reality is not changing any time soon. A professional team in Detroit would provide a new generation of players with role models to look up to and a team to aspire to play for. Channell-Watkins, who played in her home state as a pro for the first time, described it as “kind of a dream come true. Little Caesars Arena showed up. Everybody here has been so welcoming, and it's been such a great opportunity.”
Detroit has made its case. The fans have spoken. Now it is up to the PWHL to bring a team to HockeyTown.
