Viewers sometimes felt the red color scheme highlighted empty seats during Red Wings broadcastsGETTY IMAGES
Little Caesars Arena is "doing away with its red seats" and will begin a "months-long process of installing black seats" in December, according to Vince Ellis of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. During the change, the seats in Little Caesars Arena will be "covered with black seat covers for arena events." The red seats have been "noteworthy for highlighting empty seats" during Red Wings and Pistons broadcasts, though both teams "say fans are dispersed throughout the arena in clubs and bars." The installation of the new seats is "expected to be completed in phases" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/9). In Detroit, Beard & Paul note the main frame of the seats "will not be new," but workers will install "new vinyl black exterior and foam interiors." The red seats "became a public-relations nightmare" for the Red Wings and Pistons last season (DETROIT NEWS, 10/9). In Michigan, Ansar Khan noted Little Caesars Arena is making the "significant facelift" despite being "barely a year old" (MLIVE.com, 10/8). Grand Rapids-based Irwin Seating, the provider of the original seats, will handle the installation of the replacements (THE DAILY).
