Hockeytown

Hockeytown is a nickname for the city of Detroit, Michigan, which arose in 1996 thanks to a marketing campaign by the city's NHL franchise, the Detroit Red Wings. The nickname, over time, has gained national and international recognition. The "Hockeytown Cafe" in Detroit commemorates the nickname. The Red Wings organization did research prior to adopting this title to see if they could make this claim. Nicholas Cotsonika writes about this in Red Wings Essential: Everything you need to know to be a real Red Wings Fan. Cotsonika mentions that the Red Wings have won more championships then any other US based NHL team, iconic players like Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay played for the Red Wings as the justification for the Red Wings to adopt this nickname. Professional hockey began in the state of Michigan. The nickname has become a point of pride for Red Wings fans as the NHL acknowledges in their own publications.

"Hockeytown, USA" is a registered trademark of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the Red Wings.

Other Uses

Warroad, Minnesota has also been called Hockeytown, USA over four decades prior to the Red Wings' use of the name. Michael Farber, in a December 4, 2007 article published in Sports Illustrated, searched for additional cities that could also be called "Hockeytown" in the USA. Farber's list included focuses on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Buffalo, New York and Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Mayor of Pittsburgh Luke Ravenstahl wanted usage of the "Hockeytown" moniker included in a bet over the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick refused. His staff stated that "We can't do the Hockeytown bet... that is a trademark and a brand" and that the name is a trademark of the Red Wings.