Red Wings Give Hard-Luck Detroit Reason to Cheer

As Detroit reels from the automotive crisis, a much-needed emotional uplift is coming from a dependable source: the Red Wings, currently in the Stanley Cup finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. We “are one of the good stories that are coming out of Detroit right now,” a Red Wings VP tells the New York Times. “It’s definitely something people can rally around.”

The recession and auto industry woes have made Red Wings tickets too pricey for many downtrodden fans, even with discounts and promotions. But a healthy Penguins contingent helped fill seats at last night's game, a 3-1 Detroit victory that stirred up $3 million in business. With GM filing for bankruptcy tomorrow, and the city expecting to lose millions in tax dollars, every game counts.
(More Detroit stories.)