World City Guide

Sport

Detroit is one of the few American cities that has a team in each of the four major spectator sports – ice hockey, baseball, basketball and football. The most recent team to bring home a championship was the Detroit Redwings ice hockey team (tel: (313) 396 7444; website: www.detroitredwings.com) in 1997. They play at Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Drive, in the heart of Downtown. The Detroit Tigers baseball team (tel: (313) 962 4000 or (313) 471 BALL/2255; website: www.detroittigers.com) recently moved to the new Comerica Park stadium, 2100 Woodward Avenue. The brand-new, state-of-the-art Ford Field, Brush Street and East Adams Avenue, located very near Comerica Park, will be home to the Detroit Lions (tel: (800) 616 7627; website: www.detroitlions.com), who play their first football game there on 24 August 2002. Detroit’s basketball team, the Pistons (tel: (248) 377 0100; website: www.detroitpistons.com), play at the Palace of Auburn Hills, 2 Championship Drive, Auburn Hills.

Information and tickets for all teams and games are available through their websites or box office telephone numbers; alternatively Ticketmaster (tel: (248) 645 6666; website: www.ticketmaster.com) also sells tickets for all games.

Fitness centres: The Eastside Family YMCA, 10100 Harper Avenue (tel: (313) 921 0770), is in the east of the city centre and offers a swimming pool, weight room, two gyms and racquetball courts. North of the city centre in Warren, the Ridgewood Center, 13333 Racine Street (tel: (586) 751 8080), offers facilities such as a track, pool and fitness room.

Golf: Although golf may be consigned to warmer months due to the harsh Michigan winters, it is nevertheless very popular. A number of courses exist in Downtown Detroit, including the Belle Isle Golf Course, Belle Isle Park (tel: (313) 852 4075 or 4186; US$15), which offers a nine-hole course on the picturesque Belle Isle. Palmer Park, Woodward Avenue (tel: (313) 883 2525; US$17), located closer to Downtown, offers an 18-hole course.

Tennis: The Eastside Tennis Club, 18201 East Warren Avenue (tel: (313) 886 2944), has six hard courts and two clay courts. The minimum fee is US$24. There is a surcharge of US$10 for a non-member, who must be accompanied by a member.