New Red Wings arena taking shape in downtown Detroit

DETROIT (WJBK) - Construction is moving along on the new Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit. FOX 2 took a walk around inside the property with members of the construction team. They say we're seeing the bones of the structure go up, and about a third is complete.

"We're right now on what's the event level," said Sean Hollister, senior construction manager. "Right behind me is actually where the ice surface will be for the 2017 season.

"We're also starting to bring the structural steel for the upper concourse and coming around to that area. And we're also starting to unload quite a few structural steel trucks today for the next phases of the work."

About 2,400 pieces of steel have been put out in place so far. That number will go up to 7,500 when it's all said and done, likely by the end of this year.

Fortunately, mother nature has been on our side.

"If we could keep it exactly like today, we would be in great shape," said Hollister. "But we know what to do with the snow if it does come down."

It may be hard to imagine where the ice, the seats and amenities right now by looking at dirt, equipment and steel.

Sean Hollister, gives us one vantage point.

"We're 40 foot below Woodward," he said. "So from that aspect, as you come in on Woodward and come into the main concourse of the new event center, you'll walk onto the main concourse and right down in, and what you can see it's an intimate bowl and you're going to be right in on the action."

More than 200 employees, half of them Detroit residents, are at the site six days a week making this a reality.

As you heard, weather has not been a factor, and everything seems to be on track for the Detroit Events Center, home of the red wings to open up in 2017.