Europia!

By the time I reach 34 years old, I will have officially step foot on 20 different countries and two sovereign American territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).  While it would be nice to become the youngest person to have visited every country in the World, I am still very appreciative of the amount of International travel I have done up to this point.

Heading to the Airport for my first Europe trip!

What surprises me the most is the amount of International travel I have done as I thought I would never get to do this much when I was a teenager.  It was that fear I had at the age of 15 that influenced me to take my first trip to Europe.

Touring the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Growing up in a small town, my high school only had about 500 students at the time.  As such, it was much easier to get to know your fellow classmates and teachers on a more personal level.  Such was the case with my French teacher whose classes I took throughout my high school career.

Group shot in front of the Parthenon

Every year he would organize an annual Spring Break trip to Europe, which would typically include a few days in Paris followed by a few days in some other major European city.  The trips were open to any student in the school, but the 10 day tours usually cost around $2,000 CDN.  Let’s just say most 15 year olds do not typically have $2,000 readily available in their bank accounts.  I know I certainly didn't have the money at the time, so my goal was to save up enough to be able to go on this class trip at least once in high school.  There was no way I could go on more trips than that.  Or was there?

Group tour of Delphi, Greece

One day as I was walking past my French classroom during one of my breaks, my teacher had just stepped outside in the hallway and greeted me.

“Ray, old buddy!  Old pal!  How are you?” he would typically greet me with.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he asked me if I was interested in going on the Europe trip that year, which included a few days in Athens and a few days in Paris.  There were still a few spots open, and being one of his top students in class, he thought I would appreciate this opportunity.

Halfway up Chambord Castle in Loire Valley, France

“Well, I'm actually thinking about going next year when I have some more money saved up.  So, unfortunately I can’t go this year since I don’t have the money,” I replied.

“Hmm … have you tried asking your parents to see if they might be able to help?” he asked.

While my parents have always been supportive of my interests, I wasn't sure if they would have $2,000 to loan me for this trip.

“Well, you can always try asking and see if they might be able to help.  Doesn't hurt, right?”

Posing in front the Eiffel Tower

That’s a good point.  What’s the worst that could happen?  My parents say no because they can’t.  That very same day when I came home from school, my parents asked me how my day went.  I told him about the conversation I had with my teacher.

“Well, how badly do you really want to go?” they asked me.

“It’s not the end of the world if I don’t go since I plan on saving up to go next year, but it would be nice.”

After a few moments of silence, my parents agreed to pay for this trip on the condition that if I decide that I want to go again in high school that I pay for it on my own.

Posing for a photo in beautiful Monaco

My jaw literally dropped at that moment.  Never in a million years would I have expected my parents to do that for me!  They already did so much for my Brother and I at that point in our childhood by paying for our sports leagues, clothes, and family trips to Disney World -- among other nice luxuries around the house – and I know they don’t make a lot of money to begin with.

Backpacking in Ventimiglia, Italy

We agreed to those terms, and I promptly went to my teacher the next morning to pick up the registration form for this trip.  Little did I realize at that moment how much this experience would change me.  It was during this trip that the notorious travel bug bit me!

Munich, Germany

Fearful that I would never get these types of opportunities again in the future, I not only lived up to my promise of paying for my trip in Grade 11, but I also saved up enough money to go to Europe again in Grade 12.  Within two years of high school, I had already been to Europe three times whereas most people never get there at all.

"Hitch-hiking" at the Germany-Austria border

France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Monaco, Italy and Greece were all names I was familiar with in the World Almanac that I had as a child or by watching the Olympic Games through the years.  But, I never imagined I would set foot in all of them before I became an adult.  Lichtenstein was the only country I never knew existed until my third Europe trip during Grade 12.

Spice Girls sighting in Liechtenstein

How did I do it?  Through dedication and hard work!  After that first trip, I ended up getting a part-time job at a local restaurant washing dishes and busing tables.  I picked up as many shifts as I could – including working double shifts on the weekends or in the Summer when I could – and only used the tips I made as my weekly spending money.  It was pretty difficult to spend money to begin with when you are working every weekend or playing sports most week nights.  But, nothing was going to stand in my way to visit Europe as much as possible in high school.  And that dedication and passion for travel has stayed with me today.

Lucerne, Switzerland

As I sit here patiently counting down the days to my 2014 World Cup trip, I now realize it was that brief conversation with my French teacher in the hallway that lead me to where I am today.  Without his encouragement nor the support of my parents, I don’t know if I would even be writing this blog.

Group photo atop Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland

If you are reading this and have children of your own, then please consider encouraging them to go on these types of class trips if they are available.  It’s more than just a trip as you can tell by the life skills I developed as a result.  I don’t know how to properly thank my parents, but I will pay it forward to my own children one day.  That I can promise you!

How to Apply for FIFA World Cup Tickets

Without a doubt, Soccer is the World’s #1 sport.  Teams from around the world have competed every four years for the FIFA World Cup, which is one of the most popular International sporting events since its inauguration in 1930.  The 2014 FIFA World Cup will no doubt be the most popular edition yet because it is being hosted in Brazil - winners of 5 previous World Cups --- the most accumulated by any country in the 84-year-old history of this prestigious tournament.

That being said, tickets for this tournament will be difficult to come by and I was fortunate to get some for my Girlfriend and me.  FIFA has some stringent rules to make sure fans from around the World have a fair and reasonable opportunity to attend.  Since this is the first – and possibly the last – World Cup I will go to, I thought it would be of value to those who want to know how you go about getting World Cup tickets.

Where can you buy FIFA World Cup Tickets?
First things first – FIFA does not have any official ticketing agency that sells World Cup tickets.  Any tour company or ticketing agency that claims to “guarantee” World Cup tickets as part of their packages must be taken with a grain of salt.  FIFA’s policy is for fans to buy tickets directly from FIFA itself.  The way to do this is to go to their official website and create a Membership Account. This will allow you to apply for tickets, as well as keep you posted about ticketing information when it becomes available.

Official FIFA Website

What information do I need to apply for World Cup tickets?
You need to submit an application form that asks basic information such as full name, mailing
address, citizenship, Passport number, and credit card information.  If you plan on attending with guests, then you will also be required to give their contact info and Passport numbers.

What World Cup tickets can I apply for?
That is a great question, and requires a two-part answer as it is somewhat complicated.

First of all, there are four Category types of tickets:  Category 1 - Category 4.  Category 4 tickets would be the equivalent to "nose bleeds" where you will be sitting in the upper parts of the Stadium while Category 1 tickets are areas located closest to the pitch.  I applied for Category 1 tickets, but you are given the option to move a category below if they are still available if your requested category tickets are not.

Because FIFA wants to guarantee a fair and adequate distribution of tickets to the host Nation's citizens, Category 4 tickets are typically reserved for them.  When I applied for World Cup 2014 tickets, Category 4 tickets were specifically reserved for Brazilian citizens only.  There were some discounted pricing for those with disabilities or with limited financial means, such as Students and Senior citizens.  Thus, I could only apply for tickets in Category 1 - Category 3.

Secondly, there are three types of tickets you can buy - Individual, Team Specific or Venue Specific matches.  In my case, I applied for Individual tickets as I was indifferent as to which teams I wanted to see since Canada did not qualify.  I also booked a two-week tour of Brazil during the Opening Round, which limited me to which matches I could see during my spare time as it was largely contingent on my tour itinerary.

Of course, Team Specific tickets are a popular route for those fans whose countries typically qualify for World Cup time and again, such as England, Italy, Spain or the United States.  FIFA allows you to buy up to 7 matches in this case, and it is a great way to save a bit of money if you buy tickets in bulk instead of individually.

If you plan to base yourself in one of the host cities during your entire stay, then you may want to choose the Venue Specific route instead.  Just like Team Specific tickets, you can save a bit of money by purchasing tickets in bulk for one specific venue during the tournament.  Keep in mind, though, that each city hosts a different amount of matches during the course of the month-long tournament. So, the maximum amount of tickets you can buy is based purely on the number of games each city hosts (e.g. Curitiba is hosting 4 matches whereas Brasilia is hosting 6).

How much do World Cup tickets cost?
World Cup 2014 ticket prices are pretty much similar to the prices for World Cup 2010 in South Africa.  I imagine ticket prices will stay roughly the same for Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

That being said, here are the ticket prices for the 2014 World Cup:

Tournament Stage	Match Number	CAT 1	CAT 2	CAT 3	Disabled Access
Opening Match	1	$495	$330	$220	$220
Group Stages	2-48	$175	$135	$90	$90
Round of 16	49-56	$220	$165	$110	$110
Quarter-Finals	57-60	$330	$220	$165	$165
Semi-Final	61-62	$660	$440	$275	$275
3rd/4th Place Match	63	$330	$220	$165	$165
World Cup Final Match	64	$990	$660	$440	$440

The prices listed above are for Individual match tickets only.  There is slightly different pricing for Team Specific and Venue Specific tickets, which most likely differ for each World Cup tournament.  For Team Specific packages, expect to pay around $3,000+ US if you select Category 1 tickets for up to 7 matches.  For Venue Specific matches, budget around $1250+ US for Category 1 tickets.

When can I buy World Cup tickets?
Typically, World Cup tickets will go on Sale within 12 months of the tournament start date, but sometime after the Confederations Cup.  The Confederations Cup is essentially a warm-up tournament held one year before World Cup.

The difference here is that only the top teams from each Regional association plus the previous World Cup champion and host Nation compete in this tournament.  This tournament is limited to a total of 8 teams.  My advice here is to sign up for a FIFA Account well in advance as they give updates about the ticket Sales process as they become available.

How does the Sales process work?
A lottery system determines ticket allocation in the months leading up to the tournament.  Usually, there are three phases for this lottery followed by three phases of a “first come – first serve” process.

With respect to World Cup 2014, the following timelines were applied:

Phase	Random Lottery Draw	First Come - First Serve
Stage 1	August 20 - October 10, 2013	November 5 - November 28, 2013
Stage 2	December 8, 2013 - January 30, 2014	February 26 - April 1, 2014
Stage 3	N/A	April 15 - July 15, 2014

How do I know if I got tickets in the Lottery Draw?

FIFA makes it a policy to let all applicants know their status via email or SMS text about their ticket status. However, you can also check your FIFA Account if you wish.

Successful confirmation of my World Cup application!

Can't I just buy tickets from a scalper when I get there?
As with any sporting event, scalpers will be around during the World Cup.  While it is quite possible that you can buy tickets from scalpers, be aware that when you apply for World Cup tickets, FIFA not only puts a limit on the amount of tickets you can buy (up to four tickets each for 7 matches maximum), but they also need you to give the name of each guest you are buying for including their Passport numbers.  Basically, the old adage of "buyer beware" will most certainly apply in this case.

Are there any other ways I can get World Cup tickets?
The other option to consider is to buy last-minute tickets (if available).  For fans who purchased Team Specific tickets, it is possible for them to return any unused tickets to the allotment if their team fails to advance to the later Stages of the tournament.

Similarly, there might be situations where successful ticket applicants are unable to attend the matches that they applied for and can return tickets to the allotment.  FIFA’s Ticket & Resale platform is the venue you can use to officially resell your tickets, which they set up closer towards the tournament dates.

Where and when can I pick up my tickets?
Tickets can either be mailed to you physically (except for Disabled Access tickets) or picked up at any of the official Ticketing Venues in the host cities.  Tickets are typically printed no sooner than a couple of months before the Opening Match.

Well, there you have it folks!  This is all the basic info you need to apply for World Cup tickets. While it seems like an arduous and complicated process it really is not.  This is probably the best way to guarantee a fair and reasonable way to distribute tickets, as well as make sure no matches are under-attended.

If any of you have any other experiences or tips from past World Cup tournaments that you would like to share or if you are also attending World Cup 2014 and found some other ways to get tickets successfully, then I would love to hear about it.  See you in Brazil!

Thirsty Tales - Downtown Detroit’s Top 4 Bars

Detroit may not be the first choice for a weekend getaway for most travelers, but what it lacks in attractions, it more than makes up for it in its nightlife.  I was really looking forward to spending some time in Detroit before the Winter Classic, especially to check out the bar scene as I had heard that Motor City had quite the eclectic choice for any type of drinker.  Even though my time was limited, I had more than my fair share of fun in these five downtown bars!

Downtown Detroit

Tiger Club

This private, luxurious restaurant is only accessible to members when it is open during the Detroit Tigers’ baseball season.  But since Comerica Park was hosting an AHL Outdoor game as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival, this club was open to anyone with a ticket on this particular day.

Tiger Club

What made this bar stand out in my opinion were the views it gave of Comerica Park.  We had a bird’s eye-view of the hockey rink below us, and in some ways, it felt like we were watching from a luxury box suite in an arena.  It was also the first official bar I had ever visited in Detroit even though I had been here a couple of times before for a Tigers game and a Sales retreat.

  

Cheli’s Chili Bar

This was a bar that I definitely wanted to check out as I first heard about it years ago at a Sales retreat I had in Detroit.  One of the Sales Managers, who lived in the area, told me this was a popular bar for Tigers fans to drink at as it was also owned by Chris Chelios – a former member of the Detroit Red Wings.

Cheli's Chili Bar

Following the Marlies’ 4 – 3 overtimes shootout win over the Grand Rapids Griffins, I convinced Nick that we should at least go to this bar for a quick pint.  At the very least, we could always go to a different bar if Cheli’s was dead.

Nick catching some hockey highlights in Cheli's Chili Bar

Sure enough, Cheli’s was dead when we walked in.  However, it wasn’t all that surprising that it was late December, and its popular amenity – the rooftop patio – was closed at this time of the year.  While Nick nursed his beer as he watched some hockey highlights on the television, I walked around the bar for a bit to admire some of the architecture and memorabilia on the walls.  Despite the lackluster environment, I think this is definitely a bar I will need to visit again in the future when I am in town for a Tigers game.

Back entrance to Cheli's Chili Bar

Hockeytown

Hockeytown is not only one of my favourite bars in Detroit, but one of my favourite bars of all time!  This two story café pays homage to the beloved Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.  It is also the bar of choice for Red Wings fans.

Hockeytown Cafe

In fact, this place got really packed shortly after the AHL Outdoor game – which explains why Chili’s was dead – and was at near capacity during the two NHL Alumni Games held at Comerica Park on New Year’s Eve when Nick and I were here for a second time.

Joe Bowen – The Voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Good beer, good food, and a good atmosphere all help to make this the best bar in Detroit in mind opinion.  It was also cool that I got to meet Joe Bowen – the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs!

Grand Trunk Pub

While looking for Grand Trunk Pub, Nick and I stumbled up Campus Martius Park – home of the annual D-Drop.  Now that we knew where we needed to go for New Year’s Eve, Nick wanted us to pop inside the Grand Trunk Pub for a quick drink before calling it a night.  That’s correct – in only our first night in Detroit, we managed to hit up the Tiger Club, Cheli’s Chili Bar, and Hockeytown for drinks.  Yikes!

Grand Trunk Pub

The Grand Trunk Pub dates back to 1879 when it was originally the Traub Bros. & Company jewellery store.  At one point in time, this building was used as a ticket office for the Grand Trunk Railway, which is where this pub got its name.  A couple of reasons why you should consider stopping by this pub if you are in downtown Detroit are for its 19th Century architecture and its 170+ craft beers.

The beautiful interior of the Grand Trunk Pub

Hard Rock Café Detroit    

One of my favourite guilty pleasures when travelling is visiting the Hard Rock Café if there is a location within the city I am in.  This obsession started back in high school when I went to the Paris location.  My love for the Hard Rock has more to do with the memorabilia displayed at these restaurants rather than the food being served.

Hard Rock Cafe Detroit

On our second day in Detroit, I made it my mission to visit Hard Rock Café Detroit.  Located near Campus Martius Park, the Hard Rock Café Detroit is unlike any other Hard Rock Café I have been to before.  It was very exciting to see some of Detroit’s biggest music stars being honoured at this location – everyone from Ted Nugent and Diana Ross to Madonna and Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" Braille Tour Book

With the limited time we had in Detroit, these were the four bars we managed to check out during our visit.  There a few other bars that I really wanted to check out, but none of them were close to downtown Detroit.  I may have to visit again in the future to do a report on those, but for now, this list should help you quench your thirst if you find yourself in Motown!

Hockeytown Winter Festival Part 2 - The AHL Outdoor Game at Comerica Park

In the days leading up to the Winter Classic, Nick and I had a couple of days to enjoy what Detroit had to offer.  We already checked out the Hockeytown Winter Festival, and made plans to check out the D-Drop while we were here.  Because we bought our Winter Classic tickets via a tour group, we also had the opportunity to watch the American Hockey League outdoor game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Toronto Marlies.

Tickets to the AHL Outdoor Game & 2014 NHL Winter Classic

In case you are not familiar with the American Hockey League (AHL), it is the second-highest level of professional hockey within North America – the highest being the National Hockey League (NHL).  The two teams playing in this particular outdoor match – the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Toronto Marlies – are the AHL affiliates of the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs respectively.  While the AHL does not typically host outdoor games on its own, this game was one of a few outdoor hockey games (NHL Alumni and Ontario Hockey League) scheduled as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival.

View from our seats during the AHL Outdoor Game

The host venue for this AHL game was Comerica Park – home of the Detroit Tigers baseball club.  While past Winter Classic games have been held in Major League Baseball stadiums, the 2014 edition was slated for Michigan Stadium as part of a Guinness World Record attempt to hold the largest outdoor hockey game in the world.  With over 110,000 seats within Michigan Stadium, this attempt was viable.

Toronto Marlies take an early 1-0 lead

The NHL Alumni games – yes, there were two Alumni games scheduled this year instead of the typical one game – were also held at Comerica Park.  However, Nick and I did not want to spend the extra money to get those tickets hoping we could visit some of the local Detroit attractions instead being our first time staying in the city.  So, it was a delight that we were able to experience a little hockey action in Comerica Park with the AHL Outdoor game.

Jamie Devane vs. Triston Grant

To be quite honest, this was my first American Hockey League game ever, so I wasn’t familiar with any of the players on either team, except for Jordin Tootoo.  He is the first Inuk player from Nunavut to play in the NHL.  At the time he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings, but sent down to the AHL to play with the Griffins for awhile.

Toronto Marlies vs. Grand Rapids Griffins

Our tickets were in the centre field area of Comerica Park, but we still had a decent view of the match.  From the looks of it, the stadium was very empty – like half of it.  Turns out attendance for the game was 20,337 although I would have pegged it closer toward 10,000 or 15,000 with all the empty seats in the stadium.  Plus, it was bloody cold!  I imagine many fans chose to stay home instead of coming to the game.

Zambonis ready to resurface the ice at the end of the period

By the end of the first period, Nick suggested we head up to the Tiger Club for a bite to eat and to warm up.  Good call!  My dinner was pretty simple – a burger with chips.  No, not “chips” as in fries like they are called in England, but actual potato chips.  Gotta love the American diet!

My dinner at the Tiger Club

I also ordered a bottle of Batch 19 Pre-Prohibition Style Lager to wash my meal down.  It was alright, but I wouldn’t say it was the most memorable craft beer I have ever had.  In reality, I just ordered it based on the name of it alone given Detroit’s position to be an easy place to bootleg beer from Canada during the Prohibition era.

Toronto Marlies vs. Grand Rapids Griffins

For the rest of the game, we ended up watching it in the comforts of the Tiger Club.  Our view of the ice was incredible as we could see the entire length of the ice.  The game ended up going to overtime with the score 3 – 3.  Since five minutes of extra time did not result in any different result, a shootout was necessary to decide a winner.  It was also a foreshadowing of what was to come later on at the Winter Classic.

Toronto Marlies win 4 – 3 in the Overtime Shootout!

In the end, the Toronto Marlies pulled out the 4 – 3 win in the shootout.  We would go on to celebrate the win at a couple of nearby bars, including Hockeytown.  Things were shaping out nicely in these last few days of 2013.

Hockeytown Winter Festival Part 1 - Coke Zero Fan Zone

Once our tour group checked in at the St. Regis Hotel, we headed to downtown Detroit to check out the Hockeytown Winter Festival.  As part of the build up to the Winter Classic, this free outdoor festival allowed fans to partake in some good, ol’ fashioned fun.

Hockeytown Winter Festival

Located right across from Comerica Park, the Hockeytown Winter Festival took up a whole city block.  This was perfect for us as we had tickets to the American Hockey League outdoor game that night between the Toronto Marlies and the Grand Rapids Griffins.  It came with the tour package that we bought through Elite Sports Tours when Nick and I decided to buy Winter Classic tickets.

Hockeytown Winter Festival

Here are some of the highlights we experienced during the Hockeytown Winter Festival.

Getting a Photo with the Comerica Park Tiger Statue

Comerica Park – home to the Detroit Tigers baseball club – was responsible for hosting some key events during the Winter Festival, including the two Alumni games between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Fans getting a photo with the Tiger statue

To commemorate this occasion, the giant tiger statue at the main entrance to Comerica Park was adorned with an over-sized Red Wings jersey.  Needless to say, many fans stood in line to get photos with the awesome display.

Red Wings Experience

The first thing that Nick and I decided to check out was the Red Wings Experience.  Upon entrance, we saw an artist painting a huge canvass that paid homage to the 2014 Winter Classic and Hockeytown Winter Festival.

The Red Wings Experience

As we continued to walk around the tent, we saw line-ups for air hockey and bubble hockey tables.  Since we only had about an hour or two to kill before the AHL Outdoor Hockey game, we didn’t linger too long in this tent.  Alcohol was available, but we grabbed some Coke Zero instead as it was free given Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of the Winter Festival.  There was also a small stage near the front for music acts to play, but there was a break in the schedule while Nick and I were here.

Air Hockey game in progress at the Red Wings Experience

Snowzilla Mobile Tubing Slide

The name of this exhibit speaks for itself.  Right near the front entrance to the festival is a large inflatable tubing slide for young kids to play on.  Even though I like to believe that I am still “a kid at heart,” I gave this slide a pass for obvious reasons.

Street Hockey Rink

Across from the Red Wings Experience was a street hockey rink.  I believe there was a $5 fee to play for a set amount of time, and you had to register at the tent in front of the rink.  Neither Nick nor I were wearing appropriate attire to play some pick up street hockey, but this was definitely fun to watch for a few minutes.

Inflatable Toronto Maple Leafs Puck

Hockey Hall of Fame Tent

Next to the ball hockey rink was the Hockey Hall of Fame tent.  The lineup to get in were ridiculously long – anywhere from 20 – 45 minutes – and because we live in Toronto and can visit the Hockey Hall of Fame anytime we want, Nick and I just went in for a quick peek once the festival was about to close up for the afternoon.  Among the memorabilia displayed in the tent, getting your photo taken with the Stanley Cup was the biggest highlight for this exhibit.

Coke Zone Fan Zone at the Hockeytown Winter Festival

Synthetic Ice Surface Open Skate

We came across another rink at the Winter Festival, but this time, it was open skating rink that used synthetic ice.  Skate rentals were about $5/hour, but we gave this a pass, as well.  Time was running out on us before the AHL Outdoor game, and we still wanted to spend some time checking out Molson Canadian Hockey House.

Molson Canadian Hockey House

Canadians are quite familiar with the Molson Canadian Hockey House as this exhibit is usually found at any major sporting event, like the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  The House welcomes fans with an over-sized maple leaf entrance.

Molson Canadian Hockey House

Once inside, you basically can plop your butt at the main bar and watch the World Junior Hockey Championships in this case.  Otherwise, there are some additional games that you can play, like air hockey and bubble hockey.

Watching the World Juniors at Molson Canadian Hockey House

At the time of the 2014 Winter Classic, there was a famous commercial airing in Canada in the preceding months where Molson would randomly drop off fridges around the world.  If you were the owner of a Canadian passport, then you could scan it in the fridge to open it up and have yourself a free bottle of Molson Canadian.

Wishing I had my Passport with me to scan!

This commercial was a huge hit back home, and sure enough, the Molson Canadian fridge was here at the Hockey House.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have my Passport on me or else I would have scanned it for a free beer!

Tickets to the AHL Outdoor Game & 2014 NHL Winter Classic

Aside from that, there was not much else going on at the Festival grounds.  A couple of hours was all that was needed here before we headed into Comerica Park for the AHL Outdoor game.  

Hard Rock Café Detroit - A Tribute to Motown

Growing up, I had three main passions – travel, sports, and music.  For some reason or another, I visited my first Hard Rock Café in Paris while on a high school trip.  Since then, I have begun collecting t-shirts, shot glasses, and other little trinkets along the way whenever I find a Hard Rock Café along my travels.  With a couple of days to kill in Detroit before the Winter Classic, I decided to check out Hard Rock Café in Detroit.  Established on November 10, 2003, Hard Rock Café Detroit is located right in downtown Detroit just a few blocks West of Hockeytown Café.  Specifically, it is located right across from Campus Martius Park where the annual D-Drop is held.

Hard Rock Cafe Detroit

Rather than review the food, I’d prefer to highlight some of the Rock n’ Roll memorabilia that you can find at this particular location.  And let’s be honest here – it’s really the memorabilia that draws in fans like me to this restaurant, anyway.

The Detroit Rock City Stained Glass Window

Right near the main entrance is a wall mural that just sticks out like a sore thumb.  You literally cannot miss it!  At first, I noticed the members of KISS.  But, upon closer inspection, I realized this mural paid homage to Detroit’s biggest musical acts, including Stevie Wonder, Kid Rock, the Supremes, Alice Cooper, and Ted Nugent.

The Detroit Rock City Stained Glass Window

Ted Nugent’s Guitar

Ted Nugent is about as “Michigan” as you can get with his love for hunting, his passion for guitar, and his hard line Republic views.  He definitely is a reflection of the middle class that lived in Detroit in its hey-day during the 50s and 60s.  At this particular Hard Rock Café, you can see his 1963 Gibson Byrdland that he used from early in his career up until 1975.  In fact, this guitar was used as a model for the entrance design for Hard Rock Café Detroit.

Ted Nugent's 1963 Gibson Byrdland

Alice Cooper’s Black Leather Jacket

Best known for hits like “School’s Out” and “I'm Eighteen,” Detroit’s “Godfather of Shock Rock” donated his black leather jacket to his hometown Café location.  I almost wanted to bow down to this piece of Alice Cooper memorabilia and shout out “we’re not worthy,” but I don’t know how many people in the restaurant would have remembered this Wayne’s World reference!

Alice Cooper's Black Leather Jacket

Stevie Wonder’s “Hotter Than July” Braille Tour Book

You can’t mention Stevie Wonder’s name without remembering the impact that Motown Records had on local Detroit R&B acts in the 1960s.  Blind since birth, Stevie Wonder has one of the biggest pop music influences of the later 20th Century.  As a kid, I remember listening to “I Just Called to Say I Love You” all the time on the radio, thus he was literally one of the first musical influences I had in my life.  It was pretty cool, then, to see his Braille tour book from his “Hotter Than July” tour, which detailed his day-to-day itinerary.

Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" Braille Tour Book

The Smokey Robinson Corner

First achieving fame with the Miracles back in the early 1960s, Smokey Robinson was one of the first musical acts signed by Motown Records.  He would eventually go on a long and prosperous career as both a writer and producer for the label, penning such hits as “My Girl” and “My Guy.”  The Hard Rock Café Detroit has several pieces of Smokey’s memorabilia, including hit records and a silk suit he once wore on a television show.

The Smokey Robinson Corner

Diana Ross’ Gold Dress

Detroit native, Diana Ross, achieved fame as lead vocalist for the Supremes in the 1960s and is one of the first Divas to achieve legendary status on a global scale.  Are you starting to notice a pattern here between the 1960s, Motown Records, and the rise of African-American musicians?  Such an epic time in pop culture!  Of course, I had to snap a picture of the gold dress she wore on the 1991 LP cover for “The Force Behind the Power.”

Diana Ross' Gold Dress

Sponge’s Autographed Guitar   

This was personally my favourite highlight of the memorabilia wall at Hard Rock Café Detroit.  A rather obscure Detroit band that had a couple of minor hits in the mid-to-late 90s with “Plowed” and “Wax Ecstatic,” Sponge was one of the few rock bands that I listened to in high school.  As my eyes laid upon this autographed guitar that they donated to the Café, a huge smile shone on my face as I reflected fondly back upon my teenage years.

Sponge's Autographed Guitar

The Madonna/Kid Rock/Eminem Corner

Rather than list each one separately, I figured I would put them all together at once.  As you exit Hard Rock Café Detroit, you will see a section dedicated to some of Detroit’s biggest musical acts in the modern era, particularly Madonna, Kid Rock, and Eminem.  Aside from some photos and records, you will have a chance to see one of Kid Rock’s guitars, Eminem’s blue running pants that he wore on the cover of Newsweek, and a dress once worn by Madonna back in the early 90s.

The Madonna/Kid Rock/Eminem Corner

Due to a lack of time, Nick and I never got the chance to visit the original Motown Records studio while we were in Detroit.  However, Hard Rock Café Detroit was a suitable alternative.  Of the 10+ Hard Rocks I have visited in the world, Detroit’s was hands down my favourite one so far simply because of the homage toward local musicians.

Hard Rock Cafe Detroit - Music for Life

To visit this café, you can find it here:

Hard Rock Café Detroit

45 Monroe Street

Detroit, MI 48226

Phone:  (313) 964-7625