Red Wings to Host Clearance Sale on Promotional Merchandise at Joe Louis Arena

Tom Higgins
Credit: Detroit Red Wings

This past July, the storied Joe Louis Arena in Detroit closed after nearly 40 years in operation. This must have been a bittersweet farewell for fans of the Detroit Red Wings, a team that had won the Stanley Cup four times while calling the “Joe” home. Luckily for the fans, however, the Red Wings have decided to host a clearance sale on promotional goods and other items at the old stadium on Saturday, December 23.

Fans who stop by at the Joe Louis Arena will be able to pick up memorabilia and collectibles such as signed pucks, framed photos and team-related signage, as well as miscellaneous items from the Joe itself. These items include suite furniture, red folding chairs and pieces of the actual lockers used by countless players over the years.

We’ve seen this sort of promotion before with the Kansas City Royals, who hosted a “garage sale” at their stadium this year in order to get rid of leftover promotional merchandise. These sorts of promotions prove the lasting power of branded goods. More often than not, a promotion will leave behind some surplus items, and those items will get stuck in storage somewhere until someone decides to throw them out.

Rather than resort to this type of wasteful behavior, however, it could be much more beneficial to give away or sell the items. If this fails, then so be it, the trash gets taken out every week. But if it works, it could be a great opportunity not only to give the leftover goods a sort of afterlife, but also to attract fans or clients looking for both a good deal and an opportunity to connect with your brand.

While it’s too early to tell whether the fans will come out in support of the Red Wings, if the popularity of the Royals’ “garage sale” is any indication, the promotion should be a huge success. After so many years and wins, there’s no doubt that fans will want to see the Joe Louis Arena at least one more time, and the promise of cool and unique items for sale can’t hurt. After all, who doesn’t like discounted items?

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