The Detroit News’s Charles E. Ramirez notes that Joe Louis Arena’s demolition is coming along, and two of the cranes being used to demolish the facility are adorned with Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman’s names and jersey numbers:
“It’s a tribute to those two gentlemen,” said Nick Straub, general manager of Homrich, the company hired to take down the metal panels from the arena’s exterior. Based in Carleton, Homrich is demolition, remediation, and environmental contractor.
The company started the job about a week ago, according to city officials.
“It was put together by J.J. Curran,” Straub said. “We’re renting the cranes from them. It was done prior to us getting on the project, but it was done just for the work at the Joe.”
Based in Detroit, the J.J. Curran Crane Company has been renting crane equipment since 1950.
Company officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment Thursday.City officials said the removal of the panels at the Joe Louis Arena could take a couple of months. Once they’re down, demolition of the remaining structure will begin, which may be at the end of July or the beginning of August, they said. Detroit-based Adamo Group was hired for the project.
