Detroit is known as Hockeytown and the Red Wings are investing in the Detroit community to get the next generation of hockey fans and players ready for the ice (and e-lounge) with its new $1 million Learn, Play, Score program.
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation and The Children’s Foundation unveiled a $300,000, state-of-the-art, educational Esports Lounge at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Lloyd H. Diehl Club. The new learning space is the first of three new lounges to be opened in the city to strengthen the career and entrepreneur pipeline for youth in the sports and Esports industries.
The Esports Lounge is designed after the Red Wings dressing room at Little Caesars Arena and one part of the Red Wing’s commitment to Detroit families. Below are a few of the other Learn, Play, Score programs:
- Street Hockey in the D at Home introduces children to the basics of street hockey through 12 interactive video lessons taught by Red Wings Learn, Play, Score Ambassador Jason McCrimmon and Red Wings TV host Carley Johnston. Children aged 6-14 only need a hockey stick, ball and household items to participate.
- The Detroit Hockey Rink Collaborative brings together the three ice hockey rinks in Detroit to establish a tighter ecosystem of opportunities for youth. Clark Park Hockey Rink, East Side Foundation Hockey Arena and Adams Butzel Arena will now offer similar affordable ice hockey pathway programming, such as learn to skate and Little Wings learn to play. As a member of the collaborative, each rink will receive an annual grant to support hockey-related growth (e.g. purchase rental skates, equipment, etc.) and scholarships for pathway programming.
- The Detroit Red Wings will host 4 annual FREE Little Caesars Arena Community Open Skate Experiences for Detroit residents. The open skate sessions will be made available exclusively to partner organizations within Learn, Play, Score. The sessions will include all necessary components to skate upon request (rental ice skates, ice skating trainers, socks, etc.).
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan // 4242 Collingwood St, Detroit
