DETROIT (AP) – Gordie Howe’s family is opening the doors of Joe Louis Arena, allowing his adoring fans of their father to pay respects.
The home of the Detroit Red Wings, the team the Hall of Famer played for during much of his career, was to open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – in a nod to his No. 9 jersey – for a visitation. Howe’s body was expected to lie inside the arena.
Howe died Friday at the age of 88.
His four children chose to allow the public to attend his visitation and funeral.
Mark Howe, one of his sons and a fellow member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, says his father would have wanted fans to access to the memorials because of his connection with them.