Compuware Arena

We have been taking our kids there for several sessions of learn to skate. Couldn’t be happier with their program and the instructors. Will definitely be coming back to continue with their lessons.

The Learn-​To-​Skate program is not bad for kids, and the instructors are good, but the program has become much less welcoming of adult learners and isn’t well organized. Figure skaters will often find themselves warming up with out-​of-​control hockey players, and little children who can barely stand up practice on the same small strip of ice with advanced skaters. If you are an adult learner of any level (beginner to advanced), go to the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor. It’s worth the drive, they are friendly and welcoming, and their program is excellent! You also get a lot more space on the ice, and they teach you the entire 50 minutes (rather than a 25-​minute lesson and 25-​minute practice). They also have a very good program for children with disabilities.

We recently had the privilege of watching our high-​school-​age nephew play ice hockey at this arena (bonus: his team won and this arena is his «home ice»). The arena has undergone substantial improvements over the years (our nephew first played here when he was three), and it is now a very hospitable place to enjoy both amateur and professional hockey. I understand that the Red Wings also practice at this venue from time-​to-​time.
Much to our delight, we had a much better-​than-​average dinner at the on-​site restaurant and bar. Skipping the frankfurter and pizza windows was liberating.
The only annoyance in the otherwise positive entire experience was the extremely crowded parking lot.
BTW, the arena has been re-​branded
the «USA Hockey Arena.»

Summer Drive-​In review.
Compuware arena is now the USA Hockey arena. They have not changed over the road signage yet, so highway signs still say Compuware.
Summertime… Late nights and good weather
I personally have fond memories of going to the drive-​in when I was young. We got to take our pillows, wear our pjs, eat snacks and watch a fun movie outside.
I was truly hoping to share that with my kids last night. Sad to say It didn’t quite turn out that way.
Gates open at 7:30 and we arrived at 7:40. We ended up in the 8^th row. (Harsh)
So at Compuware they have a good idea but it’s executed in a half manner. There is delivery of a full menu from their CJs restaurant (pro) but offer port a potties (con).
Everyone takes a walk to the McDs next door to use their bathrooms.
We ordered a large pizza (half pepperoni/​half mushrooms) 8 slices/​$ 13 delivered by golf cart. Neat concept better than McDs or concession food.
Almost everyone has some kind of SUV and while they are great for driving they suck at the drive in. Almost everyone had their tailgate up which blocks the screen.
There were other reviews about how the screens should be another 10 feet higher and they are correct.
A make shift drive-​in theater in a parking lot that is almost level lends to obstructed view for almost everyone. And while I don’t think most people are inconsiderate it feels that way every time they stand in your view or decide to open their car door to get something which blocks your view. If the screen was higher none of this would be an issue.
To make matters worse the screen itself was a wrinkled mess of a sheet so the picture wasn’t smooth. Total bummer considering the price is $ 2 more per person compared to other proper permanent drive in structures.
If you go, sigh, protect your self from the one million mosquitoes. They are fierce and out in force. You will need repellent of ALL sorts.
There is a concession stand with all kinds of junk food to satisfy your movie munchies.
One bonus would be that they take credit cards for everything– the movie, CJs restaurant and the concession stand.
It was nice to see kids running around and families tossing a ball or frisbee.
There is no traditional grassy area and there was no traditional dancing hotdog premovie commercial like the old days.
It felt like summer, kinda looked like a drive in before the actual movie started.
I don’t see us going back there unless improvements are made to the screen to accommodate all viewers not just the front rows.

ATTN: Parents — read this you’ll be happy you did! The Plymouth whalers do a wonderful promotion few people know about. With the purchase of any ticket (except for the $ 6 Friday tix) you can ask for a family voucher ticket with your seat hockey, it costs $ 2 and includes a free slice of pizza or hot dog and a 16-​oz pop. WAYYY better than paying $ ⁶⁄₇ at concessions and a nice way to save $ 5 a person and still enjoy food at the game.
The hockey is always good, usually a fight a game, fun atmosphere for the kids and a chance to see lots of future nhlers. Plus they’ve started doing brewery nights, last night was magic hat brewery and it was a wonderful promo event with tasty brews!
Skip cj’s too btw — lol plenty of reviews on here to tell you why!

Awful organization for concerts-​avoid like the plague if you are thinking of attending a concert here. I am a frequent concert goer and I recently attended the Rocktober Throwdown with Five Finger Death Punch and Volbeat at Compuware Arena. I checked Compuware Arena’s website and there is no contact information listed. Doors opened at 5:30 PM, but my buddy and I got there at 7:00 PM and the line was gigantic, which made no sense. We waited in line for an hour-​missing the remainder of the second band’s (Hell Yeah) set. I asked the security guard when Volbeat will be playing and he said 7:50 PM and at this point it was already 7:40 PM, so we knew we were in trouble. I have been to this venue before for a previous Five Finger Death Punch show and a Girl Talk show and I was confused about the way that the line was organized, it was basically wrapping all the way around to the back of the venue and up the long handicap incline. At one point in the show a couple security guards came through and checked IDs to give wristbands and asked my buddy and I where we were sitting for the show. When we told them we were on the floor they told us to stay where we were. So, now it is 7:55 PM and I notice that multiple people are walking by the long line and then disappearing. I overheard three people get angry with a couple security guards-​demanding to know what’s going on because we were all on the verge of missing one of the headlining bands. The security guards were clueless and didn’t seem to care. So, I took matters into my own hands and skipped the line only to find out that there was one security guard near the front of the line that was stopping everybody from going into the show because he was checking IDs and giving out wristbands. So, because of this one security guard’s actions, the lack of organization, and the lack of communication, about a hundred people missed more than half the show. It was an outrage. I am never going back to this venue again.

Terrible venue for concerts.
Had a HORRIBLE experience at a concert here recently. It was a disorganized mess. They caused most of the fans to miss more than half the show.
I have contacted them a couple times asking if they are offering any sort of compensation for their huge screw up and nobody has replied to me.
Don’t go there for concerts! You will regret it!

Drive-​in movies are great Would give 5 stars if screens were about 10 feet higher — SUVs with open tailgates tend to block the screen for those in the back rows.

Great venue, awesome food; it’s super: D

Modern ice arena. Fun to watch the whalers play. Cheap priced food for a sports venue along with a cjs restaurant. Late night movie drive ins in the parking lot are nice too with only a five dollar fee per car

Great learn to skate program and learn to play program. The OHL games rule — our entire family has had a blast here. We’ve participated in multiple sessions of the «Learn to Skate» & «Learn to Play» with our kids, the staff was extremely supportive and for the price, it was well worth it.

Compuware Sports Arena takes a lot of knocks around the OHL as having a sort of warehouse look to it. While I see that, I also think that Compuware is the perfect size and layout for what the venue holds, which is minor league hockey.
I can’t give it 5 stars because the majority of the concessions are on one side of the arena and the aisles in the end-​zones seem to bottleneck. I will say that when it was built it was ahead of it’s time to have a restaurant on site and such a nice pro shop.
The seating is also good, having a full circle of seats makes it a mini version of a NHL rink and they even have 4 suites. Tickets are very affordable and access is very quick off the expressway for those not living in the Plymouth-​Canton area.
I normally can secure front row tickets if I call a day or two in advanced which is awesome to experience!

Got to go see the Red Wings scrimmage at Compuware this year. What a blast. I love the layout & location of this place.

I took my family to the drive-​in here. Summer months they set up 3 screens and have a neat little drive-​in. You get 2 movies for what you pay for one at a theatre and can bring your own snacks and drinks! We love this place!

Great little arena, went for the first time last night & saw Girltalk. Venue staff kept the order, bathrooms kinda sucked but hey when haven’t you had to wait in a line @ a 1k+ event…

I love the drive in here! It is so much fun to watch a double feature under the stars in your cozy car. My husband and I make it a few times every season.
My only complaint is that it is usually all family friendly movies or one bad kid movie with one we actually want to see. I like kiddie fare but it would be nice to have a quality double feature that did not include one cartoon type movie or kid clunker.
At any rate still a blast and optimal for cuddling and bringing your own collection of snacks.

I don’t know anywhere else in the area where you can go for drive-​in movies during the summer. My friends and I make it a tradition to come every year. It’s such a fun experience!

this is a cool arena it is the home of the Plymouth Whalers in the OHl. when you walk in there is a bar. they have a pro shop with all kind of Whalers items. for a hockey game is seats 3,504 and for a concert it seats 4,500. i was there for the high school chairmanships in 2006 to watch my old high school Brighton they won. i think this is a great small arena