We have restaurants and merchandise shops. Pettit arrives to work at 9 a.m. and stays until midnight. He handles the business of the building and has meetings all through the day with his various department heads to see if they are properly prepared for the evening's event. Actually, the planning begins in the summer, when the ice is melted and the building is empty. They watch tapes of what goes on at other events, especially the celebrations.
Crowd control is a major item.
If any trouble breaks out, such as arguments and fights, Pettit's staff moves into quiet the situation. If the situation escalates, then Detroit police will move in. The fans are also monitored by TV cameras, especially in the corridors. Too much drinking can be a problem, and Pettit said the sale of beer is cut off in the middle of the third period. Responsibility for keeping the fans in check rests mainly with 70 crowd managers.