OT- Reports that Dan Gilbert in serious talks to Buy Tigers
What are your thoughts? Would you like to see Gilbert buy the Tigers?
https://twitter.com/dougandgator971/status/1044982370330390528?s=21
September 26th, 2018 at 5:10 PM ^
I'm no fan of CoPa vs. Tiger Stadium, but how would they even do that?
September 26th, 2018 at 3:33 PM ^
I'll like this more if (as rumored) he divests himself of the Cleveland franchises. Be a Detroit owner only.
Also, make sure there is a "No public releases in Comic Sans" clause in the deal.
September 26th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
This is obviously part of Gilbert's plan to buy up the rest of Detroit and declare himself emperor.
He already owns most of the property worth owning in downtown. And I've heard he's a shit landlord, for commercial and residential tenants.
September 26th, 2018 at 4:16 PM ^
He's a horrible landlord.
I worked with a particular small biz downtown that wanted to secure space in one of Gilbert's buildings. In the contract they gave him a rock-bottom lease for the first year, then bumped up the rent - no shitting - 13X for years 2-5.
I could go on about his DVP investments and the joke therein, but I'll stop. We'll just say that calling Gilbert a "venture capitalist" evokes a few chuckles from folks I know.
September 26th, 2018 at 3:37 PM ^
Watch him buy the Tigers and then go out this off season and sign Bryce Harper.
September 27th, 2018 at 9:11 AM ^
yes please, spend spend spend
September 26th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
Sparty noooo.........
But then Valenti could fawn all over them.
September 26th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
I'd rather he buy Newcastle United.
September 26th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^
It's interesting to think about how Gilbert's ownership of a bunch of downtown property might change his incentive structures as Tigers owner. Positive gloss: he might be incented to do stuff that's revenue neutral or even negative for the franchise but good for the city (spending $$$ to field a great team is an obvious example, but there could also be smaller stuff like, say, tweaking parking policy, ticket prices, event scheduling, etc.)
September 26th, 2018 at 4:44 PM ^
Self-directed pedantry: should be "_profit_ neutral"
September 26th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
As long as he brings back the old tigers uniforms and cap so that I feel a little less dead inside during baseball season.
September 26th, 2018 at 4:14 PM ^
Looks like I'll have to stop rooting for the Tigers.
September 26th, 2018 at 4:27 PM ^
My first thought was... Meh. My second thought was... PLEASE DO NOT SELL THEM TO TOM GORES!!!
September 26th, 2018 at 4:33 PM ^
He is a terrible owner.
September 26th, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
Anyone care to explain this "Tigers don't spend money" thing? Weren't they one of the league's highest payrolls for almost a decade?
September 26th, 2018 at 5:33 PM ^
They were trying to win one for Mike Ilitch before he passed. They failed to do so, then he passed. So now his son is in "lean mode," selling off expensive players. The only hope for the Tigers until the Ilitch family opens up the check book (which there's no evidence that'll ever happen) is to moneyball their way to a title, or sell the team to an owner who will.
September 26th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
The Illitch's Olympia Entertainment owns most of the parking downtown near the ballpark, any sale of the Tigers is going to be pretty complicated given 1) I doubt the Illitch's wish to give up control of their parking revenue 2) if they did, they would be foolish to lose that revenue for their own properties like FOX and LCA and Gilbert gets even more property, some he might not want.
This could be a really interesting purchasing agreement.
September 26th, 2018 at 7:13 PM ^
Yes, because Mike Illitch in his senility fired Dave Dombrowski, consigning the Tigers to long-term non-contender status.
September 26th, 2018 at 7:46 PM ^
This has been rumored for over a year. Chris Ilitch does not want to own the Tigers. Dan Gilbert wants to own the Tigers and expand his downtown empire. It's just a matter of time before this happens.
September 26th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^
He is one of the most hated men in two states. Hard to get Michiganders and Ohioans to agree on much, but he is one of them. Fuck that dude.
September 26th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
I'm curious to see what happens with the Pistons. Gores is a private equity guy, they don't hold onto much. And him moving the team into the hockey arena seemed like such an odd move, so I have to wonder if the Pistons come into play in this deal. Cavs too.
September 26th, 2018 at 10:59 PM ^
Not sure how to feel about this. On one hand he did bring a title to Cleveland. On the other hand he only did it because of a homegrown once in a generational talent
And I cant believe theres actually some nimrods in here supporting the Fords ownership of the Lions. Martha needs to sell. Worst ran sports franchise in the US
September 26th, 2018 at 11:29 PM ^
Chris Illitch, until proven otherwise, should be considered an F- owner. Bosses son. He's not capable. He might not be financially capable. I don't endorse (or otherwise) Gilbert, but I am very hopeful that Illitch will sell the team.
I think Sr was an A+ owner. Whoever the someone was who mentioned the theory he (MI) could only afford to well fund 1 of the 2 franchises at a time was very wrong. If the Tigers showed a pule in the 90's I think for sure he would have funded both.
I also believe Dombrowski, whom I view in the same light as Beilein (unimpeachable), as not wanting to work for the kid. Of all the theories about the ending of his tenure, that one is the most easilly believable. Avila isn't a cutthroat who stole his boss's job, nor did MI lose patience with perhaps the best GM in baseball of the last 30 years.
September 28th, 2018 at 2:29 AM ^
He offered up the Cavs for Pistons in a straight up swap. I know this for a fact.