OT: Crain's says Illitch may still be eyeing Pistons
Just an FYI:
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100627/FREE/306279978/1069
"Sam Simon, president and chairman of Taylor-based fuel distributor Atlas Oil Co., is the latest name thought to be interested in the Detroit Pistons. Sources familiar with the situation told Crain's that Simon would be part of an investment consortium led by Detroit's Mike and Marian Ilitch, the Little Caesars Enterprises Inc. pizza founders who also own the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings."
There was a thread a couple months ago where I discussed the Wings arena situation and why they can't buy the Pistons... if there is another majority owner, I think Illitch's would seriously consider becoming a minority partner especially if it gave them additional bargaining power in getting a new hockey arena.
Makes much more sense if they're not the majority owner since they've been pretty public about not being interested in buying Palace Sports & Ent themselves. I only see their involvement as some kind of means to get the Pistons and Wings under one roof (more than likely in a new arena downtown or, I suppose, bring the Wings to the Palace but that would be sad and not really typical of the Illitch's commitment to Detroit). I doubt the team and the facility will be sold separately.
Again, I guess it would leave open the possibility of the Wings leaving the City for the suburbs but I would hate to see it.
Maybe then they will change Detroit to Ilitchville or something. This might be bargaining power to buy the Lions instead! So he can soon have all four franchises! JK.
Needs to buy the Lions.
He is one of my favorite people in sports. He truely loves the Wings and Tigers. And he truely loves the city of Detroit.
I just wish he sold his pizzas in CoPa for $5. Although the Hot Dog value meal is about as good of a stadium deal as you'll ever see.
Would love to have the Illitch's as an owner of the Pistons, regardless if its minority or not. They have been great owners for the City of Detroit. They run 2 classy organizations already and I would see nothing changing with the Pistons. It would be a win win for the City and Fans.
They are great owners but (a) Looks like they would be minority in this deal to this guy who owns the gas company (b) If this group is involved in buying ALL of the Palace Sports & Entertainment assets (includes Pistons but also the Palace, DTE Music Theater and Meadowbrook) would that mean the Red Wings move to Auburn Hills??? Would you still feel the love?
This is great if they can get them into one new arena downtown but having the Wings get dragged to The Palace as part of this would suck. Palace is an OK arena but its really nowhere and getting out of the parking lot takes HOURS.
That is definitely one of my concerns. I would not want the Red Wings moved to Auburn Hills. I could live with it if it was only on a limited basis, knowing a new stadium would be built downtown. Though I think the Palace is better than an "ok" arena.
With all the money the Ilitich's have poured into restoring the downtown area, I find it highly unlikely that they would make a permanent move to Oakland County. Any move of the Wings to the Palace would be temporary while a new arena is built. DTE and Meadowbrook (which PSE doesn't own, just manage), would be a great feather in the Olympia cap, though.
If Illitch could ever own the Pistons and move them to Detroit imagine how much that would help downtown. I know the Palace is still a great arena, but Comerica, Ford field, the new hockey stadium and Bball stadium right by each other would be insane. The nightlife in Detroit can be really good if people actually go down to detroit. With all the stadiums there downtown would be pack almost every night.
Generally, I'm in favor of things moving back to the city. I thought it was awesome that the Lions came back from Pontiac.
But there's a lot of nights when the Pistons and Red Wings are both playing. And things are crazy enough on I-75 and the Lodge when the Wings have a playoff game and the Tigers are in town.
Anyway, if Ilitch bought the Pistons, I would consider it more likely that the Red Wings move to Auburn Hills than the Pistons bulid a new stadium (the Palace is in its prime anyway!)
I would like to see the Wings move to a new venue off of Cass, between Montcalm and Elizabeth (where you typically park for Tiger games), with the corridor between there and Foxtown developed as a walking area with bars and late-night eats.
I believe I read somewhere that one of the two Illitch franchises is actually owned by his wife on paper due to one or both the NHL and MLB having restrictions on owning multiple teams. This could play a role in how this all plays out if it's true. It maybe is why the minority role is attractive.
You're probably thinking of the casino... the NFL is the only league with any kind of cross ownership rules.
http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2010/06/inquiries_into_ilitch-atlas_oi…
if you're willing to brave Drew Sharp, listen to the WDFN interview. It answers a lot of questions