Illitch speaks RE: New Arena
Mike Illitch was on 97.1 The Ticket this morning talking about Ernie Harwell, Red Wings hockey, and Tigers baseball. He was asked where the Red Wings will play next season. He said they are working to extend the lease at The Joe, but that "these things take time." The follow up question asked if we can expect a new arena. He said that even though the market for that is bleak right now, that is their plan. He mentioned that is exactly why they brought in Tom Wilson.
You heard it right from the owners mouth...The Red Wings will stay in Detroit, and will have a new arena.
Palace Sports CEO: Open to talks with Ilitches on arena, Red Wings
I chatted with Palace Sports CEO Alan Ostfield this morning about a number of subjects, and among the things he said was that PS&E is open to talks about a joint Pistons/Wings arena and the Wings playing at the Palace temporarily -- even before the organization is sold.
CEO of Palace Sports and Entertainment says joint arena possible
By Bill Shea
The management company the runs the Palace of Auburn Hills and the Detroit Pistons — which are for sale — said today it hasn’t ruled out any deal with rival Ilitch Holdings Inc. to cooperate on a joint arena or to act as temporary landlord to the Ilitch-owned Detroit Red Wings.
The door isn’t closed on any deal even before a sale, said Alan Ostfield, president and CEO of Palace Sports and Entertainment, in an interview with Crain’s on Friday.
“From this organization’s perspective, we’ll do anything that makes good sense for us and the citizens of Southeast Michigan,” he said. “If that means another team playing here, we’re always happy to talk about that.”
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100529961
Pistons/Palace Sports accuse ex-staffers now at Olympia/Ilitch of stealing secrets
Doesn't bode well for a joint Pistons-Red Wings arena ... lawsuit also says Tom Wilson approached Karen Davidson about Olympia/Ilitches buying the Pistons/Palace Sports.
Palace Sports sues Olympia Entertainment over trade secrets
By Bill Shea
Speculation that Detroit’s Olympia Entertainment Inc. might buy the Detroit Pistons is on ice now that the basketball team and its parent company are suing their potential suitor over accusations of information theft and unfair competition by employees that jumped ship.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court by attorney James Roach of Bingham Farms-based Vercruysse Murray & Calzone P.C. A message was left for him this morning.
Auburn Hills-based Palace Sports & Entertainment is accusing its sports and entertainment industry rival of violations of Michigan’s Trade Secrets Act, breach of contract, unfair competition and conspiracy by Olympia and former PS&E employees, according to the complaint.
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100619996
Pistons Sell and Leave Town. Olympia Entertainment and Red Wings Buy Palace
A headline made for the Onion, or a not so far off probability? Here's a little nugget to chew on while you're standing next to that water cooler:
Pistons are purchased and moved to some other city. Palace Entertainment is left out of the purchase agreement. Olympia [[Illitch) purchases Palace Entertainment, which happens to include the Palace arena. Red Wings move from the Joe into the Palace as their new home for the next 10-15 years while the economy and prospects of financing a new arena improve. This solves the Joe Louis Arena lease issue, and puts Olympia Entertainment into a near monopoly on Detroit area concerts and events [[Comerica Park, the Palace, the Fox, Pine Knob, and Meadowbrook).