Ilitches still discussing Wings' JLA lease while pursuing new arena

By Bill Shea

It's been two years since the Ilitch family declined to renew the Detroit Red Wings' lease at aging city-owned Joe Louis Arena, and a year since it expired, but no new agreement is believed to be near.

The team has operated under undisclosed terms at the venue while the Ilitches continue to both negotiate a new lease and advance plans to build a modern arena elsewhere in the city -- a strategic moved expected to generate millions in new income for the Red Wings through luxury suites and other amenities. [[See accompanying story.)

Neither the Ilitches nor the city will talk about the lease situation, citing a confidentiality agreement.

"We continue to work with the city as it relates to Joe Louis Arena, and as our organization has stated previously, it our desire is to build a new arena downtown," Karen Cullen, vice president of corporate relations for Ilitch Holdings Inc., said via email.

The only comment from the city is that talks continue, a message delivered by Bob Rossbach, owner of Grosse Pointe Park-based Rossbach Consulting Inc. He's contracted to do media relations for the quasi-public Detroit Economic Growth Corp., which has been handling the Joe Louis lease negotiations for Mayor Dave Bing's office.

The DEGC is the city's economic development arm, and likely would be involved in financing any new arena. It provided capital funding for both Comerica Park and Ford Field.

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