Freep.com is confirming BuildingsofDetroit.com's earlier report on Olympia Entertainment walking away from the Masonic:
http://www.freep.com/article/2010110...loses-Ilitches
Freep.com is confirming BuildingsofDetroit.com's earlier report on Olympia Entertainment walking away from the Masonic:
http://www.freep.com/article/2010110...loses-Ilitches
Ilitches pull out of the Masonic Temple....Is this linked to the UA renovations? Anyone want to speculate? [[I understand this question may be more appropriate for UA thread).
http://www.freep.com/article/2010110...loses-Ilitches
Nederlanders, you watchin?
Illitch is getting ready to buy the Pistons, maybe that has something to do with why he is not re-newing the lease.
Nederlanders were booking Masonic before the Illitches. Nederlanders haven't been doing much here ever since the last local brother passed away a few years ago.
Well, that should be a nice new place for the ruin pornographers to photograph.
I'm sure this has far more to do with the Palace [[and other venues) acquisition than the UA... Given the condition of the UA site, regardless of what we speculate has been happening, is still in pretty sad shape. The Ilitches wouldn't give up booking rights to the Masonic unless they had a venue immediately ready to replace it, if that's what you are speculating in regards to the UA. With the Palace acquisition, Ilitch would be immediately receiving viable venues, giving him no reason to hold onto the Masonic rights. As it stands right now, the UA is probably about a year and a half to two years away from usability, depending upon the length of time needed for a renovation, as it doesn't appear yet that a full scale renovation is even underway, as the most we have witnessed is cleanup and small scale repairs.Ilitches pull out of the Masonic Temple....Is this linked to the UA renovations? Anyone want to speculate? [[I understand this question may be more appropriate for UA thread).
http://www.freep.com/article/2010110...loses-Ilitches
None of the PS&E venues compete with a mid-size auditorium like the Masonic for shows. Well, maybe there's a little bit of overlap with Meadowbrook during the short summer season.
esp1986 is right on the money. He no longer has to compete for acts against Palace Entertainment and he now has all their venues. This actually could hinder the UA renovation as well.
...How does one become a member of the Masonic groups.. the hats are kind of neat..
I'm sure someone will step up to manage the Masonic Theater.. is the nearby homeless population a deterrent for some investors?
For the theatrical shows that had been getting booked into Masonic the auditorium is HUGE, not at all midsize. That's part of the problem.
For comparison the largest legit Broadway house in NYC seats only 2,200.
Yes, Masonic is huge once you get inside... what a beauty. How many does it seat?
That surrounding area is very grim... and parking never seemed idea. I'd not want to leave even my old beater car around there while inside the theater.
THe area around it has actually improved slightly in recent years. There used to be more empty structures directly across the street. When I parked in the lot next to them I worried about stuff falling on my car before all else.
There's plenty of parking in the area and much of it is attended during performances and events.
The reality, I'm afraid, is that the overhead on the place is just too high.
WOW! I did not know that! As it is such a 'tall' structure I think it gets lost that is it could be so large. It has not been book for anything in some time... Tragic. I think the area is got alot to do with it. I am a dyed-in-wool Detroit venturing all over on buss and car all my life and I would not feel comfortable around there...
Thanks for the update... Oh that's good. I know the new Cass Tech building is nearby... I will drive by there soon and take closer look,THe area around it has actually improved slightly in recent years. There used to be more empty structures directly across the street. When I parked in the lot next to them I worried about stuff falling on my car before all else.
There's plenty of parking in the area and much of it is attended during performances and events.
The reality, I'm afraid, is that the overhead on the place is just too high.
Last year I parked my old VW filled with gear [[I'm a musician) across the street in one of the lots from the Temple to see some friends that were performing in the main theater that night. I was gone for a few hours. Never had a problem, granted it was still daytime and all that but honestly while I was worried, in the end there was no problem.WOW! I did not know that! As it is such a 'tall' structure I think it gets lost that is it could be so large. It has not been book for anything in some time... Tragic. I think the area is got alot to do with it. I am a dyed-in-wool Detroit venturing all over on buss and car all my life and I would not feel comfortable around there...
I find if you acknowledge people, make eye contact, smile, be friendly; you'll not only be appreciated, but the gesture will also put off anyone thinking about breaking in because you've seen their face. Or at least in my experience parking in and around Detroit.
Yeah, that's true. I try to interact with people out and about within reason and safety. It can make a difference, but still I'd not want to walk about there at night...Last year I parked my old VW filled with gear [[I'm a musician) across the street in one of the lots from the Temple to see some friends that were performing in the main theater that night. I was gone for a few hours. Never had a problem, granted it was still daytime and all that but honestly while I was worried, in the end there was no problem.
I find if you acknowledge people, make eye contact, smile, be friendly; you'll not only be appreciated, but the gesture will also put off anyone thinking about breaking in because you've seen their face. Or at least in my experience parking in and around Detroit.
Oh yes they are up at the building off of Mt. Vernon and Southfield Rd. Wasn't there some talk of a huge city water bill etc....?
The Scottish Rite also moved to Dearborn. In the 1980's lodges were attempting to leave the Temple, but Grand Lodge was insisting they stay there. Several lodges turned in their charters because they couldn't afford the rent at the Masonic Temple. The biggest reason for the problems is simply lack of dues paying membership compared to the past. I wish the fund to support that building would have been started decades ago.
The mechanicals in the building have never been significantly upgraded...it is a money pit to heat, cool and maintain. The windows need reglazing or replacement.
At least Olympia Entertainment paid off the past due utility and water bills when they took over so doom and gloom is probably not immediate. Plus the Masonic organization, over the years, have not been realistic [[cooperative) or forward thinking. Now Detroit has many other options above the Masonic auditoriums...Fox, Fisher, Opera House, Orchestra Hall. A partnership with Wayne State was discussed years back but went no where---perhaps that type of relationship is the salvation/future of the place.
Last edited by detroitbob; November-09-10 at 07:13 PM.
I wonder what this says about a new arena going in in midtown.
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