Ilitches walk away from Masonic Temple

**buildingsofdetroit** · November-09-10, 02:26 PM

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

**tkelly1986** · November-09-10, 02:30 PM

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

**rb336** · November-09-10, 02:31 PM

Nederlanders, you watchin?

**Cincinnati_Kid** · November-09-10, 02:31 PM

Illitch is getting ready to buy the Pistons, maybe that has something to do with why he is not re-newing the lease.

lilpup · November-09-10, 02:33 PM

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.

**bailey** · November-09-10, 02:43 PM

Well, that should be a nice new place for the ruin pornographers to photograph.

**esp1986** · November-09-10, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by tkelly1986

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

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.

**swingline** · November-09-10, 03:00 PM

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.

**kenp** · November-09-10, 03:15 PM

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.

**Hypestyles** · November-09-10, 03:46 PM

...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?

lilpup · November-09-10, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by swingline

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.

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.

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 04:39 PM

Argh... I dread the thought of MT becoming another Detroit ruin....

Originally Posted by bailey

Well, that should be a nice new place for the ruin pornographers to photograph.

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 04:40 PM

Yes, Masonic is huge once you get inside... what a beauty. How many does it seat?

Originally Posted by lilpup

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.

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 04:42 PM

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.

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

...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?

**mcsdetroitfriend** · November-09-10, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Yes, Masonic is huge once you get inside... what a beauty. How many does it seat?

4300!

It's the largest Masonic Temple in the world

lilpup · November-09-10, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

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.

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 05:00 PM

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...

Originally Posted by mcsdetroitfriend

4300!

It's the largest Masonic Temple in the world

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 05:02 PM

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,

Originally Posted by lilpup

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.

**mcsdetroitfriend** · November-09-10, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

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...

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.

**econ expat** · November-09-10, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Argh... I dread the thought of MT becoming another Detroit ruin....

Masonic Temple has been losing $$$ for years.
AND when Nederlanders took over the theater, etc,
rents for the lodge rooms were raised so high, the Shriners
moved to Southfield.

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 05:48 PM

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...

Originally Posted by mcsdetroitfriend

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.

**Zacha341** · November-09-10, 05:49 PM

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....?

Originally Posted by econ expat

Masonic Temple has been losing $$$ for years.
AND when Nederlanders took over the theater, etc,
rents for the lodge rooms were raised so high, the Shriners
moved to Southfield.

**IrishSpartan** · November-09-10, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by econ expat

Masonic Temple has been losing $$$ for years.
AND when Nederlanders took over the theater, etc,
rents for the lodge rooms were raised so high, the Shriners
moved to Southfield.

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.

**detroitbob** · November-09-10, 07:11 PM

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.