- Banned
- #1
Detroit Tigers and Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch is gone at age 87. In 1987 when downtown Detroit was given up for dead, Mike moved his company offices into the inner-city with the goal of resurrecting the once-mighty Detroit. He bought and restored the Fox Theater to it's former magnificence. He gave up on the decaying Tiger Stadium and built Comerica Park with almost $80M of his own money. That brought the Detroit Lions, owned by the Ford family, back from Pontiac to build their state-of-the art stadium next to Mike's.
And in his last years, he designed his crowning achievement...a new Red Wings stadium and plaza, due to open in September, replacing dozens of blocks of destroyed and abandoned houses. All of this and the casinos his wife Marian runs, began back in the 50's with $10K, and a little pizza joint that became the Little Ceaser's world-wide chain. "Pizza Pizza" He built the "dead wings" into 4-time Stanley Cup winners, a 25 year playoff-run still going, and sent the Tigers to two World Series. His one regret was not winning either for the fans and city that he loved. So long Mike, Detroiters know what you did for the city....God Bless you and Rest in Peace.
Mike Ilitch built empire from humble beginnings
And in his last years, he designed his crowning achievement...a new Red Wings stadium and plaza, due to open in September, replacing dozens of blocks of destroyed and abandoned houses. All of this and the casinos his wife Marian runs, began back in the 50's with $10K, and a little pizza joint that became the Little Ceaser's world-wide chain. "Pizza Pizza" He built the "dead wings" into 4-time Stanley Cup winners, a 25 year playoff-run still going, and sent the Tigers to two World Series. His one regret was not winning either for the fans and city that he loved. So long Mike, Detroiters know what you did for the city....God Bless you and Rest in Peace.
Mike Ilitch built empire from humble beginnings
