Marian Ilitch, wife of Tigers Owner Mike Ilitch, and
Circus Circus casino are joining with MI-based Atwater
Entertainment to bid for a Detroit casino, which has "caused
some to raise questions" about Marian Ilitch's role given
MLB's "dislike of mixing gambling and baseball," according
to Tina Lam in the DETROIT FREE PRESS. While Lam notes the
addition of Circus and Ilitch "boosts the chances" of
Atwater getting a license, Ilitch's addition "came as a
surprise to some." But Marian Ilitch said that although she
co-owns the Red Wings with her husband, he is the 100% owner
of the Tigers, and she has received a letter from MLB saying
that her casino bid is "not a problem" since she is not the
team's owner. MLB Dir of PR Richard Levin: "The fact that
she is not an owner of the Tigers makes it a moot issue"
(FREE PRESS, 5/29). The DETROIT NEWS' Jon Pepper writes
that while "rumors had swirled for weeks" that the family
would sell the Tigers, "and possibly" the Red Wings, to get
into gaming, Marian Ilitch "flatly said Tuesday that neither
team was for sale" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/28).
