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DETROIT NEWS GOES INSIDE ILITCH FAMILY BUSINESS HOLDINGS

          In its special series on casino ownership in Detroit,
     the DETROIT NEWS' DeHaven & Woolley examine the Ilitch
     family's business interests, including Marian Ilitch's 17.5%
     ownership of Detroit's planned Atwater/Circus Circus Casino,
     which is under review by the MI Gaming Control Board. 
     Marian holds casino ownership while she "shares a household
     and multiple business ties" with her husband, Tigers/Red
     Wings Chair & Owner Michael.  From "buying land for stadium
     parking to holding concession agreements for the new
     Comerica Park, Marian Ilitch plays a role in Michael
     Ilitch's baseball team.  She has even signed her name to
     stadium agreements on behalf of 'Tiger-related' parties." 
     But Ilitch spokesperson Tom Shields denies any conflict
     between Marian's ownership role in the casino and her ties
     to the team, despite MLB rules barring team officials from
     having any gambling ties: "There is no casino problem.  She
     has never had any legal official involvement with the team
     as an owner.  There is no [MLB] rule about being a vendor." 
     While the Ilitches "declined to provide team ownership
     records" to the DETROIT NEWS, records show that Marian is
     "involved in Tigers-related activities."  Marian is a co-
     Owner with her husband of Olympia Entertainment and Olympia
     Development, which has business with the Tigers.  Another
     "potential conflict" is her role in Ilitch Ventures, which
     oversees the family's sports/entertainment interests.  While
     Ilitch Ventures is being run by Richard Peters, spokesperson
     Shields said the Tigers would be removed from the group if
     MLB "raised concerns" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/26).  

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