Ilitch Holdings Tabs Tom Wilson As Pres & CEO Of New Enterprise

Wilson Will Oversee Negotiations For New Arena Lease For Wings

Ilitch Holdings yesterday formally announced the hiring of TOM WILSON, effective immediately, as President & CEO of a soon-to-be-named new enterprise that will provide input into every aspect of the Ilitch companies, including the Red Wings, Tigers, Joe Louis Arena and Comerica Park. He will report directly to Ilitch Holdings President & CEO CHRIS ILITCH. Wilson resigned earlier this month as Palace Sports & Entertainment President & CEO (Ilitch Holdings). CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS' Bill Shea noted Wilson will oversee Ilitch Holdings' "ongoing negotiations with Detroit for a new" Joe Louis Arena lease for the Red Wings. He also will be the "point man on development of a potential new downtown sports venue." Olympia Entertainment, the venue management arm of Ilitch Holdings, announced in June that it "wouldn't renew the old" Joe Louis Arena lease, which expires this June. Ilitch and the Detroit Economic Growth Corp, which is negotiating a new lease on behalf of the city, "have been in talks for a new lease since." Wilson was "instrumental in designing and orchestrating the construction of the Pistons' Palace of Auburn Hills." It is that experience, "along with Wilson's subsequent oversight of Palace Sports, which prompted the Ilitches to hire him." Chris Ilitch said that in the coming days, Wilson "will meet with the Ilitches to identify priorities and strategies" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 2/23).

MAIN PRIORITY: In Detroit, Helene St. James notes Wilson "acknowledged the Wings' arena situation is a primary focus." Chris Ilitch "didn't shut the door on the chance that the Wings could one day share a venue with a team such as the Pistons." But when asked "whether the Ilitch organization is interested in buying the NBA team, he downplayed the possibility." Ilitch: "We're really focused on our Red Wings, we're focused on our Tigers and all of our other businesses" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/24). Also in Detroit, Brian O'Connor wonders, "Is Wilson in place to negotiate the purchase of some or all of Palace Sports & Entertainment by Ilitch Holdings? Pairing the Pistons and Red Wings in one arena instead of two would leave fewer nights to fill two darkened halls." Wilson did not "rule out the notion of the Wings playing at The Palace temporarily while the hockey arena question is settled." He added, "In a perfect world, in an optimal situation, you would have the teams together. It does make sense but it's a complicated process." Wilson "also could be leading an expansion into other entertainment areas to fill out the ballpark, hockey arena, casino, theater and other holdings" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/24).

TEMPORARY HOME? In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes, "Perhaps the craziest idea yet is Wilson selling an economically challenged region with a shrinking tax base that there's enough public monies available to potentially subsidize a new Red Wings arena in downtown Detroit." Wilson's hiring "certainly lends additional credence to the already rampant speculation that Ilitch will inevitably move the Wings to the Palace of Auburn Hills, if only as a momentary way station as either Joe Louis Arena goes through a necessary renovation or the construction of a new hockey facility begins" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/24).