The Univ. of Michigan "plans to open an 'innovation center' in downtown Detroit on the site of the aborted Wayne County jail project" as part of a $300M-plus development, according to sources. The innovation center will be a "development partnership" between Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS, a Detroit native and UM alumnus, and Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT, also a Detroit native. Sources said that Gilbert's Bedrock real estate firm will be the project's developer, with Gilbert and Ross each "donating significant sums to help finance the deal" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/30).
Wilson (l) and McMahon addressed a class at Harvard Business School offering a case study on WWEWWE
A QUICK STUDY: WWE Co-President MICHELLE WILSON and Chief Brand Officer STEPHANIE MCMAHON recently visited Harvard Business School and gave a presentation to students. Harvard professor ANITA ELBERSE's course -- titled "The Business of Entertainment, Media & Sports" -- is offering a case study on the WWE this fall (THE DAILY).
NAMES: Texans QB DESHAUN WATSON yesterday held his inaugural charity event, The Great Houston Halloween Bash. Watson "hosted 300 students who were chosen to participate in the event for good behavior, grades or attendance." The students were "treated with free costumes and there was lots of Halloween candy, balloon artists, pumpkin decorating, a karaoke contest and food and ice cream trucks" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/30)....Nonprofit organization RISE has approved a new partnership with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the formation of the RISE Athlete Leadership Committee, which will include current and former pro athletes who are passionate advocates for racial equity and social justice. Warriors F DRAYMOND GREEN is one of the first announced committee members (RISE)....Search startup Searchable.ai announced a $2M seed round of funding, with Patriots President & COO JONATHAN KRAFT among the investors (TECHCRUNCH.com, 10/28).
IN MEMORY: Former MLB Rangers President MIKE STONE passed away on Friday at the age of 80. Stone served as the Rangers President from '83-90. A celebration of his life is expected to be held Dec. 8 in Ft. Worth (Rangers). Perhaps Stone's "biggest move" was hiring TOM GRIEVE as the team's GM in '84. Grieve "embarked on a plan to invest in the scouting and development of players from Puerto Rico," and that program produced Baseball HOFer IVAN RODRIGUEZ and former MLBer JUAN GONZALEZ (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/30).
