Ex-Pistons CEO Wilson joins Ilitch organization, tasked with figuring out Red Wings arena plan

For ex-Pistons CEO, Red Wings’ home now priority

DETROIT — Tom Wilson, who for more than three decades oversaw a sports and entertainment empire that included the Detroit Pistons, on Tuesday was given the job of helping figure out plans for where the Red Wings will play.

Wilson joined Ilitch Holdings Inc., a rival that controls the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers, after resigning last week as president and chief executive of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment.

“One of the key issues that we need to solve as an organization is where our Detroit Red Wings are going to play,” Ilitch Holdings President and CEO Christopher Ilitch said after announcing the hiring.

The Red Wings’ lease at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena expires June 30. That has fueled speculation about whether they’ll get a new home. At the news conference, Ilitch said no decision has been made about a future home.

The Ilitch family has said it would like to build a new arena for the Red Wings or renovate Joe Louis, which opened in 1979. Little Caesars founders Mike and Marian Ilitch bought the Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment in 1982.

“You want to make it work for the average fan,” Wilson said of a new or renovated home for the Wings.

Wilson will serve as president and CEO of a newly created enterprise, which has yet to be named, and will report directly to Christopher Ilitch. Wilson will provide input into every aspect of the company, which includes Olympia Entertainment and its Detroit venues as well as the Little Caesars Pizza chain.

Wilson spent nearly 32 years as CEO of the Pistons and was key in building the team’s arena, The Palace of Auburn Hills, and that experience would be especially important if the Wings get a new home. He said that after the death last year of Pistons owner Bill Davidson, the time was right to move on.

“We were competitors in the marketplace, but I have always admired the accomplishments of the entire Ilitch organization, on the field and in the community,” Wilson said.

To start, Wilson will focus on sports and entertainment. And Christopher Ilitch said Wilson could help Ilitch Holdings expand outside the Detroit area, the way Davidson’s organization once did to include the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

Karen Davidson, Davidson’s wife and the current Pistons owner, has said the team could be sold alone or as part of a package with Palace Sports & Entertainment, which includes The Palace, DTE Energy Music Theatre and Meadow Brook Music Festival.

Christopher Ilitch on Tuesday 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 asked whether the Ilitch organization is interested in buying the NBA team, he downplayed the possibility.

“I can’t predict the future, but I’m not going to sit here and tell you that we’re pursuing the Pistons,” he said. “We’re really focused on our Red Wings, we’re focused on our Tigers and all of our other businesses.”

On the Net:

Ilitch Holdings Inc.: www.ilitchholdings.com