In these times of uncertainty, we are at our strongest when we stand together. With the spread of COVID-19, many Detroiters will have increased need for food assistance. Forgotten Harvest, a dedicated metro Detroit-based organization, works tirelessly to relieve hunger and prevent food waste.

To help do its part, Ilitch companies have donated to this vital community organization in recent days to support the needs of Detroiters. These donations include:

• 6,500 lbs. (3.25 tons) of food from Little Caesars Arena
• 23 pallets of food from MotorCity Casino Hotel

In addition, MotorCity Casino Hotel is in the process of donating 6,000 sanitizing wipes and more than 6,000 vinyl gloves to the City of Detroit.

To learn more about Forgotten Harvest and how you can help, visit ForgottenHarvest.org.

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In this time of uncertainty, we are committed to standing with and supporting our dedicated and hardworking colleagues and providing them and their families the reassurance they deserve.   

The Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, 313 Presents, Fox Theatre, and Little Caesars Arena have set up a $1 million fund to cover one month’s wages for our part-time staff for games, concerts, and events that they would have otherwise worked were it not for the recent cancellations and postponements caused by the coronavirus crisis. In other words, if they were scheduled to work at an event that has been cancelled in the next month, they will be paid. Where there are opportunities, arena staff will be moved into other roles.  

This fund will cover our part-time colleagues’ wages for the Red Wings four home games that were paused; Detroit Pistons eight home games that were suspended; and for the Detroit Tigers six Spring Training games that were cancelled at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. This also will include our Little Caesars Arena and Fox Theatre colleagues impacted by the postponement of concerts and events.

For more information about postponed and cancelled events at Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, please visit 313Presents.com.

Our sincere hope is that this provides comfort to our colleagues in this difficult time. When events resume, we look forward to our colleagues being safely back to work as normal.

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In this time of uncertainty, we are committed to standing with and supporting our dedicated and hardworking colleagues and providing them and their families the reassurance they deserve.   

The Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, 313 Presents, Fox Theatre, and Little Caesars Arena have set up a $1 million fund to cover one month’s wages for our part-time staff for games, concerts, and events that they would have otherwise worked were it not for the recent cancellations and postponements caused by the coronavirus crisis. In other words, if they were scheduled to work at an event that has been cancelled in the next month, they will be paid. Where there are opportunities, arena staff will be moved into other roles.  

This fund will cover our part-time colleagues’ wages for the Red Wings four home games that were paused; Detroit Pistons eight home games that were suspended; and for the Detroit Tigers six Spring Training games that were cancelled at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. This also will include our Little Caesars Arena and Fox Theatre colleagues impacted by the postponement of concerts and events.

For more information about postponed and cancelled events at Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill, please visit 313Presents.com.

Our sincere hope is that this provides comfort to our colleagues in this difficult time. When events resume, we look forward to our colleagues being safely back to work as normal.

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The health and safety of our guests, fans, customers and colleagues is our priority and we are committed to keeping you informed on the evolving situation regarding COVID-19. This is a very fluid situation and new information is coming in rapidly.

Below is what we know today.

The following Ilitch companies, events and venues have been impacted:

• The NHL has paused all games, impacting the four remaining Red Wings home games.
• The NBA has suspended games until further notice.
• MLB has decided to cancel all Spring Training games and delay the start of 2020 season.
• MotorCity Casino is closed through June 12, 2020. The hotel will remain open.
• Events at Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill have been postponed or canceled. For more information, visit 313Presents.com.

Impact on Little Caesars Locations

Though Little Caesars has always been carry-out focused, it is closing any dine-in and limited seating areas to help prevent the spread of the virus. The company has reinforced its training on cleanliness and sanitation procedures with its store crews and enhanced its daily efforts to provide a clean and safe environment for all.

Little Caesars offer touch-less options for both carry out and delivery. You can order online and then scan your phone at the Pizza Portals in their lobbies to retrieve your pizza from a heated compartment. If you’re getting your Little Caesars pizza delivered, you can add driver instructions in their app and have them leave your pizza at your door. Plus, Little Caesars delivery partner has issued sanitation supplies to its drivers in affected areas.

Safety Measures Being Taken

We are in regular communications with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local, state and federal health departments and agencies, as well as the leagues, industry partners and other venues.  We’re monitoring the situation in real time and making recommendations and decisions based on industry best practices, governmental agency recommendations, and knowledge of our people and our business.

We will continue to update this site with more information and we encourage you to check back on a regular basis.

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New “FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino Hotel” coming to Detroit just in time for NCAA Tourney

In an agreement that brings together America’s No. 1 sportsbook with a premier destination for entertainment in Detroit, FanDuel Group will take its industry-leading sports betting services to MotorCity Casino Hotel. Beginning on March 12, 2020, this collaboration will allow guests and sports fans to place bets in an exciting, newly designed area of the award-winning casino.

The two-story sportsbook will feature six betting windows, 67 high-definition televisions, one ticker, a VIP area, and 54 self-service IGT PlaySports betting kiosks. The FanDuel Sportsbook at MotorCity Casino Hotel will accept bets on all major U.S. sports, including baseball, hockey, soccer, football, basketball, golf, boxing, motorsports racing, and more.

“For two decades, we have been committed to reimagining the guest experience, consistently raising the bar with innovative entertainment, world-class luxury hotel accommodations and high energy gaming activities,” said Bruce Dall, president of MotorCity Casino Hotel. “This relationship takes it to the next level. With FanDuel, our guests will be able to engage with their favorite sports in a dynamic new way at Detroit’s only locally-owned and operated casino.”

“Detroit is an incredible sports town — the ‘City of Champions’. As we look to expand our national footprint and bring America’s top sportsbook to more customers across the country, this was a perfect fit,” said Matt King, chief executive officer of FanDuel Group. “It has everything we look for — from the industry leading casino operation to the proud and passionate Midwest fan base. Exciting things are happening in Detroit, and we couldn’t be more excited about this move to the Motor City.”

FanDuel will administer all core services affecting betting for the Sportsbook. As such, guests can place bets on a number of games, including the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings. Operating in absolute compliance with all gaming and sports league rules and regulations, MotorCity Casino revenue is explicitly not tied to the outcome of any particular baseball or hockey game.

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Reflecting its commitment to keeping Detroiters connected, informed and engaged, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. has promoted Jamie Langdon to Vice President, Corporate Communications, from her previously held role as Director of Communications.

A Michigan native born and raised in metro Detroit, Langdon brings nearly 20 years of marketing, branding and communication experience — both internal and external — to the team.

“Since joining the organization in October 2019, Jamie has quickly adapted to the team and showcased her leadership skills, efficiently working to identify key focus areas for our communication initiatives, including the launch of our News Hub,” said Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings. “She has played an integral role in ensuring our organization provides appropriate updates on our activities across our businesses, and we’re looking forward to her taking on a larger role in communicating our company vision.”

In her new leadership role, Langdon will oversee the development and execution of strategic communications across the Ilitch Companies. She will direct media relations, creative editorial content creation and internal communications for the organization. She will also serve as professional counsel to leadership across all companies for corporate communications and community relations. Langdon’s background in the entertainment, hospitality and restaurant industries made her a natural fit for the array of businesses within the Ilitch Holdings organization.

Before joining Ilitch Holdings, she served in a director-level communications role with The Walt Disney Company, where she led a team that developed global communications strategies. Before Disney, Langdon held leadership positions with Caesars Entertainment, Zeno Group for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Darden Restaurant Group.

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull said he felt called to help. He’d heard about Kingdom Home, the nonprofit organization fellow pitcher Matthew Boyd and his wife, Ashley, launched in 2018 to help end human trafficking in Uganda through prevention. He approached Boyd about going with them halfway around the world to help children in need.

“I just remember feeling like I really wanted to go to Uganda,” said Turnbull. “To say that it was life-changing or perspective-shifting just doesn’t really cover it.”

Watch Matthew Boyd and Turnbull reflect on their experiences in Uganda in the video below.

To date, Kingdom Home has raised $250,000 to house 146 at-risk Ugandan children in four private homes. Soon, Kingdom Home will build additional homes and will maintain two wells and a hydroponic farm to help local families.

The Detroit News honored Matthew and Ashley Boyd for their activism by naming them among the 41^st Class of its “Michiganians of the Year” series.  

“We’re just answering the call. The true heroes are the house mothers and house parents, mothers and fathers in Uganda who are with the children every single day and working hard,” said Matthew Boyd, who was named “Tiger of the Year” in November. “They’re pouring into these children and investing their whole lives for them to be future leaders.”

The Boyds are not the only Tigers family to earn the prestigious honor. The Detroit News previously extended the “Michiganian of the Year” award to Al Kaline, Alan Trammell and Ernie Harwell.

For more information on Kingdom Home, visit KingdomHome.org.

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The District Detroit offers world-class live entertainment year-round. Little Caesars Arena specifically hosts hockey, basketball and concerts — sometimes all in the same weekend. But have you ever wondered how an ice rink becomes a basketball court overnight?

We followed Little Caesars Arena facility manager Jared Bodary and his conversion crew for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into transforming Little Caesars Arena, one of the world’s best and busiest venues, from ice to court.

Peek behind the curtain in the video below.

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The sport of hockey can greatly impact the lives of kids, especially the girls who take up the sport at a young age. The Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, one of the nation’s premier amateur hockey organizations, provides opportunities for young players to advance their athletic careers. Each year, high school students around the country sign a binding National Letter of Intent to play collegiate sports for the school of their choice.

For signatories from the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club’s Girls team, there’s another layer of significance: some of them grew up watching their big brothers on the ice, wondering when their opportunity to play hockey would come.

Due to their hard work, dedication to the sport and the help of the coaches and staff of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, these athletes will have the opportunity to attend college and play the game they love.

Celebrate the momentous occasion with them in the video below.

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