The University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI) was welcomed to The District Detroit on December 14 at a groundbreaking ceremony featuring inspiring remarks from business, community, government and education leaders – a testament to the UMCI’s powerful potential to nurture and retain talent and drive positive social and economic impacts throughout the city, region, and state.

“Today’s groundbreaking is far more than the promise of a new building. It is a profound expression of our sustained and lasting commitment to the city of Detroit, and of our faith in a shining future for the state of Michigan,” said University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono. “It’s a proud moment for all of us.”

The event also included rousing performances from the U-M Student Jazz Trio and Fanfare Band, and Detroit’s Cass Tech Madrigals, as well as the introduction of Scott Shireman, the inaugural director of the UMCI.  

Chris Ilitch, CEO, Ilitch Companies, spoke about the organization’s longstanding commitment to education and supporting the community.

“For nearly 65 years, the mission of our organization has been to leverage our companies, our resources, our relationships and our partnerships to further our community,” Ilitch said. “And this is what we can accomplish when we work together and aspire to do tremendous things to lift up the people of our city, state and region to new heights. I am truly inspired by this entire initiative.”

The UMCI academic building will be funded by a $100 million gift from donor Stephen M. Ross, $100 million from the state of Michigan, a land donation of 2.08 acres at the intersection of Grand River Avenue and West Columbia Street from Olympia Development of Michigan, and an additional $50 million that will be raised from donors.

The cornerstone of the first building of U-M was laid on Sept. 14, 1817, near the corner of Bates and Congress streets in Detroit. “Now the University of Michigan is back home, and we couldn’t be happier,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Other speakers at the event included, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Mary Sheffield, Detroit City Council president, Stephen Ross, Chairman of Related Companies, Laurie McCauley, U-M provost, Geoff Chatas, U-M chief financial officer, and Lisa Phillips, principal, Cass Tech High School.

“It’s a public-private undertaking like this with so many who’ve made investments to realize this opportunity right here in the heart of the city of Detroit,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said. “A city that is on the rise. And this will add one more opportunity for Detroiters, for future Wolverines, for our economy and for this beautiful state we all call home.”

Stephen Ross, a Detroit native and U-M alum, has championed bringing the UMCI to the city for nearly five years. “It will grow downtown Detroit, and reverberate throughout the city and state attracting jobs and people who see the opportunities in Detroit,” Ross said.

The UMCI joins a robust live, work, play and learn district that is home to world-class sports & entertainment venues, professional sports teams including the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars world headquarters, Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University and Detroit Public School Community District’s Cass Technical High School.  

“The University of Michigan Innovation Center is laying the foundation for a brighter future and where innovation knows no bounds in education, it is a gateway to endless possibilities. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who continue to make this partnership a reality, made this collaboration to be a source of inspiration and empowerment for generations” said Lisa Philips, Principal of Cass Technical High School.

Through catalytic developments, innovative design and construction, and inclusive placemaking, Olympia Development continues to create jobs, produce needed housing, increase tax base, and grow businesses in Detroit while steadily creating one of the world’s most dynamic destinations, The District Detroit. Olympia Development of Michigan, a proud member of Ilitch companies, is a real estate development firm dedicated to improving the lives of people who live, work, and play in Detroit and beyond.

Center to Spur Economic Growth, Educational Enrichment in Detroit Article

University of Michigan Recap Video

City of Detroit Full Ceremony Video

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At the Ilitch Companies, gratitude underscores all that we do – we are thankful for our colleagues, our customers, our partners, and the global communities in which we serve. This holiday season, as we close out a year of gratitude – from celebrating the career of the legendary Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera to providing meals through the Little Caesars Love Kitchen and shining the spotlight on the athletic and artistic talents of youth, plus so much more – we thank all those who have been part of the journey.

Appreciating our community partners as we build opportunity

• The evolution of Columbia Street continued as Detroit’s “Restaurant Row” as Olympia Development welcomed two new locally-owned destinations to the pedestrian-only thoroughfare – Sahara Restaurant & Grill and Good Cakes and Bakes. The area was further activated throughout the year with family-friendly activities including Lions tailgates in partnership with Little Caesars, a celebration of European soccer, a Miggy pop-up experience featuring El Rey de las Arepas, Fall Fest, Winter Wonderland and more.
  
• Building on last year’s inaugural program, both Little Caesars Arena and Comerica Park welcomed Detroit-based food vendors to the venues, creating opportunity for small businesses while enhancing the experience for fans. Among the local entrepreneurs were The Kitchen by Cooking by Que, Bert’s Marketplace, The Lobster Food Truck, Breadless and others.
  
• Leveraging their partnership with the NFL, Little Caesars Love Kitchen served nearly 70,000 meals to those in need in 2023, including stops at the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, cities impacted by natural disasters, as well as 5,500 pizzas in the company’s hometown of Detroit.
  
• Ilitch Companies CEO Chris Ilitch served as the 2023 Senior Corporate Chair of the Detroit Branch NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, billed as the largest sit-down dinner in the world. This year also marked the 60^th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Freedom Walk. The commemorative walk was supported by all Ilitch Companies businesses, and colleagues who marched, volunteered and provided water to participants.
  
• Working with partners across a wide array of backgrounds, this year marked the opening of The District Detroit’s Opportunity Center. The center serves as a centralized location for residents of Detroit to find resources for housing and jobs, while providing opportunities to engage with employers, contractors and other community members.
  

Supporting kids on the field, in the classroom and on the stage

• Students from Detroit Public Schools Community District returned to the stage at the Fox Theatre for the annual Evening of Fine Arts, in partnership with Olympia Development, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, 313 Presents and Comerica Bank. Featuring visual art on display in the theatre’s Grand Lobby and a variety of performances by musicians, actors and dancers on stage, the event showcased the immense talents of Detroit’s students.
  
• The Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score program was expanded this year to include street hockey within the P.E. curriculum for more than 34,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Launched in 2020, Learn, Play, Score breaks down systemic barriers by providing access to all forms of hockey for thousands of children in the Detroit Public Schools Community District.
  
• At a community celebration in August, llitch Charities expressed its gratitude to three community organizations, including the Detroit Public Schools Foundation. The donation of $100,000 supports career and technical educational programs that train students to join the workforce. Other honorees were Detroit’s Eastern Market Partnership and Hatch Detroit by TechTown, an initiative of Wayne State University.
  
• As Miguel Cabrera’s final season came to an end, the Detroit Tigers Foundation hosted its Keeping Kids in the Game fundraising event at Comerica Park, benefitting Make-A-Wish, providing positive life-changing experiences to critically ill youth, and the Miguel Cabrera Foundation, which, among other things, promotes recreational baseball and softball to children between 6 and 10 years of age.  

Read more about the Ilitch Companies family of business at www.IlitchNewsHub.com.

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With hundreds of events across six sports and entertainment venues, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment event colleagues play a critical role in amazing, inspiring and uniting millions of guests each year. These incredible colleagues work in a diverse array of roles, including ushers, security, parking, in-venue entertainment and much more. Their dedication to providing a tremendous guest experience shines through in all that they do.

Meet Jerome Foster, Security Supervisor, Little Caesars Arena:

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When the Detroit Tigers welcome the best fans in baseball back to Comerica Park for Opening Day on April 5, 2024, they will notice a transformation of their visual and audio experience.

The Tigers announced today that a brand-new videoboard, measuring 15,688 square feet, will be installed at Comerica Park. Significant enhancements will be made to the audio system at Comerica Park, and televisions throughout the ballpark will be upgraded.  

The new videoboard at Comerica Park will be the second largest in Major League Baseball, replacing the pre-existing scoreboard, which was the 18th largest. The ballpark will receive new speakers that will be adjacent to the new videoboard, allowing for an enhanced audio experience throughout the ballpark.  

“Investing in a world-class entertainment experience at Comerica Park for Tigers fans is a top priority for our organization and we are excited to make these enhancements heading into next season,” said Ryan Gustafson, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment EVP/COO. “Fans will see and hear a noticeable difference on Opening Day with a new videoboard more than double the size of the existing one, and significant advancements to the audio and television systems throughout the ballpark.”

The videoboard project began on Thursday, Dec. 14 and will continue through the winter. Daktronics, which designed the original scoreboard at Comerica Park, will be the manufacturer of the new videoboard.

The new televisions throughout the Comerica Park concourse will feature advanced signal quality and additional channels, including live feeds of the Tigers’ minor league affiliate teams. The connected IPTV system will also be upgraded to provide a consistent and enhanced visual experience throughout the ballpark.

Along with the additional 9,500 square feet for the new videoboard, overall resolution will also be upgraded. The upper and lower portions of the board will create a high-definition viewing experience featuring 14.1 million pixels that are 33 percent closer together than the old scoreboard, which utilized 2.4 million pixels. The increased resolution and size will provide enhanced graphical displays of lineups, statistical notes, analytics and more.

Members of the Tigers’ business operations visited ballparks across MLB to benchmark and gather best practices for making industry-leading video and audio advancements.

The Tigers will host the Oakland Athletics for 2024 Opening Day – Detroit’s Biggest Party – on Friday, April 5. Detroit will start the season on the road, playing at the Chicago White Sox (March 28, 30-31) and New York Mets (April 1-3).

The Tigers have made several enhancements to Comerica Park in recent years, including adjustments to the outfield wall height, padding and dimensions and upgrades to state-of-the-art LED stadium lighting, in addition to an extensive player clubhouse renovation, ahead of the 2023 season. The Chevrolet Pavilion Bar was renovated into an additional social space for Tigers fans in 2022, along with the Atwater Brewery Bar at the Chevrolet Pavilion and the Vizzy Hard Seltzer View. Dozens of permanent concession stands have been renovated and installed in recent years, and several Detroit-based businesses have brought their unique, local flavors to Comerica Park the past two seasons.

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• Red Wings and Tigers players enjoy brightening holidays for local youth

Continuing a special tradition of delivering joy to families in metro Detroit, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Meijer teamed up for the annual Hometown Holiday Assist on Friday, Dec. 8, by treating 50 kids from The Children’s Center (TCC) for a shopping spree at a Meijer store in northwest Detroit.

The event drew several Red Wings players — Ben Chiarot, Christian Fischer, Shayne Gostisbehere, Alex Lyon, Olli Maatta, Jeff Petry, Michael Rasmussen, Moritz Seider, Daniel Sprong and Jake Walman — and assistant coach Jay Varady. Tigers pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long and radio play-by-play voice Dan Dickerson, in addition to Bally Sports Detroit’s Craig Monroe and Dan Petry, were also in attendance.

“(Hometown Holiday Assist) is an incredible event,” said Ryan Gustafson, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E). “It’s great to see a lot of our players here. We sincerely thank them for coming out and our great partners at Meijer for hosting us. Giving back to the community around the holidays is incredibly important to our organization, so it’s fun to be here and see the smiles on the kids’ faces.”

Volunteers and colleagues from the Red Wings and IS+E kicked off the night by forming a high-five tunnel and welcoming the kids into Meijer. Each child was then paired with an athlete, media personality or volunteer to shop for wish-list items like toys, stuffed animals and video games.

TCC is a Detroit-based non-profit organization that provides specialized clinical and employment services to local youth. And for Varady, helping the TCC children enjoy Friday’s shopping spree was gratifying.

“It’s great to get out in the community and be part of this,” Varady said. “Especially with (TCC) being so close to the rink, it feels like we’re giving back right next to where we’re working.”

Walman said the coolest gift he helped pick was a PlayStation 4 controller.

“When we get the opportunity, it’s something that I look forward to doing,” Walman said. “Treating kids to fun always makes me proud. It would be a waste if we didn’t do stuff like this. I think it’s a good opportunity to make some kids happy and make their day.”

Concluding with a Little Caesars pizza party and holiday-themed activities and games, the 10th annual Hometown Holiday Assist was a big success, according to IS+E Director of Community Impact Kevin Brown.

“It’s incredible to see how far this event has come since its beginning 10 years ago with our partner Meijer,” Brown said. “Being able to support thousands of kids over that amount of time is so special to our organization. And to know we’re able to bring together both the Red Wings and Tigers during this time of year to share in the spirit of the holidays, while giving back to those in need, that’s what is important.”

Hometown Holiday Assist, an annual program supporting Detroit families and local non-profits during the holiday season, is one of several community events that Red Wings and Tigers players participate in each year.

Original story written by Jonathan Mills and published on DetroitRedWings.com

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Building on the ongoing effort to support Detroit-based businesses, The Kitchen by Cooking with Que is the newest addition to Little Caesars Arena, following a successful stint at Comerica Park during the Detroit Tigers’ 2023 season. During Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons home games from December 16 – January 19, the local restaurant will serve plant-based and meat-based dishes.

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que was founded by “Cooking with Que AKA: Chef Que” with vegan, gluten-free and meat-based menu items at its flagship location on Woodward Avenue in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood. Chef Que first began exploring healthier food options after being diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, which is an autoimmune disease that commonly attacks the lungs.

After being diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, a discovery of a dairy allergy also came to light, which was detrimental to Chef Que’s health because many of the medications that treat Sarcoidosis use dairy as a binding agent. This led her on a journey to find alternative ways to offset the disease which didn’t require medication. Through her research, she discovered plant-based eating, which she first explored in her blog, “Cooking with Que,” which launched in 2012, then expanded into her first brick and mortar location in 2017.

“After adopting a plant-based lifestyle, I felt so much better,” Chef Que said. “Afterward, my brain just wanted to show others what I did to make myself better and potentially share ways to make their lives better too.”

Chef Que said she then started looking for more variety with vegan food.

“I wanted to be able to eat everywhere not just being offered a salad or a veggie plate, I wanted full meals. If no one was going to do it for me, I wanted to do it for myself and others,” the vegan chef said. “I wanted people to have the option to enjoy food wherever they may be…at a game, on an airplane or even at an amusement park.”  

The Kitchen’s menu has options that allows vegans and meat-eaters to coexist, with dishes including: Vegan Mac & Cheez, Gumbo, Chicken Caesar Wrap or Salad and House Potatoes.

“We’re thrilled to be able to work with several Detroit-based businesses at our venues, and welcome Cooking with Que to the Ilitch Sports + Entertainment family,” said Tim Padgett, Senior Vice President of Venue Operations. “We look forward to engaging additional small businesses in our city and providing our fans and guests opportunities to experience unique and localized offerings.”

Visit The Kitchen at 6529 Woodward Ave., Ste A, Detroit, MI 48202 or at www.CookingWithQue.com, as well as at upcoming Red Wings and Pistons games at Little Caesars Arena in the “Detroit House,” located on the street concourse level adjacent to the Meijer Entry.

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Goaltender Has Played in 153 NHL Games Since 2013-14

The Detroit Red Wings today signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a one-year, two-way contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.

Hutchinson, 33, has spent the 2023-24 season with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, posting a 5-7-1 record with a 2.98 goals-against average, an 0.895 save percentage and one shutout in 13 games. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound netminder also appeared in two preseason contests with the Red Wings while signed to a professional tryout. Hutchinson split the 2022-23 campaign between the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights and the Columbus Blue Jackets, making seven appearances with the Silver Knights before playing in 16 NHL games with the Blue Jackets. Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round (77th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Hutchinson has compiled a 57-61-18 record with a 2.93 goals-against average, a 0.902 save percentage and six shutouts in 153 NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and Blue Jackets since 2013-14. Additionally, Hutchinson has built a 111-78-21 record with a 2.60 goals-against average, a 0.915 save percentage and 16 shutouts in 222 AHL games with the Providence Bruins, St. John’s IceCaps, Manitoba Moose, Toronto Marlies, Springfield Thunderbirds, Silver Knights and Griffins, participating in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic and earning a place on the AHL Second All-Star Team in 2017-18.

A native of Barrie, Ont., Hutchinson played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Barrie Colts and London Knights from 2006-10 prior to turning professional. Hutchinson played his final major junior season with London in 2009-10, posting a 32-12-2 record with a 2.86 goals-against average, a 0.913 save percentage and three shutouts in 46 appearances. In total, Hutchinson accumulated a 67-50-7 record with a 2.87 goals-against average, a 0.915 save percentage and nine shutouts in 130 OHL contests. On the international stage, Hutchinson represented Team Canada at the 2022 Spengler Cup, appearing in two games at the tournament held annually in Davos, Switzerland.

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• Dylan Larkin Activated From Injured Reserve

The Detroit Red Wings today assigned center Austin Czarnik to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, the Red Wings have activated center Dylan Larkin from injured reserve.

Czarnik, 31, has skated in 15 games with the Red Wings this season, recording one assist, six penalty minutes and 12 shots in 8:33 average time on ice. The 5-foot-9, 167-pound forward has also collected seven points (3-4-7) and six penalty minutes in nine games with the Griffins to begin the 2023-24 season. Czarnik split the 2022-23 campaign between the Red Wings and Griffins, notching five points (3-2-5) and eight penalty minutes in 29 games with Detroit, in addition to 37 points (14-23-37) and eight penalty minutes in 43 games with Grand Rapids. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Bruins on March 31, 2015, Czarnik has played in parts of eight NHL seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken and Red Wings, totaling 51 points (18-33-51) and 34 penalty minutes in 186 games since 2016-17. He has also compiled 269 points (98-171-269), a plus-22 rating and 100 penalty minutes in 279 AHL games with the Providence Bruins, Stockton Heat, Bridgeport Islanders and Griffins. Czarnik paced all AHL rookies with 61 points (20-41-61) in 68 games during the 2015-16 season and went on to represent Providence at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic.

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A native of Washington Township, Mich., Czarnik played four seasons at Miami University from 2011-15 prior to turning professional, serving as team captain during his junior and senior years. In all, Czarnik accumulated 169 points (46-123-169), a plus-50 rating and 119 penalty minutes in 159 games with the RedHawks and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist as a sophomore in 2012-13. Before joining the RedHawks, Czarnik spent the 2010-11 season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, posting 34 points (20-14-34) and 33 penalty minutes in 46 contests. He previously skated with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2008-10. On the international stage, Czarnik represented Team USA at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, notching four points (2-2-4) in six games. Czarnik earned a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship after recording six points (5-1-6), a plus-seven rating and four penalty minutes in seven games, and also won a bronze medal at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge after collecting four points (1-3-4) in five appearances.

The Detroit Tigers have signed righthanded pitcher Jack Flaherty to a one-year contract worth $14 million. Flaherty’s contract also includes performance bonuses that can increase his base salary up to $1 million for games started during the season: $250,000 for 26 starts, $250,000 for 28 starts and $500,000 for 30 starts.

Flaherty, 28, combined to pitch in 29 games, including 27 starts, between St. Louis and Baltimore in 2023, posting an 8-9 record with a 4.99 ERA (144.1IP/80ER) and 148 strikeouts. He also made pitched 2.0 innings for the Orioles during the American League Division Series vs. Texas.

Flaherty put together his best big league season in 2019 with the Cardinals, finishing fourth in voting for the National League Cy Young Award and 13^th for NL Most Valuable Player after compiling an 11-8 record with a 2.75 ERA (196.1IP/60ER) and 231 strikeouts in 33 starts. He led all NL pitchers with a 0.97 WHIP and .192 opponent batting average, while he ranked tied for third with 33 starts, fourth with a 2.75 ERA, sixth with 231 strikeouts and eighth with 196.1 innings pitched. He earned second team All-MLB honors and was NL Pitcher of the Month twice during the season.

In his first full Major League season in 2018, Flaherty finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting after going 8-9 with a 3.34 ERA (151.0IP/56ER) and 182 strikeouts in 28 starts.

In seven Major League seasons, Flaherty has a 42-34 record with a 3.75 ERA (667.2IP/278ER) and 748 strikeouts in 131 career appearances, including 125 starts. He has reached the postseason three times in his career, posting a 3.60 ERA (25.0IP/10ER) and 31 strikeouts in five appearances, including four starts.

A native of Burbank, CA, Flaherty was originally selected by St. Louis with the 34^th overall pick of the 2014 MLB Draft. With the signing of Flaherty, the Tigers 40-man roster is now at 40.

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