This Friday, November 17, the magical Coca‑Cola® Holiday Caravan will bring a taste of the holidays to The District Detroit. The caravan will be loaded with holiday gifts, Coca‑Cola products and even Santa himself!

The public event runs from 6-9 p.m., and everyone is invited to come join in on the fun, holiday magic and joy. Friends and family can experience free photos with Santa, Coca-Cola products and free gifts.  

Since 1997, the 65-foot-long Coca-Cola® Holiday Caravan has touched hearts and created lasting memories for millions of people and become a highly anticipated holiday tradition.

The Holiday Caravan will be located on Columbia Plaza, directly in front of Comerica Park. The event coincides with Detroit’s 20^th Annual Tree Lighting in Campus Martius Park.

Olympia Development congratulates the University of Michigan for naming Scott Shireman as the inaugural director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, located in The District Detroit.

U-M Hires Inaugural Director of Innovation Center in Detroit

Scott Shireman, an experienced higher education administrator with deep expertise in global and online education, will become the inaugural director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit.

His appointment to a five-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2024, was announced by Provost Laurie McCauley and will be reported to the Board of Regents at its Dec. 7 meeting.

The provost said Shireman’s administrative and leadership experience demonstrate his ability to excel as the inaugural UMCI director.

“He will not only be an effective leader for the center itself, but his deep roots in higher education will allow him to collaborate across the institution and with Detroit-based partners to bring the center to life,” McCauley said.

The U-M Board of Regents approved construction of the $250 million center in downtown Detroit at its Oct. 19 meeting. Construction is expected to take three years.

The center 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 will be raised from donors. The university will break ground on the project by the end of the year.

Shireman comes to U-M from the online higher education company Coursera, where he is the global head of Coursera for Campus. He often represents Coursera around the globe, presenting regularly on topics such as the future of higher education and better alignment between academic programs and industry needs.

“It’s an incredible honor to be selected to lead the U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit and I am eager to start making important connections with Detroiters and the many community organizations that are so important to this effort,” Shireman said.

He has worked in numerous increasingly responsible leadership positions as associate dean and chief operating officer at the University of California Berkeley Extension and as director of IT infrastructure and operations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Shireman, a first-generation college student, earned two degrees from Northwestern University—a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese religion and Master of Business Administration.

UMCI is designed to be a world-class research, education and entrepreneurship center designed to advance innovation and talent-focused community development to propel city, regional and statewide job creation and inclusive economic growth by stimulating economic development in Detroit.

UMCI will add to the university’s presence in Detroit, which includes the P-20 Partnership at the School at Marygrove; the Horace H. Rackham Educational Memorial building, which has been approved for renovation; and the U-M Detroit Center, which opened in 2005. Additionally, there are hundreds of projects U-M works on with community partners throughout the city.

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The American Cancer Society of Michigan will present The Detroit Red Wings Foundation with its Community Athletic Award at its annual Discovery Ball, held at The Fillmore Detroit on November 11.

The award is given to those that exemplify the ideals of the positive spirit of professional athletics and exceed expectations in assisting others within the cancer community. The recognition shines the light on organizations who have made significant contributions to the fight against cancer through partnership, generosity, and impact. The Detroit Red Wings Foundation has been a long-time partner of the American Cancer Society through the National Hockey League’s “Hockey Fights Cancer” initiative.

“Hockey Fights Cancer” night will take place at Little Caesars Arena on November 30 against the Chicago Blackhawks, with the game horn to be sounded by Carson Jones, the four-year-old son of Red Wings head ice technician Dave Jones. Carson was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in August 2023. Tickets for the game are available at https://www.NHL.com/RedWings/

Tickets for the American Cancer Society Discovery Ball are sold out, but those wishing to support the organization can bid in the event auction which closes Saturday, Nov. 11 at 10 p.m. Winners will be contacted the following week.

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• This Veterans Day Marks 17th Anniversary of the Little Caesars Veterans Program

As part of a long-standing tradition of giving back and honoring U.S. military men and women, Little Caesars® is offering all United States Armed Forces veterans and active military a free HOT-N-READY® Lunch Combo at participating stores nationwide this Veterans Day.

On Saturday, November 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., veterans and active military members can receive their free Lunch Combo, which features four slices of Little Caesars famous Detroit-style Deep Dish pizza paired with a 20-ounce Pepsi product.

“All of us at Little Caesars are thankful to our veterans and military members for their service,” said Little Caesars President and CEO David Scrivano. “In addition to complimentary lunch on Veterans Day, our family-owned company remains committed to supporting these heroes all year round with initiatives like the Little Caesars Veterans Program.”

The Little Caesars Veterans Program, now in its 17th year, provides honorably discharged veterans and Gold Star families with financial incentives to open a Little Caesars franchise of their own. These individuals receive benefits when opening a franchise store through the Little Caesars Veterans Program, including a franchise fee discount, equipment and supply discount, financing assistance, and advertising and publicity support, among other benefits.  Today, there are hundreds of veteran-owned Little Caesars stores across the country. For more information about becoming a Little Caesars franchisee, visit www.franchise.littlecaesars.com.

“As an organization, we believe that our veterans, the men, and women who have given so much to serve our country, should return home with business prospects to help them achieve their hopes and dreams,” said Jeremy Vitaro, Chief Development Officer for Little Caesars. “So, we created a program to honor veterans and provide them with an opportunity to become business owners.”

No coupon is required to redeem the free HOT-N-READY Lunch combo offer on Veterans Day. Veterans and military personnel must present proof of service (such as an ID card with veteran designation, DD-214 form, or current military-issued ID card).

The Little Caesars Veterans Program reflects the company’s strong belief and business philosophy that giving back and making a difference is something we can all do.

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Renowned broadcaster Jason Benetti has joined the Tigers as the club’s television play-by-play announcer, serving as the voice of baseball to one of the best fanbases in all of sports.

Benetti, one of the top voices in Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball, joins the Tigers after eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox. Known for his elite storytelling ability, creative thinking, and engaging personality on-air and behind-the-scenes, Benetti will work alongside the Tigers, production staff with Bally Sports Detroit, and his partners in the booth to entertain and inform fans across the world.

“I’m incredibly proud to join this historic and ascending Tigers franchise,” said Benetti. “From every single person I talked with throughout the interview process it was clear why so many respected professionals and creative people have joined the organization in the last several years. There’s something special about it, and I’m excited to bring that energy to Tigers fans around the globe. I’d also like to thank Chris Ilitch, Ryan Gustafson, Scott Harris, and everyone else I’ve met with in the last several weeks who have been so welcoming. Everyone I spent time with made it clear this was the right place for me. I was born and raised in the Midwest, and understand how important sports are, especially here in the Motor City.”

Benetti, who will be employed by the Tigers, is also one of the few regional broadcasters whose voice extends beyond the city or sport they call home. On the national level he calls games for FOX in several sports, including Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball games. He’s also one of the radio voices for March Madness on Westwood One and has led the booth for MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock.

With time built into his schedule to satisfy national broadcast obligations, Benetti will call a minimum of 127 Tigers games each season. When those scheduling conflicts occur, the Tigers will move long-time radio play-by-play voice Dan Dickerson over to television. Dickerson, who has filled in on television in the past, agreed to do this to ensure fans have the best broadcast experience possible throughout the season.

“Jason is a world-class talent and today is another tremendous step forward for the Tigers as we continue to build a championship-level organization and experience for our fans,” said Ryan Gustafson, EVP/COO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Beyond his talent, Jason’s story is inspirational and our shared commitment to excellence and innovation was apparent throughout our discussions. We are thrilled to welcome Jason to our family, joining an incredible group of broadcasters at the Tigers and Red Wings that create the on-air experience our fans deserve.”

“All of us at Bally Sports welcome Jason to Detroit, and we’re thrilled he’s joining our Tigers telecasts,” said Greg Hammaren, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports Detroit. “Jason’s reputation as one of the best and brightest announcers across all of sports adds to our already strong production effort here in Detroit. His deep knowledge and love for baseball are traits shared by our incredible fans, and we’re looking forward to them getting to know Jason more starting in February when the Tigers take the field in Lakeland.”

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• As Selected by the Detroit Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America

Spencer Torkelson has been named Tiger of the Year as voted on by members of the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, receiving 15 of the 25 votes cast. Kerry Carpenter, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jake Rogers and Tarik Skubal also received at least one vote.

Torkelson, who is one of four finalists for the Silver Slugger Award among American League first basemen, appeared in a team-high 159 games in 2023, batting .233/.313/.446 with 34 doubles, one triple, 31 home runs and 94 RBI. His 31 homers ranked tied for eighth in the AL and were the most in a season by a Tigers player since Miguel Cabrera (38) and Justin Upton (31) in 2016.

Torkelson became the first player in franchise history to have 30-or-more doubles, 30-or-more homers and 90-or-more RBI in his age-23 season. Among Major League players in their age-23 season or younger in 2023, Torkelson ranked second in home runs and doubles and third in RBI.

From June 27 until the end of the season, Torkelson posted an .851 OPS with 17 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs and 60 RBI. He was tied for the American League lead and ranked tied for sixth in the Majors in home runs during that span, while he was third in the AL in RBI, tied for fifth in extra-base hits (41) and 10^th in slugging percentage (.524).

The Detroit BBWAA has selected a Tiger of the Year each season dating back to 1965.

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• As Selected by the Detroit Sports Media Association

Lefthanded pitcher Tyler Holton has been named Tigers Rookie of the Year as voted on by members of the Detroit Sports Media Association. Outfielder Parker Meadows came in second place, while righthanded pitcher Reese Olson finished in third.

Holton pitched in 59 games, including one start, in his first season with the Tigers, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.11 ERA (85.1IP/20ER) and 74 strikeouts. He finished the season with a 0.87 WHIP, which led all American League relievers and ranked second in the Majors (min. 50.0 innings pitched) and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, was the lowest by any Tigers reliever in franchise history with at least 60.0 innings pitched in a season.

Holton also was tied for the lead among all Major League relievers with 84.1 innings thrown in relief, while he ranked second among AL relievers (min. 50.0 innings) in walks per 9.0 innings (1.81) and seventh in ERA (2.13) as a reliever. Of Holton’s 59 appearances during the season, 33 were for multiple innings, which was the second-highest total in the Majors, trailing only Chris Stratton, who had 36 such outings.

Holton was named Tigers Pitcher of the Month for August, appearing in 12 games and posting a 3-0 record with one save, a 2.25 ERA (16.0IP/4ER) and 15 strikeouts. He did not allow a run in 11 of his 12 outings during the month, while 10 of his 12 appearances were hitless.

Holton is the first pitcher to be named Tigers Rookie of the Year since Michael Fulmer in 2016 and the first relief pitcher to win the award since Al Alburquerque In 2011.

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Little Caesars, a leading pizza chain known for quality, value, and convenience, announced today the launch of its new Detroit-style Slices-N-Stix across New York City locations. Debuting ahead of Little Caesars latest store opening in Queens, Detroit-Style Slices-N-Stix is just $4.99 * and the perfect meal for the fast-paced New York lifestyle.

The combo includes two generous slices of Detroit-style deep-dish pizza, topped with savory pepperoni, and complemented by four pieces of Italian Cheese Bread – all served with Little Caesars signature Crazy Sauce®. This product will be exclusive to New York City stores and available at all participating locations throughout the five boroughs.

“We know this city takes its pizza seriously, and we’re now giving New Yorkers an opportunity to taste something a little different. Whether you’re born and raised in Detroit, Chicago, or New York, we know that New York City residents and visitors will love the unique flavor of Detroit-Style Slices-N-Stix,” said Greg Hamilton, Chief Marketing Officer at Little Caesars. “Pizza enthusiasts throughout NYC savor every detail from the cheese to the sauce to the crust. We’re excited to witness Little Caesars fans enjoying a quick meal on the go as they head to the subway, a show, or even on their walk home.”

Little Caesars newest menu item showcases the brand’s continued commitment to growing its following in the Big Apple. The brand is also seeking further expansion across the Tri-State area and is looking for accomplished multi-unit franchisees with extensive QSR experience to help grow its presence.

Little Caesars is a family-owned company with more than 60 years of experience and a steadfast commitment to innovation. Nearly 20 years ago, the brand revolutionized the global pizza industry with its signature HOT-N-READY pizza, which gives customers the easy and quick option to stop in and carry out a freshly made, piping-hot, large pizza without waiting or ordering ahead.

More recently, Little Caesars introduced the cutting-edge Pizza Portal® pick up to provide service and convenience on demand to keep up with the city’s bustling consumers. The technology streamlines the ordering and pickup process, enabling customers to place their orders through the Little Caesars app and then bypass the counter, picking up directly from the Pizza Portal. In addition to Pizza Portal Pickup, guests across NYC locations can order Little Caesars for delivery via the Little Caesars website or mobile app.  

For more information about Little Caesars and Detroit-Style Slices-N-Stix, visit LittleCaesars.com and follow @LittleCaesars on social.

*Plus tax where applicable. Available at participating locations. Prices may vary. Prices higher in AK, HI and third-party online sites.

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There’s no Who-Pudding or rare Who-Roast Beast on the menu, but JoJo’s ShakeBAR is featuring a limited-edition Grinch Shake available Friday, November 3 through Sunday, November 12 in celebration of the engagement of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical playing at the Fox Theatre November 8-12, with the Grinch himself making an appearance at JoJo’s for photos with guests on Saturday, November 4 at 6 p.m.

The Grinch Shake is a green peppermint shake topped with a Christmas tree sugar cookie, chocolate covered pretzel, chocolate covered Oreo and finished off with whipped topping covered in red and green sprinkles.

JoJo’s ShakeBAR, located at 88 W. Columbia St. in The District Detroit, is a next-generation restaurant and bar, and The District Detroit’s go-to spot for hangouts, first dates and family affairs. Grounded in nostalgia, JoJo’s ShakeBAR features 80s/90s-inspired details, like arcade game tables and walk-up window for sports fans on the run. The menu includes over-the-top Biggie Shakes, classic diner fare, cocktails and decadent desserts.

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical appears at the Fox Theatre for eight performances Wednesday, November 8 – Sunday, November 12 as part of the 2023-24 Fox Theatre Series presented by Comerica Bank. The record-setting Broadway holiday sensation features the hit songs “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” from the original animated special. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday loving Whos. Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville and helps remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season. Tickets are on sale now at 313Presents.com and Ticketmaster.com.

Performance Schedule:

Wednesday, November 8          7:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 9              7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 10                 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 11             12:30 p.m., 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 12               1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

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