• Tickets On-Sale Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m.

With 27 number one singles, 15 billion streams and more than 20 million albums sold, ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean today announced his upcoming “Highway Desperado Tour.” Produced by Live Nation, the 41-city headlining tour will include a performance at Pine Knob Music Theatre on Friday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m. Mitchell Tenpenny serves as direct support for Aldean, alongside openers Corey Kent and Dee Jay Silver. Pine Knob Music Theatre is presented by Proud Partners United Wholesale Mortgage, Trinity Health and Ally.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m. at 313Presents.com, LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.com. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, invitation to the Jason Aldean VIP Lounge, pre-show acoustic performance and Q&A session with Jason Aldean, VIP gift item & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

The Grammy®-nominated, multi-Platinum entertainer released his tenth career studio album, Macon, Georgia, featuring 20 new songs and an additional 10 live tracks last year, earning praise from Rolling Stone, Stereogum, The Tennessean, Entertainment Tonight, E! News and more. The album earned the Georgia-native his 27th career-charting #1 single, “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” as well as a Billboard Music Award nomination for “Top Country Song” as well as awards from ACM, CMT, iHeart, and a Grammy® nomination for “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood. His current single, “That’s What Tequila Does,” is currently Top 10 and climbing at Country Radio.

Since making his chart debut in 2005, the 3X ACM Entertainer of the Year has earned the most Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart-more than any other artist- with “songs of small-town living, love and loss have resonated with a loyal fanbase” (Billboard) that have “vaulted him to the pinnacle of Country music success” (Atlanta Journal Constitution). For more information, visit JasonAldean.com.

‍Photo Credit: Brian Higbee

As part of the Detroit Red Wings’ groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score “Street Hockey in The D: At School” program, presented by Chevrolet, more than 34,000 Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) students in kindergarten through eighth grade are learning the basics of hockey. From January 30 through February 10, physical education teachers at 79 public schools are using hockey to help develop life skills like teamwork, dedication and maintaining a healthy body and mind.

To bring the program to life for the students, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and teammates Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider met excited elementary and middle schoolers at Bunche Preparatory Academy and Chrysler Elementary School and played floor hockey with them in the schools’ gymnasiums.

Larkin was excited to spend time with students and enjoyed the genuine happiness in their smiles. “Being around the kids, seeing their enthusiasm, watching them learn and have fun is what it’s all about. Learn, Play, Score is good for kids in the community get a stick and a ball and know they don’t need a whole lot to enjoy the game of hockey.”

Seider manned a stick-handling station, where he taught students how to hold and use a hockey stick. Seider said he hoped the experience might spark interest in the game like it did for him in his youth. “When I was in school I didn’t pay much attention to hockey at first, but once I started I just fell in love.  Today seeing all the excitement with the kids as they played was really cool.” Raymond added, “Hockey was something I always came back to growing up, so hopefully these kids are having as much fun playing today as we are.”

The Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score program, focusing on breaking down systemic barriers by providing equitable access to hockey in various forms for thousands of children across Detroit, was launched in 2020. The program includes street hockey within the P.E. curriculum for all schools serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Wendy Shirley, principal of Chrysler Elementary School and a 38-year veteran of Detroit Public Schools Community District was excited for her students to meet and learn from Detroit Red Wings players. “To have the Detroit Red Wings join us created a great opportunity for students to experience the sport of hockey, which many of them haven’t been exposed to, and also learn about important things like teamwork, sportsmanship and understanding the role of every player on a team.”

In addition to “Street Hockey in the D,” Learn, Play, Score initiatives include new Esports lounges at the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, ice rink collaborations with Clark Park, East Side Hockey Ice Arena and Jack Adams Memorial Arena, open skate opportunities for youth at Little Casears Arena and more.

“Creating localized access and exposure to hockey through initiatives like Learn, Play, Score unlocks incredible opportunities for young Detroiters to dream big,” said Kevin Brown, Director of Community Impact, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “These unique experiences are intended to help kids imagine the possibilities in hockey while gaining life changing skills that can be carried well-beyond the classroom.”

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Tigers Manager AJ Hinch, Catcher Eric Haase and Pitchers Matt Manning and Matthew Boyd visited the Detroit Police Department’s (DPD) 6th Precinct last month to make a donation to the department’s Community Closet, which provides essential items such as personal hygiene products, baby items, and clothes to the residents of the westside neighborhood that the precinct serves.

While at the precinct, the Tigers were joined by members of the DPD and city officials. Detroit City Council Member Fred Durhal III, who represents the city’s 7th District where the precinct is located, expressed his gratitude to the officers who put together the closet and donors like the Detroit Tigers organization.

“To have the players come down here and take time out of their busy schedules means a lot to our officers, our council members and residents in the city of Detroit. It shows that we need public-private partnerships to ensure that we can continue to provide for our residents,” said Durhal.

Matthew Boyd, who played for the Tigers from 2015 until 2021 and recently re-signed with Detroit, is happy to rejoin charitable team efforts in advance of his first season back with the Tigers.

“I think it’s good to be aware of what’s going on in the community, the needs of the people who live here, and how you can help,” said Boyd. “What they’re doing here at the Community Closet is really special, as they’re directly helping those in need. It’s an awesome concept that I’m humbled to support.”

The Community Closet was created in 2020, and since then, Neighborhood Police Officers and other 6th Precinct officers have used the space to serve neighborhood residents with free resources.

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As the Detroit Tigers gear up for their season, members of the team gathered in Detroit to connect with local students. Over two days in January, manager A.J. Hinch, catcher Eric Haase and pitchers Matt Manning and Matthew Boyd visited Detroit Edison Public School Academy (DEPSA) and Western International High School.

At DEPSA, the Detroit Tigers hosted a pep rally for 4th and 5th grade students to promote two of the team’s free youth initiatives, Fun at Bat and Summer Slugger, presented by Comerica Bank.

Stemming from research of introductory youth sports programs, Fun at Bat focuses on character development, functional movement, active play, and fun. Summer Slugger, a digital learning program, targets foundational skills like spelling, vocabulary, and math skills.

The Tigers divided the DESPA students up into two teams, coached by Manning and Haase, and played a game of whiffle ball. Boyd answered students’ questions about education and tested their knowledge by asking them baseball-related math and reading trivia questions.

At Western International, the Tigers visited with the school’s softball and baseball players to discuss their journeys through the sport, the importance of education, then surprised the student-athletes with new baseball equipment and cleats for each player.

Hector Gutierrez, physical education teacher and assistant baseball coach at Western International, was excited students had the chance to see players on their hometown team and hear directly from them.

“We preach to the student players all the time: ‘Talent can only take you so far. Hard work, dedication and discipline is going to help you make it,’” said Gutierrez, who is also an alum of the Western International baseball program. “Hearing it from Eric Haase, who they look up to and talk about often, you could see in their eyes, they’re thinking, ‘I can do it, too.’”

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There are just a few more days to visit the exhibition “Detroit Red Wings: 1997” at the Detroit Historical Museum. This show uses artifacts from local collectors, the Detroit Historical Society, and the Ilitch Holdings Corporate archives, to highlight how the dynasty was built and let fans relive the excitement of that championship season: the bitter rivalry with Colorado, Joe-Vision, car flags and the thrill of a Stanley Cup run that ended with a gap-toothed Steve Yzerman hoisting the cup on home ice at Joe Louis Arena.

The exhibit closing day is Sunday, February 12. Saturday, February 11 will feature a special ticketed photo opportunity with Red Wing great Vladimir Konstantinov from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. To learn more and for tickets, visit detroithistorical.org.

Photo Credit: Gary North, Detroit Historical Society

• Leading American Pizza Chain’s Inaugural Portugal Restaurants to Open in Lisbon

Little Caesars® Pizza, the third largest pizza chain in the world*, is furthering its international expansion with its first restaurants in Portugal. The global brand, which currently operates in 27 countries and territories, is celebrating the grand opening of its first store in Barreiro, which opened February 6, followed by two stores in central Lisbon in the coming months.

“We are excited to bring Little Caesars Pizza and our globally recognized value, quality and convenience to Portugal,” said Paula Vissing, chief operating officer for Little Caesars Pizza. “Portugal is a key market for us especially as we continue to grow throughout Europe, with stores across Spain and most recently opening our first restaurant in the United Kingdom. We have plans to open several new stores in Portugal in the coming years, and we are thrilled to be entering with such a strong franchisee.”

Little Caesars Pizza 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® model, which gives customers the easy and quick option to simply stop in and take away a freshly made, piping-hot, large pizza and side items without waiting or ordering ahead. Not only are the products made with fresh, natural ingredients, but they are sold at an all-day value every day, providing an excellent meal option for families and individuals. The concept quickly took off in the United States and has since spread to many other Little Caesars Pizza markets around the world.    

“Little Caesars has developed a simple, yet powerful business model designed to give consumers what they want,” added Vissing. “It’s the perfect combination of quality, convenience and value. HOT-N-READY offers high-quality American-style pizzas at an affordable price, lower than the competition, which is especially compelling in today’s economic climate.”  

The menu will feature several HOT-N-READY® large pizzas, including Pepperoni and Margherita, starting at just €5.50. Other delicious offerings include the 4 Cheese Deluxe, Pepperoni Special (pepperoni and mushroom), Tuna Delight and many others. Pepperoni Crazy Puffs and Little Caesars signature Crazy Bread® are also available. All pizzas on the menu are large, at 30.5 cm.  

Over the past few years, Little Caesars Pizza has amplified its international presence in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada. In Europe, the brand announced its market entry into the U.K. earlier this month. It also opened three restaurants this year in Spain, including a flagship location in the heart of Madrid, bringing Spain’s national total to nine stores. Little Caesars Pizza has ambitious plans to continue expanding throughout Europe with a specific focus on the U.K., southern Spain, Germany and France, and is actively seeking franchisees interested in joining the world-renowned brand.

“The European pizza industry is valued at over $53 billion and is projected to continue growing year-over-year,” shared Jeremy Vitaro, chief development officer for Little Caesars Pizza. “Now is the time to capitalize on that growth momentum. We are seeking additional franchisees who are interested in entering into area developer agreements in the U.K, as well as Spain, Germany and France.”

For more information on the menu and store locations in Portugal, visit pt.littlecaesars.com. To learn more about development and growth opportunities in the region, visit International.LittleCaesars.com.  

Little Caesars, the global family-owned pizza chain, announced today that Leigh Burnside will take over the role of chief financial officer for the company. Leigh joins Little Caesars with 30 years of experience in the accounting and finance industry and has held several senior leadership roles, most recently as senior vice president, chief accounting officer and chief financial officer – U.S. at The Wendy’s Company.

Leigh will be supporting the continued strategic global growth of the Little Caesars brand and serve as a key member of the organization’s senior leadership team. She will replace outgoing CFO Darrell Snygg, who recently retired after 34 years of dedicated service, and will work closely with newly named senior vice president of accounting, Allison Bieri.  Bieri, an industry veteran who most recently served as vice president of accounting at Little Caesars, will spearhead the development and expansion of the brand’s existing first-class accounting team.  Little Caesars will also add several new leadership roles in finance and accounting, as well as across the organization, to support recent international and domestic growth.

“Leigh is a driven strategic leader and effective collaborator who will make a strong positive impact on our business,” said David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars. “Her extensive experience in the QSR industry, coupled with her expertise in finance and accounting, make her an excellent fit for the role.”

A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Leigh has served on the board of directors for The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and is on the Board of Advisors of the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland-College Park. She will be based at the Little Caesars Global Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan.

“Little Caesars is a storied brand with such rich history,” said Burnside. “The brand is experiencing tremendous growth and I’m looking forward to playing a key role in continuing to solidify the company’s leadership in value, quality, and convenience.”

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• Pizza Kitchen on Wheels Continues Support of NFL Tentpole Events Through Community Giving

Little Caesars® Pizza, the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League (NFL), is building on the pizza chain’s long history of philanthropy through a charitable giving partnership with the NFL. The Little Caesars® Love Kitchen®, a restaurant on wheels, will be visiting the Las Vegas and Arizona communities to give back to those in need.  

The first serving, tied to the upcoming Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas, will take place on February 3. Partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the NFL and the Love Kitchen will be serving pizza meals at the Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada. In addition to pizza, the league and Little Caesars will be providing a monetary donation that will fund special projects for the facility, as well as handing out giveaways and NFL PLAY 60 activities for the youth present at the serving.

Less than a week later, the big rig pizza kitchen will travel to Arizona for a serving leading up to Super Bowl LVII. The Love Kitchen and the NFL will be partnering with U.S.VETS to benefit local homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. This serving will take place at the U.S.VETS– Phoenix new headquarters and will serve the community in which the Super Bowl will take place.

“Little Caesars is always looking for ways support people when they need it and to help make communities stronger,” said David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars. “The Love Kitchen was created to provide quality meals for people who need them, and we are proud to work together with the NFL to help combat the food insecurity that impacts many of the children and veterans in the communities we’re serving. It is important for us to continually build on our legacy of community service.”

The Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl servings are a continuation of the Love Kitchen’s support of tentpole NFL events that began in September in Los Angeles.

In addition to the September serving, the Love Kitchen, in tandem with 175 of its franchisees, served nearly 70,000 people over 300 servings, traveling 50,000 miles across 250 cities in 2022 alone. The pizza kitchen on wheels responded to four disasters – Hurricane Ian in Florida, the Kentucky flooding, the Gaylord, Michigan tornado, and the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. 2022 was also a year of firsts – the Love Kitchen aired its first-ever national TV commercial in its nearly 40-year history during Thursday Night Football.  

The Love Kitchen also has some exciting upcoming plans – including building two brand-new trailers, with one slated to be launched next year – as well as continuing its traditional servings for people around the country in need and further enhancing its partnership with the NFL.

Since its inception in 1985, the Little Caesars Love Kitchen has served nearly 4 million people in the 48 contiguous states and four Canadian provinces.

The Detroit Tigers announced the following 22 players have been invited to Major League Spring Training. With today’s additions, there will be 62 players in Major League Spring Training for the Tigers.

Pitchers (10): Elvis Alvarado, Kervin Castro, Angel De Jesus, Miguel Del Pozo, Miguel Diaz, Brenan Hanifee, Zach Logue, Chasen Shreve, Trey Wingenter, Adam Wolf

Position Players (12): Brendon Davis, Jonathan Davis, Dillon Dingler, Mario Feliciano, César Hernández, Andy Ibañez, Colt Keith, Andrew Knapp, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Jermaine Palacios, Michael Papierski, Julio Rodriguez

The Tigers first pitchers and catchers workout is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, while the first full squad workout is scheduled for Monday, February 20.

Individual game tickets for 2023 Spring Training are on sale. Tickets can be ordered by visiting the ticket office at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, calling (863) 686-8075 or visiting www.tigers.com/spring.

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