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Columbia Street Fall Fest, Presented by Michigan First Credit Union, Brings an Urban Pumpkin Patch Experience to The District Detroit

Guests Can Enjoy Fall-Themed Activities, Photo Opportunities and Seasonal Food and Beverage From Restaurants Including JoJo’s ShakeBAR, Union Assembly and Frita Batidos Along Walkable Columbia Street

Fall is officially here, and along with cooler temperatures, endless opportunities exist for gathering with friends for food and fun! Beginning on October 6 for six weeks, the season of pumpkin-spice-everything comes alive in The District Detroit during Columbia Street Fall Fest, presented by Michigan First Credit Union. The festival will feature an urban pumpkin patch experience with fall décor, games and activities and mouth-watering food and beverage specials.

Columbia Street restaurants, including JoJo’s ShakeBAR, Union Assembly and Frita Batidos, will each offer seasonal menu specials throughout Fall Fest. JoJo’s, which opened to the public on September 24, is going all-in on fall with items such as the Pumpkin Patch Biggie Shake, apple pie slices, homemade taffy apples and specialty cocktails like the Caramel Apple Mule, Witches Brew, Pumpkin Spiked Latte and more.

Union Assembly, located at the corner of Columbia Street and Woodward Avenue, will be decked out in fall décor and offering a rotating list of Michigan-sourced ciders as well as hand-crafted fall cocktails. During Detroit Lions home games on Sundays, Union Assembly will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

On select dates during Columbia Street Fall Fest, Sahara – which is slated to open later this year – will sell their signature beef and chicken shawarma sandwiches on pita bread.

Frita Batidos Detroit, known for Cuban-inspired street food, is adding specialty menu items including hot apple cider – with or without a splash of dark rum, autumn spiced mini churros, Mocha Cubano – with or without Spaulding coffee liquor and more.

“Columbia Street’s pedestrian-friendly brick walkway, festive lighting and welcoming ambience make it the perfect gathering place before or after a game, concert or show in the heart of The District Detroit,” said Keith Bradford, President of Olympia Development of Michigan and The District Detroit. “Together with our wonderful restaurant partners – JoJo’s ShakeBAR, Union Assembly and Frita Batidos Detroit – we’re transforming the area into an unforgettable Fall Fest experience for residents and visitors alike.”

Along the walkable Columbia Street, every step offers a seasonal photo opportunity. Hundreds of pumpkins will line the corridor, accented by hay bales, cornstalks, fresh flowers, towering windmills, life-sized animal statues, a massive hay couch, a wall of pumpkins and more.

“Michigan First Credit Union is proud to support the Columbia Street Fall Fest. It’s exciting to be part of such a fun, unique, and memorable experience during Detroit’s fall season,” said Jennifer Glenfield, Chief Marketing Officer at Michigan First Credit Union.

On select dates throughout the months of October and November, the Columbia Street Fall Fest will feature live music, hot chocolate and cider carts, a farm stand and interactive activities including a pumpkin painting station, inflatable axe throwing and bobbing for apples.

Columbia Street is located in The District Detroit next to the historic Fox Theatre and between Woodward Ave. and Park Ave. Dates, times and additional information will be updated here, and can also be found on the Facebook event page and at www.columbiastreetfallfest.com.

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Red Wings Trim Roster to 23

A.J. Hinch to Serve as “2022 Korea Series” Manager

Red Wings Trim Roster By 15

Red Wings assign goaltender Sebastian Cossa to Griffins

Detroit Red Wings Reduce Roster By Nine

Red Wings Announce Updated Start Times

Spencer Ambrosius Named Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service

Chris McGowan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E), announced today that Spencer Ambrosius has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service. Ambrosius will lead all ticket and premium sales and retention efforts, in addition to private event sales and service across Ilitch Sports + Entertainment companies and properties, including the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.

Ambrosius, who grew up in Traverse City, Mich., and previously held the title of Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service with the Detroit Red Wings, begins his new post immediately and reports directly to McGowan.

“Spencer has done a tremendous job leading the ticket sales and service team for the Red Wings over the past three seasons, and we’re pleased to expand his role to oversee all ticketing and private events functions across our sports and entertainment properties,” said McGowan. “He is respected across our industry, and as a native Michigander he has a great passion for our amazing fan base.”

In leading the Red Wings’ ticket sales and service teams the past three seasons, Ambrosius and his staff have accomplished several key benchmarks and implemented programs that engaged fans in highly impactful ways. Those include launching a management training program, and leading the rebrand of the Red Wings season ticket holder base as the “Winged Wheel Nation”.

His standout leadership has manifested in results as the fan base’s excitement has grown, as evidenced by the Red Wings’ ticketing team surpassing its revenue goal for the 2021-22 season and renewing a significant number of the club’s full and half-season ticket memberships for the upcoming campaign.

Ambrosius has more than 10 years of ticket sales and service experience in professional sports. Prior to joining IS+E, he served as General Manager at Legends, where he managed the agency’s work with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was also the Director of Ticket Sales and Service for Los Angeles FC (LAFC)/Legends, Manager of Inside Sales and Organizational Recruiting for the Cleveland Cavaliers and began his full-time career in various ticket sales and service roles with the Atlanta Hawks.

“I’m incredibly humbled and grateful for this opportunity to lead the ticketing side of our business as we continue to amaze, inspire and unite our fans and guests,” Ambrosius said. “It’s an exciting time for our organization and Red Wings and Tigers fans, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it for years to come.”

Ambrosius earned his Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, where he was a four-year letterwinner and quarterback on the football team. Ambrosius and his wife, Melissa, reside in Metro Detroit with their two young children, son, Max and daughter, Madison.

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Downtown Detroit Partnership Establishes Non-Profit Subsidiary to Administer Funding for the Development of Academic Research Building at the Detroit Center for Innovation

Non-profit, the Detroit Partnership for Innovation, to accept land and funding for the project, initiate the start of construction, set to break ground in 2023

Academic Research Building to be transferred to and operated by the University of Michigan upon completion

DPI to receive initial $100 million donation from foundation of Stephen Ross, contribution of land from Ilitch organization and $100 million investment by the state of Michigan

Downtown Detroit Partnership, Inc. (DDP), Related Companies and Olympia Development of Michigan today announced that DDP will serve in a fiduciary role for the Detroit Center for Innovation (DCI) by establishing a new non-profit organization, the Detroit Partnership for Innovation (DPI). The DPI will support the DCI by facilitating the funding and construction of the Academic Research Building. The DPI Board will be responsible for supporting the operations of the DCI. The Academic Research Building (ARB), which will form the cornerstone of the Detroit Center of Innovation, will be transferred upon completion from the non-profit to the University of Michigan to run its academic programming.

The Detroit Partnership for Innovation will receive an initial $100 million donation from the foundation of Stephen Ross, the donation of land from the Ilitch organization, the $100 million investment by the State of Michigan, as well as other donations in support of the construction of the ARB. In 2023, DPI will initiate the start of construction of the building.

The three-building DCI campus will be built in The District Detroit and is being anchored by this $250 million, 200,000 square foot world-class research and education center operated by the University of Michigan. Programs will focus on research and innovation, with the goal of supporting the economic development of Detroit and providing the state with a pipeline of talent. The DCI will also include a technology incubator, housing and green space, while providing a critical skills and educational pathway for students from Detroit Public Schools Community District and beyond. Additionally, Wayne State University and the University of Michigan are expected to explore programmatic partnerships through the DCI.

For 100 years, DDP has cultivated economic and social impact in Downtown Detroit and beyond by connecting private, public, philanthropic and civic sectors, providing stewardship of public spaces, executing innovative strategies and developing programs that engage and benefit all Detroiters. DDP has served as the parent organization of numerous affiliates that have contributed to building a more connected and vibrant Detroit, including MoGo Bike Share, Build Institute, the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone, the Detroit Experience Factory, Live Detroit, Spirit Plaza, M-1 RAIL and the 2006 NFL Super Bowl and more. These programs connect Downtown to the greater area through investment, mobility, education and community outreach.

“Detroit’s public, private and philanthropic leadership have recognized that, in most cases, we don’t need to recreate the depth and breadth of infrastructure that DDP represents. Instead, organizations can use DDP’s existing backbone, expertise and governance. One of the significant benefits DDP brings to opportunities such as the DCI is its ability to quickly and efficiently support investments, ideas and actions that address real needs that have resonating impacts throughout our community,” said Eric B. Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

“The DDP has long been a trusted fiduciary committed to ensuring that investments in Downtown Detroit work hard for Detroiters and nowhere is that more critically important than the realization of DCI,” said Stephen M. Ross, Chairman and Founder of Related Companies.

Christopher Ilitch praised the agreement and thanked the DDP for its dedication to Detroit.

“Thanks to our long, cooperative relationship, I know the Downtown Detroit Partnership is the right partner to manage the financial aspects of this philanthropic endeavor that will have a positive, transformational impact on Detroit and the region,” said Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “I’d like to thank the DDP team for their continued support of our hometown and for taking on this important responsibility.”

Mayor Duggan also expressed support for the creation of the DPI.

“The establishment of this new non-profit is an important part of what will take the vision of the Detroit Center for Innovation and its campus and make it a reality,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “The DDP is the right organization to take on this central role and we appreciate Eric Larson’s partnership with Stephen Ross and Chris Ilitch to move this transformational project forward.”

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