Little Caesars, the global, family-owned pizza chain, has continued to grow over the past year by doing what it always has: providing wholesome, quality, affordable meals for families. And with new options for customers, like its delivery partnership with DoorDash or contactless pick-up, Little Caesars has hired tens of thousands of people nationwide to meet its growing demand. Now, Little Caesars is looking to grow its footprint in two major metropolitan areas: Tampa Bay, Fla. and New York.

The chain’s goals for the Tampa Bay market include 10 new restaurants by the close of this year, then continuing that growth momentum to reach 30 new Little Caesars locations in the area and its surrounding communities by 2024. Outside of Tampa, Little Caesars has big plans for growth across the entire state of Florida. Key markets being targeted for continued development in the state currently include Naples, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Lake City.

“Bringing more franchise ownership opportunities to the Tampa Bay area has been a goal of ours for some time,” said Craig Sherwood, Vice President of U.S Development at Little Caesars. “Now that we’re the official pizza of the championship-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Raymond James Stadium, we can’t imagine a better time to double down on our commitment to bringing our proven pizza business model to aspiring entrepreneurs in this area.”

Little Caesars aims to also grow its New York metro presence with a goal set to sign on at least a dozen new franchise units in the market in 2021, including Long Island, Westchester, northern New Jersey and the five boroughs.

“New Yorkers know their pizza, making the metro area arguably one of the top pizza capitals of the world,” said Craig Sherwood, Vice President of U.S Development at Little Caesars. “Our great product, unique delivery system and small footprint model present numerous benefits to prospective franchise owners and their potential customers in this area, making this a key market for us to grow our presence in.”

The brand’s accessibility, quality products and affordability really set Little Caesars apart in the last year as one of the leading pizza franchises amidst the ongoing pandemic. The brand’s signature Pizza Portal® Pickup — the first heated, self-service mobile order pickup station in the restaurant industry — and its delivery service promise relevance and value at a cost-effective investment level for entrepreneurs.

Little Caesars franchising investments start at around $360,000, with additional incentive programs for both veterans and first responders. Interested prospects should visit Franchise.LittleCaesars.com for inquiries about opening a franchise.

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As the director, performance science for the Detroit Tigers, Dr. Georgia Giblin plays a key role in the use of technology and data in connection with player development.

The Tigers hired Georgia in 2019 as the franchise’s first director of performance science. An Australian expat, Georgia’s love of sports and science led her from her native Brisbane, where she earned her Ph.D. in biomechanics and skill acquisition from Victoria University, to her post-doctoral research at the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Georgia first worked with the Tigers to apply her research in maximizing performance and health.

“I want to see people reach their full potential,” Georgia said. “These young players who come into our organization, they have dreams of playing in the major leagues. The Detroit Tigers have been really good in investing in the technology that enables me to do my job. I want to, in turn, repay the players, and help them to do their job to the best of their ability.”

Georgia further states that she doesn’t see being a female as a barrier in her role. She cites the rise of prominent women in baseball, such as Kim Ng, the first female and Asian American general manager in the MLB, as proof that hard work can make your goals a reality. “I’ve always believed that, if I work hard enough and I’m smart enough, I can do it,” she said. “And here, with the Tigers, I’ve felt nothing but support.”

Learn more about Georgia and her role helping Detroit Tigers athletes succeed in the video below.

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The Detroit Tigers are thrilled to welcome back the best fans in baseball to Comerica Park for what will be an unforgettable Home Opener against the Central-Division rival Cleveland Indians on Thursday, April 1, at 1:10 p.m.

The latest epidemic order announced today by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services allows for select outdoor entertainment and recreational facilities, which operate under enhanced safety protocols, to operate at up to 20 percent capacity, or approximately 8,200 ticketed guests at Comerica Park. The Tigers have coordinated with public health and medical experts, government officials and Major League Baseball to develop a comprehensive plan that will allow fans to safely and confidently return.

Limited individual game tickets will available for purchase on Tigers.com beginning Thursday, March 25. Fans are encouraged to follow @Tigers social media channels for the most current information. Again, tickets will be limited, so fans should act early to reserve their seat for what will truly be a historic season. As an extended safety measure, all tickets will be mobile-only. Members of 1901 Society – the Tigers’ loyal season ticket membership group – will receive the first opportunity to attend games at Comerica Park.

“Tigers baseball is back, and we couldn’t be more excited to begin welcoming our great fans to Comerica Park again,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “Safety is our top priority, and we have developed and invested in a plan that allows us to confidently provide fans a safe and entertaining experience. We’ve missed our fans greatly and can’t wait to celebrate the start of the season with them, when the first pitch is thrown on Opening Day in Detroit.”

A comprehensive series of health and safety measures have been incorporated or enhanced at Comerica Park, including the following:

• All attendees will be required to complete a Gameday Wellness survey no more than 24 hours prior to entering Comerica Park.
• Facemasks will be mandatory at all times except when actively eating or drinking at a fan’s assigned seating location. Neck gaiters, bandanas and masks with valves are not permitted.
• All points of sale will require cashless payment methods. Reverse ATM’s will be installed at Comerica Park ahead of the Home Opener, and contactless parking can be reserved in advance through The District Detroit mobile app.
• Fans will be seated in pods with at least six feet of physical distance between other groups.
• Select concession locations will be open, and food & beverage items can be ordered via mobile phone for express pick-up.
• Physical distance signage and concourse decals have been installed to decrease contact near higher-traffic areas.
• Touchless hand sanitizer dispensers with CDC-recommended products are located through the Comerica Park concourse.
• Significant enhancements to cleanliness, disinfecting the venue to CDC standards including the use of UV-light technology.
• All bags, purses and clutches are now prohibited, with medical or diaper bags being the exceptions.

If capacity guidelines are expanded at any point during the 2021 season, the Tigers will be prepared to host additional fans, and increased single-game tickets will be made available.

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Willie O’Ree changed hockey forever on Jan. 18, 1958 when made his debut for the Boston Bruins as the first Black player in the NHL. In celebration of Black History Month and O’Ree’s impact on the sport, “Willie,” a documentary on the Hall-of-Fame player, was made available to more than 15,000 schools and youth sports organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

O’Ree, a descendant of escaped slaves, played 45 games in the NHL before spending 22 years in the minor league. He was 60 years old when he was asked to become the NHL’s diversity ambassador in 1994 — a position he holds to this day. A must-see film, “Willie” tells his journey and pursuit of opportunity. Historic in both its sweep and scope, it’s as relevant today as ever.

The film was accompanied by a turnkey educator’s guide and additional programming, all hosted on LessonsFromWillie.com, which can be used to spur meaningful conversations.

“Willie” will be available beyond the classroom, syndicated across 75 percent of the U.S., in partnership with Gray Television. It’ll also air nationally across Canada on TSN. The film will be available for streaming on NBC’s Peacock streaming service — free tier — and on Crackle in the U.S. and Crave in Canada.

This year, from Martin Luther King Jr. Day through February, all NHL players wore a custom helmet decal paying tribute to both Willie and Dr. King and the idea of celebrating equality.

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The Detroit Red Wings believe hockey is for everyone. Throughout the year, the team celebrates and elevates ongoing work to support diversity, equity and inclusion for children throughout its home state.

In keeping with year-round efforts to increase access and opportunities for under-represented audiences in hockey, the Red Wings, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, celebrated a local Black youth hockey player during each home game in February through its Youth Skater of the Game program.

Each young player got the chance to watch Red Wings players up close and personal during warmups prior to each game from the comfort of their home. This safe, remote experience has been made possible through a unique, telepresence experience located in the bench area, giving each kid a skaters’-eye view of the action.

Youth Skater of the Game is just one of the many programs the Red Wings and their partners execute on and off the ice. Last year, the Red Wings Foundation announced Learn, Play, Score. The Program, which is designed to increase hockey access for kids, is rooted in a commitment to build confidence in character, promote positive values and part enduring life skills to thousands of youth across Detroit.

Learn more at DetroitRedWings.com/Equality.

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In support of the Detroit NAACP Youth Council’s ongoing and critical work in the community, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation is selling a limited-edition Black History Month t-shirt, with proceeds from each purchase benefiting the Detroit NAACP Youth Council and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation to benefit Learn, Play, Score in Detroit.

The Detroit NAACP Youth Council has been at the forefront of youth leadership since its inception in the 1900’s. Home to the largest NAACP youth unit in the Midwest, the award-winning Detroit NAACP Youth Council continuously provides opportunities for young people to get involved in the fight for social justice advocacy.

Learn more about the Red Wings’ Black History Month programming at DetroitRedWings.com/Equality. Learn more about the Detroit NAACP Youth Council and how you can help at DetroitNAACP.org.

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Vissing will lead all domestic and international operations for the global pizza brand

Little Caesars Pizza, the global family-owned pizza chain, has announced that Paula Vissing, previously senior vice president of international, has been named chief operating officer. In the newly created role, Vissing will oversee all domestic and international operations during a period of incredible growth for the world’s third largest pizza brand.

“Paula has an impressive track record within the company and has successfully led our international division for the last five years, which continues to see record-breaking results year after year,” David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars, said. “I am thrilled to congratulate her on her new role as Chief Operating Officer. Paula is a highly respected and proven leader within Little Caesars and there is nobody better suited to oversee global operations.”

Vissing has been with Little Caesars since 2011. As the Senior Vice President of International, Vissing was responsible for all Little Caesars locations in more than two dozen countries and territories. Under her leadership, Little Caesars experienced the largest period of international growth in the company’s 60+ year history. Previously, Vissing was vice president of purchasing and quality assurance, where she led cost-saving and sourcing initiatives that supported Little Caesars growth in the U.S. Vissing has also led global supply chain expansion, enabling international development efforts across the globe.

“It is an exciting time for the company as we continue to experience exponential growth both in the U.S. and internationally, and I am honored to have the opportunity to oversee the global operations of Little Caesars,” Vissing said. “I look forward to continuing to work along with the Little Caesars leadership team, and organization as a whole, as we continue to bring great tasting, affordable pizza to families around the world.”

Vissing has more than 25 years’ experience in the restaurant industry providing strategic leadership for national brands. A Kentucky native, she received a B.S. in economics from the University of Louisville and an M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky.

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Little Caesars, home of the Pizza Portal© pickup, is bringing back its much-loved Pretzel Crust Pizza to its U.S. restaurants following a two-year hiatus and unwavering requests by enthusiastic customers, including a Change.org petition calling for the pizza to be made available once again.

Customers can get their soft pretzel fix from the pizza starting Feb. 22, available nationwide for a limited time for only $6 (plus applicable tax) at participating locations.**

First introduced as a limited-time promotion in 2014, the Pretzel Crust Pizza is a large buttery-flavored soft pretzel crust pizza with creamy cheddar cheese sauce, mozzarella and Muenster cheeses and pepperoni.  And now, the salty, savory treat can be amped up with an optional cheese-stuffed crust or customized with the traditional Little Caesars pizza sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes.

In a unique twist, Little Caesars has hidden codes in athlete social media content, a radio spot, and even in the middle of the desert. These codes allow customers to unlock pretzely prizes like Pretzel Crust pizza shoes, a Pretzel Crust area rug, and a Pretzel Crust-themed moped. Finders of these Pretzel Crust codes can enter them at unlockpretzelcrust.com to discover if they have won some of these exclusive prizes.

“Pretzel Crust fans, we hear you,” Jeff Klein, senior vice president of global marketing for Little Caesars, said. “This pizza is still our most popular product request on social media, and we’re excited to bring it back to the masses while treating customers to a few surprises along the way.”

Starting Feb. 22, customers can order a Pretzel Crust pizza with their choice of sauce with a stuffed or traditional crust and pre-pay via the Little Caesars app for pickup or delivery.** For pickup orders, customers can collect the order using the Pizza Portal® contactless pickup, and delivery orders are fulfilled with contactless delivery.  Beginning the week of March 1, the relaunched pizza will also be available for pickup in-store with no need to order ahead.

** Plus, tax where applicable. Available at participating locations. Prices may vary. Prices higher in AK, HI, and third-party online sites. Small order fee for delivery orders less than $10.

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In just three hours, the Detroit Tigers sold out its approximately 2,000-person per-game capacity for games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium during 2021 Spring Training. This high level of demand came in response to the first chance for Tigers fans to watch their team take the field in-person since March 12, 2020.

“There’s a reason Tigers fans are the best in baseball, and today’s remarkable show of support for our ballclub confirms just that,” Chris Granger, group president of Sports and Entertainment for Ilitch Holdings, said. “There’s a lot of optimism surrounding the team as we begin a new season, and we’re thrilled that fans have responded in such a strong way. I’d like to commend our staff in Lakeland and Detroit for their hard work so that we can safely welcome fans back into the stands, beginning with Grapefruit League action.”

Capacity is limited to around 20 percent of the more-than-9,000-seat facility. Seats were sold in “pods,” ranging from one to six seats in size. Each pod will be at least six feet from others in all directions and have aisle access. Also, the outfield berm will be marked off in six-by-six-foot spaces for groups of four or fewer.

Learn more about the Tigers’ spring training at Tigers.com/SpringTraining.

For the Tigers Spring Training 2021 roster, visit Tigers/roster.

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