Hometown Pride

Ilitch family posing with the Detroit Red Wings hockey team after winning the Stanley Cup
Little Caesars founders Mike and Marian Ilitch

DETROIT CONNECTS THE ILITCH FAMILY’S RESTAURANTS, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND EDUCATIONAL GIVING. ONE MICHIGAN PIZZA SHOP GREW INTO A GROUP OF BUSINESSES WHOSE INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY INCLUDE PLACES TO WORK, LEARN, WATCH SPORTS, SHARE A MEAL AND ENJOY LIVE PERFORMANCES.

Mike and Marian Ilitch holding the Stanley Cup trophy

Sports

The family’s sports history includes the Detroit Red Wings, acquired by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1982, and the Detroit Tigers, purchased by Mike in 1992. Under Ilitch ownership, the Red Wings celebrated four Stanley Cup championships, alongside divisional titles and other league honors. Their 25-season playoff run stretched from 1990–91 through 2015–16, including championships in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. Construction of Little Caesars Arena began in 2014, and the venue opened in 2017 as the home of both the Red Wings and Detroit Pistons. The arena anchors The District Detroit, connecting sports venues with entertainment, offices and other development. These projects extended the family’s investment beyond team ownership into the places where Detroit fans gather before, during and after games. Its location puts the arena near Comerica Park and the Fox Theatre.

Comerica Park welcomed the Tigers in 2000, bringing the team to a new ballpark in downtown Detroit. The club reached the World Series after winning American League pennants in 2006 and 2012. Four consecutive American League Central titles arrived during the 2011–2014 seasons. Those milestones connect the ballpark’s development with a memorable period for Tigers supporters and the downtown sports and live entertainment district in Detroit.

Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan

Entertainment

The Fox Theatre shows another side of the family’s Detroit investment. Mike and Marian Ilitch purchased the 1928 landmark in 1987 and financed an extensive restoration. Its grand reopening took place on November 19, 1988, with a performance by Detroit singer Smokey Robinson. Restoring the historic Woodward Avenue theatre preserved its elaborate interior while returning a major venue to the city’s cultural life. Concerts, touring productions and family entertainment have since continued that role. The family established Olympia Development in 1996 to pursue Detroit property projects, while Olympia Entertainment reflected an expanding entertainment business. Hockeytown Café opened in 1999, adding a gathering place associated with the city’s hockey identity. Together, these ventures linked historic preservation, hospitality and live entertainment within Detroit’s downtown.

Marian Ilitch invested in MotorCity Casino in 1999 and became its sole owner in April 2005. A $300 million expansion was completed in 2008, extending the Detroit property.

Mike Ilitch, Marian Ilitch, and Chris Ilitch in front of the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business

Academics

A $40 million gift announced in 2015 supported the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University. The commitment helped finance a Detroit facility and an endowment, connecting the family’s entrepreneurial background with business education. The school opened its new building in 2018, creating space for students to study, collaborate and prepare for work.