Detroit Red Wings Clips July 19-21, 2014

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips July 19-21, 2014 Detroit Red Wings historic Cass Corridor hotels may hang around to see new Red Wings arena Hockey, housing and more: Ilitches unveil 'bold vision' for Red Wings arena district Red Wings arena project would add hundreds of new market-rate apartments downtown Red Wings arena District: Euro-style retail eyed for Woodward Avenue, I- 75 bridge Stephen Henderson: An amazing vision - now the really hard work on Red Wings arena district begins Ilitches pledge frequent consultation with community during Red Wings arena construction Designed by Detroit: New arena could inspire architectural trend Despite clamoring from fans, Detroit Red Wings' Ken Holland won't rush prospects Detroit Red Wings arena plan could save two historic, blighted Cass Corridor 1920s hotels Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch always wanted 'more than a new arena' in bold plan, official says Detroit Red Wings arena project: minority entrepreneurship, community outreach promised in Ilitch's plan Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch on $650 million arena, district: 'I couldn't be more excited' Detroit Red Wings Arena, entertainment district plans revealed with bold $650 million vision Ilitches release details on Wings arena complex Ilitch announces more than just a new rink for Detroit Detroit Red Wings analysis: Despite missing playoffs, Toronto Maple Leafs have inactive off-season New Detroit Red Wings arena, entertainment district plans to be revealed Sunday Detroit Red Wings not close on signing Tomas Tatar, Danny DeKeyser yet Writer for The Hockey News 'betting' that Ken Holland, Mike Babcock remain with Red Wings

2 2 historic Cass Corridor hotels may hang around to see new Red Wings arena 1:01 PM, July 20, 2014 By JC Reindl Advocates for historic building preservation may find a surprise poking out from the colorful renderings of Detroit s new arena and entertainment district. Towering above the bright LED-lit arena and new four-story apartment complexes are a pair of abandoned hotels from the 1920s: The Hotel Eddystone and Hotel Park Avenue. Windowless and covered in graffiti, the 13-story hotels have been empty for years and stand as visual reminders of the Cass Corridor s long-ago past and its desolate recent decades. The Ilitches acquired the pair while assembling parcels for their arena and entertainment district. Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, said they are considering ways to possibly incorporate the hotels into the arena district. But he stressed that reusing the buildings presents many challenges, as the structures are vertically out-of-scale with the other buildings planned to rise with the development. And there are fresh plans for a new hotel near the arena. A third-party developer is looking to build one with 130 to 170 rooms that would go north of I-75 at Henry and Woodward. So far, there have been no final decisions regarding the future of the Eddystone and Park Avenue. The buildings are on national historic registries, which qualifies them for potential redevelopment tax credits but it doesn t preclude them from demolition. Our goal is to use those buildings in this project, Ilitch said. If we can t figure out a way to use them productively, then they become liabilities, and they may go away. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

3 Hockey, housing and more: Ilitches unveil 'bold vision' for Red Wings arena district 10:54 AM, July 20, 2014 By John Gallagher Details of the plan Sidewalks and streetlights: Saying you can t build a world-class district on top of broken down infrastructure, Ilitch said his family plans to spend millions of dollars to replace aging and often broken public infrastructure in the district with new street paving, sidewalks, streetlights and other infrastructure, working with the city and utility companies to make that happen. Bridging I-75: Conceptual plans call for building new structures to span I-75, even on the Woodward Avenue Bridge, so that the below-ground freeway is no longer such a barrier separating downtown and Midtown. Trend-setting arena design: The arena itself, still unnamed, will be built in a deconstructed fashion with the souvenir shops, team offices, restaurants, ticket offices and similar spaces being built outside the arena but linked by a glass-topped interior street that will serve as a year-round venue for events. Home-grown labor: The Ilitches plan has committed to a goal of buying 80% of construction materials from Michigan suppliers when possible. This is in addition to their previously announced goals of hiring 51% of all construction workers from among Detroit residents and getting 30% of all subcontractors from among Detroit-based firms. New neighborhoods: Ilitch outlined a plan to create five distinct neighborhoods in the district, each with its own special character. Those neighborhoods will be walkable, intimate and, in some cases, modeled after European streets. Internships: To help the broader community, the Ilitches have committed to starting an internship program for Cass Tech High School students to work in the family s business network, and to lend its development expertise to groups working elsewhere in Detroit s neighborhoods. Detroit s new arena and entertainment district planned by the Ilitch family for the northern edge of downtown promises to be the city s boldest and most significant development since the Renaissance Center of the 1970s creating as many as 2,000 new residential units, dozens of shops, walkable European-style streets and perhaps the nation s most innovative multipurpose arena. Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of his family s Ilitch Holdings, provided the Free Pressthe first public renderings and details of the new Red Wings hockey arena and surrounding entertainment and residential district. In a lengthy interview late last week, Ilitch discussed his hopes and plans for the new and sprawling development, which he called a very exciting and bold vision. 3

4 Our vision is to build out a sports and entertainment district that is world-class and rivals anything in the country, perhaps the world, he said. We re not just building a hockey arena. It s really about the district. Stephen Henderson: An amazing vision now the really hard work on Red Wings arena district begins The large-scale development, overseen by the Ilitches Olympia Development, will be integrated with the planned M-1 Rail line, Comerica Park, Ford Field, the Fox Theatre, MotorCity Casino Hotel, the Detroit Opera House and other attractions. The arena and various buildings and residential projects will be built on what are now mostly vacant lots encompassing dozens of blocks along and near Woodward Avenue. Unlike other similar projects, the still-unnamed arena and a big portion of the entertainment district will be built at the same time, rising up together. The family owns much of the land already and has been buying up lots around the longeconomically challenged Cass Corridor and lining up a financing plan to bring the $650- million vision to reality. The new district will stretch from Grand River on the west to Ford Field and Brush Park on the east, and roughly 10 blocks from Grand Circus Park to Charlotte on the north. In addition to a more-than-20,000-seatarena, plans call for new residential buildings and dozens of restaurants and retail, as well as a hotel, new parks and streetlights, and other remade infrastructure. Ilitch said the area will offer an intimate, festive air that he compared to European cities known for their street life. New retail connected to the arena structure will be open even when the arena is not in use, featuring a first-ever design for a glass-covered streetscape inside the complex with trees and other urban amenities. The below-ground-level playing surface and sleek building design are meant to give the arena a human scale unlike more imposing and monolithic arenas in many cities. The massive project provides a capstone to a redevelopment effort ongoing in the area since 1988, when the Ilitches moved their Little Caesars headquarters to the Fox Theatre complex and rehabbed the historic site, now one of Detroit s main venues for movies, shows and special events. The family bought the Detroit Tigers in 1992 and later built Comerica Park across the street, adding another layer of activity to the area. The new district s development could help represent to the outside world that Detroit remaking its government and neighborhoods in a very public bankruptcy is undergoing a rejuvenation with real staying power. The new construction plays off the reshaping of downtown by Quicken Loans founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert plus the city s massive blight-removal effort and new investment in city service delivery. Mike Ilitch, the family patriarch who turns 85 today and cofounded with wife Marian the family s pizza, sports and entertainment empire, said in a statement: It s always been my dream to see a vibrant and energized downtown Detroit. I want people to look at Detroit s new sports and entertainment district and see what I see the potential for something very special. I couldn t be more excited and proud to bring this vision to life. 4

5 Arena plans announced earlier called for development to grow up around the arena over ensuing years. But the Ilitches decided to do it all at once: A large part of the infrastructure and construction associated with the retail and residential projects will rise out of the ground along with the arena and be ready by Christopher Ilitch said construction of the residential units, restaurants and other new development around the arena was moved up because of its importance to Detroit. He estimated the development would create at least $1.8 billion in total economic impact over several years, 8,300 construction and construction-related jobs, and 1,100 permanent jobs. This will have a transformational effect as well as the catalytic effect on additional investment, he said. The Ilitches plan to build the first few hundred residential units, some in front of Comerica Park along Woodward Avenue, and others in a building lining the south frontage of the new arena. They expect other private developers to invest in the district and build hundreds, perhaps thousands, more residential units over time. The plans also call for five new distinct neighborhoods, offering housing to attract professionals and others to new apartments and various residential options, including micro-studios that are each just a few hundred square feet. Some parts of the new neighborhoods will be built by the Ilitches and others by private developers. Among the new details Sidewalks and streetlights: Saying you can t build a world-class district on top of broken-down infrastructure, Ilitch said his family plans to spend millions of dollars to replace aging and often broken public infrastructure in the district with new street paving, sidewalks, streetlights and other infrastructure, working with the city and utility companies to make that happen. Bridging I-75: Conceptual plans call for building new structures to span I-75, even on the Woodward Avenue Bridge, so that the below-ground freeway is no longer such a barrier separating downtown and Midtown. Trend-setting arena design: The arena itself, still unnamed, will be built in a deconstructed fashion with the souvenir shops, team offices, restaurants, ticket offices and similar spaces being built outside the arena but linked by a glass-topped interior street that will serve as a year-round venue for events. Home-grown labor: The Ilitches plan has committed to a goal of buying 80% of construction materials from Michigan suppliers when possible. This is in addition to their previously announced goals of hiring 51% of all construction workers from among Detroit residents and getting 30% of all subcontractors from among Detroit-based firms. New neighborhoods: Ilitch outlined a plan to create five distinct neighborhoods in the district, each with its own special character. Those neighborhoods will be walkable, intimate and, in some cases, modeled after European streets. Internships: To help the broader community, the Ilitches have committed to starting an internship program for Cass Tech High School students to work in the family s business 5

6 network, and to lend its development expertise to groups working elsewhere in Detroit s neighborhoods. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

7 Red Wings arena project would add hundreds of new market-rate apartments downtown 10:11 AM, July 20, 2014 By JC Reindl Apartment hunters could have as much reason to cheer as hockey fans when construction starts this fall on Detroit s new arena project. Included in plans for the $200-million entertainment district are hundreds of market-rate rental units in at least four new mid-rise buildings that are set to go up around the arena as well as near Comerica Park. The apartments are expected to be ready for tenants by summer The precise number of units is still being determined and is anticipated to exceed 500. As the district attracts interest from other housing developers, the number of new units in the footprint could reach 2,000 within a decade, according to Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings. That influx of units would help to ease a housing crunch that has gripped Detroit s core for the past two years, frustrating those who desire to live in the increasingly trendy Midtown, Corktown and downtown areas, which have gained new coffee shops, restaurants, niche retailers and a busy Whole Foods market. Strong demand for those downtown-area neighborhoods has resulted in leased-out buildings and long waiting lists. Developers have announced new developments to meet the demand, but those take time to finance and build. Meanwhile, landlords are raising rent prices. Today we don t have enough capacity to meet demand for rentals in Detroit, Ilitch said. It s 100% filled right now. The Ilitches Olympia Development plans to develop two residential buildings between Woodward and Comerica Park where there now are parking lots. The buildings would contain about 300 units altogether, and each would have ground floor space for restaurants or retail. A new parking garage would be built for the tenants as well as game day crowds. Two more residential buildings also would go up around the new arena. Renderings show how one of the structures would adjoin the south side of the arena and could feature loft-style apartments. The other building could have smaller efficiency units and lower prices. Olympia Development has yet to set any range of prices for the buildings. In an interview, Ilitch said he imagines the new apartments would be especially popular with the young adult population that has demonstrated an interest in urban living. Millennials have a desire to live in urban settings. That s not just in Detroit; that s happening all throughout America, he said. 7

8 James Van Dyke, a vice president at the Roxbury Group, a developer active in Midtown and downtown, said he believes Detroit s market can absorb a significant volume of new apartments. New apartment buildings may actually create demand for even more apartment buildings, he said, as the addition of residents and amenities would add vibrancy to the area. We re at a point where we need to start adding hundreds of units a year to keep up with demand, he said. The newest significant development to open in Midtown, 3909 Woodward, opened in late March and by early June had leased all of its 61 apartments. Typical prices range from $990 to $1,250 a month for one-bedroom units, up to $1,830 for the largest twobedroom unit. April Dawson, leasing associate for the Woodward building, said she receives 10 to 15 calls or s a day inquiring whether there are apartments left. The best she can do is add names to the waiting list. I hate disappointing people, she said. Rental rates at new residential developments in downtown, such as the 127-unit The Albert and the restored 105-unit David Whitney Building (to open by year s end) are at or approaching the $2-per-square-foot level, a price that developers say can allow a project to get built without reliance on tax credits, subsidies or nontraditional funding sources. Van Dyke said experience in other Midwest cities suggests that Detroit rent prices would begin to level off as supply catches up with demand. Ryan Lines, 32, is one of those young adult professionals creating demand for downtown-area housing. The former Livonia resident took an apartment in the Kales Building around Grand Circus Park at the time that his employer, Quicken Loans, relocated headquarters in 2010 to Detroit from Farmington Hills. He said it is common to hear his friends and colleagues talk about their struggles finding an available apartment in the city, as so many places have leased or sold out. If they can put up units, I m sure they wouldn t have a problem filling them, Lines said. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

9 Red Wings arena District: Euro-style retail eyed for Woodward Avenue, I-75 bridge 10:11 AM, July 20, 2014 By John Gallagher Today, the I-75 corridor acts as a moat dividing downtown Detroit from the area immediately to the north where the Ilitch family plans to build their new arena district. But that may change as the new district takes shape. The vision outlined by Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of the family s Ilitch Holdings, calls for potentially rebuilding the Woodward Avenue bridge over I-75 in some new way that would make it more pedestrian friendly. That could mean widening it or perhaps erecting a new building that spans I-75, just as some European cites have bridges with structures on them that span rivers or canals. Such a structure could give pedestrians new retail opportunities and something to look at besides vehicles buzzing by on the freeway below. The concept is just in the early talking stages. If it came about and a new structure spanned I-75, the roadbed of the freeway might need to be lowered slightly at that point to let trucks clear. But any such moves would require the cooperation of the Michigan Department of Transportation. Using a new structure to span the freeway isn t the only idea in play to connect downtown and Midtown across I-75. The M-1 Rail streetcar line that is set to break ground on July 28 will run up Woodward Avenue from Jefferson Avenue to Grand Boulevard in the New Center area. Plans call for the M-1 line to include a stop in the Ilitches new arena district. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

10 Stephen Henderson: An amazing vision - now the really hard work on Red Wings arena district begins 11:47 AM, July 20, 2014 By Stephen Henderson The vision thrills. The ambitious plan announced by Christopher Ilitch for development around the new hockey arena endeavors to fill many critical needs in the plunging gap between thriving downtown and Midtown Detroit. Restaurants and bars, public spaces, residential and commercial development they would all rise as one where right now there s little more than vacant lots, derelict buildings and other remnants of a Cass Corridor neighborhood that hasn t thrived since before I was born. The Ilitches deserve credit for laying out plans that rival the coordinated development you d see in anticipation of Olympic games. Yet it s the execution of the vision not just by the Ilitches but by city government and other political leadership that will make or break it. I ve been a Detroiter long enough to understand all the investments and promises related to our sports arenas, and the long, complicated involvement of the Ilitches themselves in our city. I ve been here long enough to remember 1994, when the Ilitches sports owners, pizza magnates, anchors of the theater district and Mayor Dennis Archer sold a vision that Comerica Park would create Detroit s Wrigleyville, invoking the vibrant neighborhood around Chicago s north side ballpark. That didn t happen. I ve been here long enough to have researched the stories and studies that say cities may be better off encouraging investment in existing neighborhoods and things like schools, and that even if sports and entertainment complexes merit investment, you d better also procure assured benefits for the broader community. And I ve been here long enough to understand how ambitious the Ilitch plans are, and just how many people will be needed living, working and playing here to sustain all the restaurants and bars and retail stores and entertainment venues they plan to build in just three years time. Are those people here? Are they coming? In Detroit, vision is king, because we ve struggled so long without proper execution or the full realization of potential. Will this latest vision, more grand than any before it, really happen? And if it does, how can we make it matter not just for downtown and neighboring Midtown, but for the city as a whole? It s unfair to lay the weight of all those questions at the feet of the Ilitches. They re not government officials and they don t lead huge philanthropic foundations they re businesspeople. And yet, they re stepping up to invest heavily in the area around the 10

11 new hockey arena to make it more than a sports venue. They want it to be a catalyst, and they re committing at least $200 million to make it happen. In particular, the infrastructure investment to repave streets and sidewalks, repair streetlights and create landscaping marks significant commitment. There are employment goals (30% Detroit-based companies, 51% of construction jobs) that benefit the city, and the family is working with community groups to create public spaces and real opportunities in the area for people who live here. The Ilitches are also connecting with workforce development organizations to help prepare Detroiters for the jobs that will be created in the new arena district. The family is doubling down on Detroit. No one should doubt that. But for government and other leadership in Detroit, there are much deeper issues to contemplate things that have both great potential and possible pratfalls. The first is the promise itself, a grand, sprawling scheme of development that would fill in the mostly dead space between downtown and Midtown. It begins with the new arena but would stretch as far west as Grand River and north almost to Martin Luther King Boulevard. The Ilitches envision five neighborhoods growing up inside the area, each with a distinct character. That s not entirely their call, though. The mayor s office, the City Council and many community groups should have at least as much say about what goes on around the new arena, and they need to have an eye toward development that will benefit other areas and institutions in the city. Should there be more public spaces or other kinds of development in the zone? Should there be tax increments that provide funding for things like schools, other infrastructure or police and fire? These decisions need to be made through democratic processes that allow Detroit residents to have a say. That s especially key since a few hundred million dollars in public money will help build the new arena, and because that deal was forged without a community benefits agreement. In addition, there is some reckoning that needs to be done of the family s long-tenured ownership of many properties in this area. They held on to property while the neighborhood deteriorated arguing, convincingly, that the time and economic conditions weren t right for development but now promise to move forward with what they own. Promises have been made before, some kept (think Fox Theatre) and some not realized (think Detroit s Wrigleyville). It s government s job to have a plan ready, both to work with the Ilitches and to serve as a backup in case they don t deliver a plan that still moves the area, and the city, forward. None of this should detract from recognition of what the Ilitches propose. It s forwardlooking and daring from a family that has stuck with Detroit, and invested in it, for decades. But we ve been here before in Detroit, staring up at ambitious plans, needing to match them with effective execution. It will take hard work by the Ilitches, by the city, by the 11

12 neighborhood groups that should have their say to make sure the right things happen this time. And to make sure that all Detroiters stand to benefit. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

13 Ilitches pledge frequent consultation with community during Red Wings arena construction 10:13 AM, July 20, 2014 By Joe Guillen Developers of the new Red Wings arena will consistently seek community input as thousands of decisions are made during the three-year construction period slated to start this fall, Ilitch Holdings President and CEO Christopher Ilitch said. Ilitch, whose family owns the Red Wings, said the organization developed an extensive strategy to communicate with neighborhood leaders and promote job opportunities for Detroiters as it embarks on a bold vision to overhaul neighborhoods surrounding the arena with an infusion of restaurants, bars, apartments and new infrastructure. The company s development plans have not been shared with the community yet. But Ilitch pledged to meet frequently with a neighborhood advisory council elected in April to work with the developer on issues such as arena construction, security, historic preservation and local hiring. Our belief in that (community) input is integral to the success of this, Ilitch said. It won t be successful otherwise. Eric Williams, vice chairman of the advisory council, said developers so far have followed through on their intentions to keep the community informed. But Williams said some residents in neighborhoods surrounding the arena are skeptical. The community in general, I think, is skeptical of a lot of major development, given the history of developments in the city, he said. There s always a little built-in skepticism, but I don t think it s unwarranted. In addition to community meetings, the Ilitches have made several commitments to help boost the local economy. The arena project was projected to create 8,300 construction jobs and, after it is built, 1,100 permanent jobs. Ilitch said those estimates might be low, since the organization has pledged to spend tens of millions on infrastructure improvements such as new landscaping and sidewalks throughout neighborhoods surrounding the entertainment venue. Ilitch said at least 30% of construction work for the arena will go to Detroitheadquartered businesses, and at least 51% of construction jobs will go to Detroit residents. Meeting the hiring goal for Detroit residents could be a challenge because most members of local construction trades live in the suburbs. To hit the mark, the city, the Ilitch family, building contractors and trade unions are working with Detroit workforce agencies and advertising in publications to attract city residents to be hired or trained. 13

14 While hiring goals are set for construction jobs, the Ilitch organization would not agree to a guarantee sought by the Detroit City Council in February to hire a certain number of Detroit residents in permanent jobs available after construction. Ilitch, however, said he wants the hockey arena development to provide opportunities for minority entrepreneurs and young people. Iltich said some of the planned new retail facilities will have space dedicated to minority chefs and restauranteurs. Tony Stovall, owner of the Hot Sam s Clothing Store in downtown Detroit and president of the Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce, said he is maintaining a positive attitude that the developers will reach their goals in including minority-owned businesses. Weary of the excuse from other developers who said they fell short of minority hiring goals due to a lack of qualified Detroiters, Stovall said the chamber will aggressively advocate for its members to be involved in the hockey arena project. I know that the chamber will press the issue so they won t be able to say they didn t know, he said. And an internship program with Cass Tech High School, which is near the arena footprint, is in the works to expose students to the variety of careers available within the Ilitch family s portfolio of businesses, which includes Little Caesars Pizza and the Detroit Tigers, as well as the Red Wings. We ve got entry-level positions and you can stay with us for 40 years and finish as an executive running something completely different, Ilitch said. You can start vending hot dogs or mopping floors in a pizza restaurant and you can finish running a project like this. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

15 Designed by Detroit: New arena could inspire architectural trend 6:13 PM, July 20, 2014 By John Gallagher The new hockey arena at the heart of the Ilitch family s sports and entertainment district could become a trend-setter for arena design nationwide. The still-unnamed arena, slated to open in 2017, will be innovative in several key ways: Deconstructed design: Most arenas are built as a big box with the playing surface and seating ringed by concourses, concession stands, team offices and restaurants. But the new arena will be deconstructed with the outer-ring functions moved into structures just set off or pulled away from the core inner playing surface and seats. They won t be separate buildings, but linked by a first-ever interior streetscape. Glass covered streetscape: The area between the seating bowl and the outer buildings will be covered by glass to create a covered via, or interior streetscape, filled with trees, retail, dining and other amenities. Bridges and walkways will connect the outer buildings to the seating bowl through this covered interior street. Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, said the covered via will be open year-round, not just on game or event days, and could play host to a variety of daytime or nighttime events. Like any good urban street, it will be designed to be walkable, with flexible programming, and to be a very festive area.... The net effect is a very energetic, very exciting space, Ilitch said. Lighted roof design: The roof of the arena will be fashioned with the most modern programmable lighting so that different Images can be produced for a given event. In the rendering provided by Olympia Development, the roof shows the Red Wings logo as it will on hockey nights. But the roof could be green for St. Patrick s Day or something else for a concert by Kid Rock or Eminem, Ilitch said. He described the desired effect as classy, not gaudy. Playing surface: The playing surface will be set about 32 feet below ground level to lower the profile of the building, producing a more human-scale environment in the district where most buildings will rise just two to four stories. That follows the practice at Comerica Park and Ford Field, where the playing surfaces were set below ground level. Ilitch said the impact will be similar to when Camden Yards opened in 1992 in Baltimore. The fan-friendly retro stadium where Major League Baseball s Baltimore Orioles play became the standard for new professional baseball stadium construction. This is a paradigm shift.... We re not building an arena the way arenas have been built in America over the last 20, 30 years. Ilitch said. This won t be the first time Detroit potentially creates a new trend in sports design. In 1988, the Palace of Auburn Hills, designed by the Rossetti architectural firm, opened as the new home of the Detroit Pistons. It set a trend by moving the luxury boxes much 15

16 closer to the playing surface. Prior to that, luxury boxes had been set up high above all the other seating. The innovation quickly caught on nationally. Ilitch predicted the arena with its innovative roof will become a key landmark for the community. When you re flying over Detroit or if you re in one of the downtown skyscrapers and you re looking down on this district, that s part of the romance of an urban setting. It s things like this that give you a romance that you can t find anywhere else, he said. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

17 Despite clamoring from fans, Detroit Red Wings' Ken Holland won't rush prospects July 21, 2014 By George Sipple Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland understands why some are critical of decisions he made last season and this off-season. Some fans have begun to tire of Holland s philosophy of having players be over-ripe before they earn regular shifts wearing the Winged Wheel. Certainly when you re a general manager and you make decisions, especially in this world today, we re open for people to judge our decisions, Holland said. I m OK with it. But I m going to do what is in the best interest of the Red Wings. At the same time, I m going to do what s in the best interest of our young players. I m not rushing young players. Though young players such as Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Riley Sheahan, Danny DeKeyser, Joakim Andersson and Tomas Jurco, among others, were needed to help the Wings extend their playoff streak to 23 consecutive seasons last season, those players combined to net zero points in the playoffs. The expectations in Detroit that we ve created is that we re going to compete for a playoff spot, Holland said. We re going to compete for a playoff run. Our goal is to try (to) win another Stanley Cup, and in order to get there, our young people need to be brought along properly. When I make the decisions that I make, I rely on guys like Kris Draper, like Kirk Maltby, like Mark Howe, like Mike Babcock, like Glenn Merkosky, Bruce Haralson, Ryan Martin. So, I m relying on people that have been in the game 20, 30 years. The salary cap has leveled the playing field in the NHL. That has made it tougher on GMs such as Holland, who previously benefited from an owner with deep pockets and a burning desire to pay whatever was necessary to win the Stanley Cup. Holland understands that fans want to see new faces. And if those faces aren t established stars acquired through trades or free agency, then they expect young players in the system to be given a chance to shine. Though there s a lot of buzz about several of the young prospects the Wings have in their system, including forward Anthony Mantha and defensemen Ryan Sproul, Alexey Marchenko and Xavier Ouellet, don t expect Holland to alter his philosophy. Those players are going to have to beat out veterans for jobs in training camp, or they ll start the season with Grand Rapids in the American Hockey League. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

18 Detroit Red Wings arena plan could save two historic, blighted Cass Corridor 1920s hotels Eric Lacy on July 20, 2014 at 5:51 PM, updated July 20, 2014 at 6:10 PM DETROIT, MI -- Two of the largest, most blighted structures just north of downtown Detroit could be saved as part of Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch's $650 million plan for a new hockey arena and entertainment district. The Detroit Free Press reported Sunday the Hotel Eddystone and Hotel Park Avenue could "stand as visual reminders of the Cass Corridor s long-ago past and its desolate recent decades." But the buildings will only be saved if they are deemed useful during construction, said Christopher Ilitch, CEO and president of Ilitch Holdings. So far, there have been no final decisions regarding the future of the Eddystone and Park Avenue. The buildings are on national historic registries, which qualifies them for potential redevelopment tax credits but it doesn t preclude them from demolition. "Our goal is to use those buildings in this project, Ilitch told the newspaper. "If we can t figure out a way to use them productively, then they become liabilities, and they may go away." Ground will be broke for the new arena and district, covering 45 city blocks, this fall with the goal of total completion of the project by summer Plans for the arena and district released Sunday show photos of the Eddystone and Park Avenue near the Red Wings' new LED-lit arena and new four-story apartment complexes. The Hotel Eddystone, at Sproat St. at Park Avenue, was once part of Detroit's most successful hotel empire, according to HistoricDetroit.org. Both the Eddystone and Park Avenue were built in the 1920s and "were destined for a luxury condo conversion in the mid-2000s that never came through," according to the Curbed website. Michigan Live LOADED:

19 Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch always wanted 'more than a new arena' in bold plan, official says Eric Lacy on July 20, 2014 at 4:39 PM, updated July 20, 2014 at 5:37 PM DETROIT, MI -- It was never just about an arena. Take it from George Jackson, the now retired Detroit Economic Growth Corp. CEO and president. Jackson sat in years worth of meetings and was convinced from day one that 85-yearold Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch wanted to do more for his hometown. "What we were looking at was transformation and connectivity in regards to downtown and to Midtown and transformation in regards to a new neighborhood, a new district." Jackson said. "The focus is on to be one complete, comprehensive, multi-faceted district." Plans that surfaced Sunday for an Ilitch-backed $650 million Red Wings arena and accompanying entertainment district certainly show that. Now it's time for action this fall, as the bold project that covers 45 city blocks north of downtown is set to break ground this fall. Jackson, who left the DEGC in March to start his own firm, sees the arena and the district, simply named "The District," as a legacy builder. "Keep in mind he is a businessman, and he has a right to want to make money," Jackson said of Ilitch. "But I'm going to tell you that Mike Ilitch has a passion for the city of Detroit. Mike Ilitch really has a strong passion for doing what's right for the city of Detroit." The 85-year-old Ilitch, also owner of Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars Pizza founder, is expected to make an investment that will include "tens of millions of dollars in public infrastructure improvements" such as lighting, sidewalks, green spaces and streets concurrently with arena construction, according to a press release. This investment of at least $200M for new, mixed-use development is expected to help transform dozens of blighted blocks into five new neighborhoods. And experts claim the entire project will generate at least $1.8 billion in total economic impact, 8,300 construction and construction-related jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs. "He still has his eye on making sure it's profitable and I can't begrudge him for that," Jackson said. "That's not a negative, but I'm going to tell you that this guy, Mr. Ilitch, believes that his legacy stands. "It's important that he knows 'I helped rebuild my hometown, the city of Detroit; I helped it grow, I helped it transform.'" 19

20 Ilitch said in a statement released Sunday that he "couldn't be more excited and proud to bring his vision to life." The district will encompass dozens of blocks along and near Woodward Avenue. Development in the district will be integrated with the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park (home of the Ilitch-owned Detroit Tigers), MotorCity Casino Hotel, Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions), the Detroit Opera House, the Fillmore Detroit and more. "It's always been my dream to see a vibrant and energized downtown Detroit," Ilitch said in the statement. "I want people to look at Detroit's new sports and entertainment district and see what I see: the potential for something very special." Each neighborhood that's part of the district has its own distinct personality, expressed by the following working names: Columbia Street A neighborhood near the Fox Theatre and the Fillmore Detroit that offers entertainment and dining at its finest. Wildcat Corner This neighborhood, anchored by Comerica Park and Ford Field, offers energetic, athletic experiences at their best. Working name to be determined The bustling home of the new Detroit arena. Cass Park Village An energized, eclectic and primarily residential neighborhood. Columbia Park A fresh, modern neighborhood anchored by a new public green space. Dozens of community meetings relating to jobs have taken place already, with many more planned as groundbreaking occurs in the fall and full construction begins next year. Michigan Live LOADED:

21 Detroit Red Wings arena project: minority entrepreneurship, community outreach promised in Ilitch's plan Eric Lacy on July 20, 2014 at 3:01 PM, updated July 20, 2014 at 4:03 PM DETROIT, MI -- Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch and his family claim in a press release they want their $650 million hockey arena and entertainment district to be an asset to the city. That's why they launched Sunday a program called Community Connect "to ensure this transformational initiative (construction of the arena and district downtown) benefits the community in many ways." The Community Connect program will include an internship program with Detroit Cass Technical High School; use of city officials and others urban planning and related expertise to benefit central business district Main Street redevelopment throughout various Detroit neighborhoods; dedicated support of minority entrepreneurship in the district; dedicated support of innovation space in the District and more. Ilich's organization plans to keep the community informed throughout this project with "regular announcements," meetings with city officials, the formation of a neighborhood advisory committee and other activities with various stakeholders "as the district comes to life." A press release states that "subject matter experts" will be available July 21 "by appointment only" to discuss the community initiative. The project - both the $400 million arena and $200 million district - is expected to be complete by summer The arena and district will fill a gaping hole downtown and covers a 45-block area bordered by Charlotte Street to the north, Grand River to the west, Grand Circus Park to the south and Woodward Avenue to east. Alan Mountjoy, worked with Red Wings owner and business mogul Mike Ilitch, his family and architecture firm HKS last year on the project and described it to MLive.com last year as one that has unlimited potential. Mountjoy, a principal at the firm NBBJ, said on June 21, 2013 he believed this ambitious plan will be something the public embraces and could be designed and constructed within three years. "It's not unreasonable to think that," said Mountjoy, whose work portfolio includes master plans for Hart Plaza and Eastern Market. "We're looking at ways a new urban district would evolve around the arena." Michigan Live LOADED:

22 Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch on $650 million arena, district: 'I couldn't be more excited' Eric Lacy on July 20, 2014 at 9:44 AM, updated July 20, 2014 at 11:18 AM DETROIT, MI -- Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch and his family released Sunday in a press release plenty of details about a bold $650 million plan to build a new hockey arena and entertainment district downtown The investment, expected to transform downtown, will include "tens of millions of dollars in public infrastructure improvements" such as lighting, sidewalks, green spaces and streets concurrently with arena construction, according to a press release. Ilitch's private investment of at least $200M for new, mixed-use development is expected to help transform dozens of blighted blocks into five new neighborhoods. The project, expected to be completed in the summer of 2017, is expected to generate at least $1.8 billion in total economic impact, 8,300 construction and constructionrelated jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs. "It's always been my dream to see a vibrant and energized downtown Detroit," Ilitch said in a statement. "I want people to look at Detroit's new sports and entertainment district and see what I see: the potential for something very special. "I couldn't be more excited and proud to bring this vision to life." The district will encompass dozens of blocks along and near Woodward Avenue. Development in the district will be integrated with the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park (home of the Ilitch-owned Detroit Tigers), MotorCity Casino Hotel, Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions), the Detroit Opera House, the Fillmore Detroit and more. "We've done business in Detroit for nearly 50 years, and this is our most significant and ambitious project here yet," said Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, in a statement. "Our great city is home to some of the world's most legendary people, teams and venues in sports and entertainment. "Detroit deserves no less than the best a world-class sports and entertainment district we can all be proud of. And that's exactly what we will build." The Ilitch organization has expanded its planned investment in the district to now include tens of millions of dollars in new neighborhood public infrastructure improvements such as lighting, sidewalks, green spaces and streets. These investments will occur concurrently with the development of the new District neighborhoods and arena. "The resurgence of Detroit has incredible momentum already, and a project of this magnitude and geographic reach will extend our progress, creating much-needed jobs for Detroiters, strengthening our public infrastructure both downtown and in the 22

23 neighborhoods, and attracting new, permanent residents to our city," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement. Ilitch organization accelerates private investment of at least $200M in new, mixed-use development to now occur concurrently with arena construction. Development of new, mixed-use neighborhoods in the district will occur concurrently with construction of the new Detroit arena. Groundbreaking is slated for fall of "By accelerating our investments in important neighborhood infrastructure and new mixed-use development, we will stabilize and develop dozens of underutilized blocks, create more jobs more quickly and allow the city to spend public funds on other priorities," Christopher Ilitch said in a statement. Each neighborhood has its own distinct personality, expressed by the following working names: Columbia Street A neighborhood near the Fox Theatre and the Fillmore Detroit that offers entertainment and dining at its finest. Wildcat Corner This neighborhood, anchored by Comerica Park and Ford Field, offers energetic, athletic experiences at their best. Working name to be determined The bustling home of the new Detroit arena. Cass Park Village An energized, eclectic and primarily residential neighborhood. Columbia Park ; A fresh, modern neighborhood anchored by a new public green space. The project is expected to generate at least $1.8B in total economic impact, 8,300 construction and construction-related jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs The construction of the district, including the arena, is expected to create approximately 8,300 construction-related jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs in Detroit. Dozens of community meetings relating to jobs have taken place already, with many more planned as groundbreaking occurs in the fall and full construction begins next year. The project will spur at least $1.8 billion in economic impact for the city, region and state. "The expanded vision for this important project will immediately begin building on the success of other investments along Woodward Avenue," Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said. "This is a powerful example of how public-private partnerships have multiplier effects that benefit the city, the region and the state." The revolutionary design will focus the arena on its most fundamental elements, while concurrently building and integrating a new, mixed-use neighborhood surrounding it. As the design is scaled and planned to fit with both new and existing development, it will also offer a dynamic urban environment that is uniquely Detroit. 23

24 "Our vision for the new arena is for a one-of-a-kind facility that fits in with its neighborhood, that is authentic to our Detroit roots and offers an unmatched fan experience," Christopher Ilitch said. "We will build a revolutionary venue for hockey, music, entertainment and community events, and at the same time, a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood surrounding it." Michigan Live LOADED:

25 Detroit Red Wings Arena, entertainment district plans revealed with bold $650 million vision Eric Lacy on July 20, 2014 at 8:26 AM, updated July 20, 2014 at 12:55 PM DETROIT, MI -- The wait is finally over. Plans were made public Sunday morning for a new $650 million Detroit Red Wings arena and entertainment district that are bound to transform the look of downtown. Both the Detroit Free Press and Crain's Detroit Business posted stories online with details about Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch's "bold vision" that also includes housing and a huge retail revival. Crain's reports "a dramatic transformation of the heart of Detroit will begin in September," when the Ilitch family breaks ground on the project. The project - both the $400 million arena and $200 million district - is expected to be complete by summer 2017, according to both media outlets. The arena and district will fill a gaping hole downtown and covers a 45-block area bordered by Charlotte Street to the north, Grand River to the west, Grand Circus Park to the south and Woodward Avenue to east. Alan Mountjoy, worked with Red Wings owner and business mogul Mike Ilitch, his family and architecture firm HKS last year on the project and described it to MLive.com last year as one that has unlimited potential. Mountjoy, a principal at the firm NBBJ, said on June 21, 2013 he believed this ambitious plan will be something the public embraces and could be designed and constructed within three years. "It's not unreasonable to think that," said Mountjoy, whose work portfolio includes master plans for Hart Plaza and Eastern Market. "We're looking at ways a new urban district would evolve around the arena." What are your expectations for the new arena and entertainment district? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. For more on the arena and entertainment district, hear Mike Ilitch's son Christopher Ilitch give the Free Press in the video below details about the "bold vision." One interesting sidebar with details about the new Red Wings arena and district pertains to a possible move by the Pistons to downtown Detroit. Crain's reports plans for the new Red Wings arena revive speculation that Pistons owner Tom Gores could eventually move his team to Detroit and work out an agreement with Mike Ilitch to play games at the new arena. 25