Detroit Tigers, Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch dies at age 87
DETROIT (AP) — Billionaire businessman Mike Ilitch, who founded the Little Caesars pizza empire before buying the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, won praise for keeping the professional sports teams in the city as others relocated to new suburban stadiums.
Former President George W. Bush said in a statement that Ilitch was "a self-made man with talent, drive, and a huge heart."
Pizza! ads featuring an animated Little Caesar — eventually grew into one of the world's largest carry-out pizza chains with several spin-off companies that now employ 23,000 people worldwide and posted revenues last year of $3.4 billion.
"Whether he was making pizza, building successful sports and entertainment franchises or supporting youth organizations in our city, Mr. I helped to bring thousands of jobs and opportunities to our city and attract millions of dollars of investment," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said.
"Revitalizing the historic Fox Theatre and relocating his business headquarters to the city were bold moves, but ones that ultimately set downtown on a course for incredible investment and remarkable transformation," Rapson said.
When approached in 2009 by organizers of the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, Ilitch agreed to sponsor the annual college football bowl game despite a poor local economy.
Ilitch Holdings Inc. was established in 1999 to manage the family's interests in food, sports and entertainment, and the company remained family focused.
Unlike previous owners of both sports franchises, Ilitch opened his checkbook to sign top players — finding solid success in hockey, and a roller coaster in baseball.
The Tigers lost an American League record 119 games in 2003, but advanced to the World Series three years later, losing in five games to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Tigers made the American League playoffs in 2011, a return to winning that brought more fans to Comerica Park.
Funeral services will be private, but plans are being made for the public to pay respects.