Tom Wilson, who was instrumental in getting The Palace of Auburn Hills and Little Caesars Arena built and was a prominent figure in the Detroit-area sports and entertainment industry for more than four decades, announced his retirement Wednesday from Ilitch Companies.
Wilson, 71, since last December has been president emeritus of Olympia Entertainment, where he led strategic, operational, and business development projects across 313 Presents, Olympia Entertainment, the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers.
Ilitch Holdings hired Wilson in February 2010 as president and CEO of Olympia Entertainment.
Prior to that, Wilson spent 32 years with the Detroit Pistons, including 22 as president of Palace Sports & Entertainment, where he handled all business aspects for the Pistons, The Palace, the DTE Energy Music Theatre and the Meadow Brook Music Festival.
“Time has flown by and I have certainly been blessed,” Wilson said in statement posted on the Ilitch Companies news hub. “I am so grateful for the wonderful experiences I have been so fortunate to have had in sports, entertainment and media. From the NBA championships with the Pistons, the opening of The Palace, to the incredible opportunity to open the world class Little Caesars Arena in my hometown of Detroit — it has been a dream journey.
“The most rewarding part has been the relationships and friendships established. I especially want to express my gratitude and thank Mike and Marian Ilitch, and Chris Ilitch, for bringing me downtown ten years ago to transition the iconic Red Wings franchise to Little Caesars Arena, and to Bill Davidson in believing in me early on in my career to run his sports and entertainment properties. What I will miss most is the one-on-one time with our colleagues, with our guests, the passionate fans, our corporate community and so many more. I feel very fortunate and my journey has been nothing short of amazing. Now, I’m walking into a different time in my life, and I can truly say, I’m excited for what this new chapter may bring. To everyone I say, ‘thank you.’ “
After playing a prominent role in getting The Palace built in 1989, Wilson led the Red Wings’ efforts to transition from Joe Louis Arena to Little Caesars Arena in 2017.
“Throughout his tenure, Tom has been an incredible asset to our organization. His inspiring and collaborative leadership style played an integral role in the development and opening of the innovative Little Caesars Arena in The District Detroit,” Chris Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, said in a statement. “I am thankful for his invaluable contributions and partnership over the years.”
A Detroit native, Wilson graduated from Cass Technical High School and Wayne State University before he began his career working for the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings and The Forum.
Chris Granger, group president of sports and entertainment at Ilitch Holdings, added, “As a highly respected leader in the entertainment industry, Tom’s name has been, for decades, synonymous with world-class events. His expertise and vision have helped shape the way that guests from all around the world experience the exhilaration of sports, concerts, and other live events,” said “Tom has created a lasting legacy, and we are grateful for his dedication and friendship. We wish him all the best.”
from WordPress https://ift.tt/34Tms63
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment