Last year, rumors were floating that the Ilitch family, which owns Olympia, the Red Wings and several Downtown venues through its Ilitch Holdings, were interested in a new hockey arena for the NHL team.
"The Red Wings have played hockey at the Joe Louis Arena since December of 1979, and we look forward to many more successful seasons at the Joe," Lippe tells GlobeSt.com. "Joe Louis Arena is a great place to watch hockey and see concerts."
Lippe will oversee all operations for Olympia Entertainment events and venues, including the Fox Theatre, Joe Louis and Cobo arenas, Hockeytown Cafe, Johnny Rockets as well as non-baseball events at Comerica Park, all of which are located Downtown. Lippe first started with Ilitch Holdings some 30 years ago, working in one of the Ilitch family's Little Caesar's pizza chain. In 1982, after Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings franchise, Lippe transferred to what was then known as Olympia Arenas and operated the first Little Caesar's restaurant in the Joe Louis Arena, home of the Red Wings.
In the city's cultural district, OE has several projects in the works, Lippe tells GlobeSt.com:
* Fox Theatre: "This year we've upgraded our concessions and merchandise offerings at the Fox Theatre and other venues. Our number one goal is to exceed the expectations of our guests."
* Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers): Last year, the four-year-old venue was the site for five open-air concerts, including such acts as the Dave Matthews Band and Kiss. "We'd like to host more concerts this year, but much of this has to do with the bands and their routing and touring schedules," Lippe says.
* Hockeytown Cafe. The Detroit troupe of the comedy company Second City had been performing in a theater at Hockeytown for five years. Now, Second City has moved to a new location in Novi. So far, no plans have been announced for permanent plans for what was the second city location inside Hockeytown. "We're currently using the theater space to host boutique concerts and private events, but we're still evolving plans," Lippe says.
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