Michael Ilitch Sr. (July 20, 1929 – February 10, 2017), also known as Mr. I, was an American entrepreneur and restaurateur who served as the founder and owner of the international fast food franchise Little Caesars Pizza. He also owned the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.

WHL owners Frank and Lester Patrick made a deal to sell the league's players to the NHL and cease league operations. The new Detroit franchise purchased the players of the WHL's Victoria Cougars, who had won the Stanley Cup in 1925 and had made the Finals the previous winter, to play for the team.

In 1982, Ilitch entered into sports with the purchase of the struggling Red Wings. Ilitch, executing his long-term Detroit business conglomerate plan, also purchased Olympia Stadium Corporation that year.

The couple purchased the Detroit Red Wings in 1982. While the team was known as the Dead Wings at the time, Mike and Marian believed they were a sleeping giant and immediately took charge to turn the team around.

As of October 2024, the NHL team Detroit Red Wings is owned by Ilitch Holdings. The company was founded by Mike Ilitch in 1999 and is now managed by his wife Marian Ilitch and his son...

Through Ilitch Holdings, Ilitch is the owner of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and MLB’s Detroit Tigers, taking over ownership of both teams (along with the holding company and its related properties) upon the death of his father Mike in 2017.

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Feb 4, 2025 · The owner of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, Chris Ilitch, and his wife have filed for divorce, but the legal proceeding will not impact the ownership of any Ilitch businesses, the couple...

Mar 7, 2025 · She also owns the Detroit Red Wings NHL team and MotorCity Casino Hotel; the Detroit Tigers MLB team is owned by a family trust. Ilitch is helping build a $1.4 billion sports and...

Chris Ilitch | CEO, Ilitch Companies, Governor and CEO, Detroit Red Wings. Ryan Gustafson | President and CEO. Chris Coffman | Chief Commercial Officer