Octopus Thrower
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Detroit Red Wings CEO Chris Ilitch considering a regional sports network

By Brian Wallace

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 22: Ilitch Holdings President and CEO Christopher Ilitch smiles during a press conference to announce that the Detroit Pistons will move to downtown Detroit and begin playing at the new Little Caesars Arena starting next season on November 22, 2016 at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 22: Ilitch Holdings President and CEO Christopher Ilitch smiles during a press conference to announce that the Detroit Pistons will move to downtown Detroit and begin playing at the new Little Caesars Arena starting next season on November 22, 2016 at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Nothing is set in stone. With the Fox Sports Detroit contract set to expire soon. Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Chis Ilitch is plotting what comes next for his teams and the fans of Detroit.

The Ilitch enterprise announced plans for an exploratory committee to forming a sports network which would be beneficial to all parties. While stressing that a new deal with Fox Sports Detroit could be possible, what would this mean to the Detroit Red Wings?

This would be an unprecedented move as both the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers are in a rebuild. With both stadium/ arena attendance and t.v. Viewer ratings down. One can only believe  Ilitch is looking past the current into the future.

No timetable has been given. The current Fox Sports Detroit deal reaches its conclusion in 2021. It would be a good way for the teams to gain more revenue and be able to use that to grow the Detroit Market and making it more attractive to free agents.

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Having been with the Fox Sports branch since 1998, it is not known what effect it would have on the network if two sports teams leave at the same time. That would leave only the Detroit Pistons on the network. The Pistons have not made any statement since the Ilitch made it publicly known the desire to explore their options.

It could that Chris is using the idea of a new network as a better deal with the Fox sports department. Ilitch Holdings have invested $1.4 billion in the District Detroit. It could be that they want to recoup some of that in the money that could be generated between the Tigers and Red Wings.

Per Kaite Strang of the Athletic;

"Chris Granger, group president of sports and entertainment with Ilitch Holdings, Inc., referenced that very partnership in the release:“FOX Sports Detroit is a great partner and we look forward to discussing renewal and extension possibilities,” Granger said. “At the same time, we have two perennially highly-rated and historic franchises, which provide compelling year-round content and programming. As such, we feel our organization is uniquely positioned to explore the launch of what we believe could be a highly successful regional sports network.”"

As live-streaming is becoming more and more wide-spread, this may just be the next logical step for a businessman who took over as the owner of Detroit’s two big franchises in 2017 upon the death of his father, Mike Ilitch.

Back to streaming for a moment. The reach would be further than just Detroit and Michigan. A live stream can take place anywhere. That certainly has to be of interest for a man who from a business standpoint. The millions from just one team are enough to justify checking into a private network.

Next. Comparing brothers, Andrei and Evgeny Svechnikov. dark

Then you throw in the live stream, and suddenly those numbers grow. In my opinion, this will be too good a deal for Ilitch to pass up. He has already shown he will pour millings/billions into the city. This would just provide more resources to do just that.

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