Today there are all of two minor mentions of MotorCity Casino and those are buried on their respective webpages only to be found after scrolling nearly to the bottom of the page. There is no mention nor representation of MotorCity Casino on the website's home page.
History
Late in 2005, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. added MotorCity Casino to its line up of recognizeable name brands. Detroit's expanding gambling hall took its place on the corporate website to the right of brands like Little Caesars Pizza, Tigers Baseball, Red Wings Hockey; and a few lessor known brands that service the standards. MotorCity Casino, just another offering in the Ilitch's entertainment portfolio, was added to nearly every page on the website.
MotorCity Casino even became a sponsor of the Red Wings hockey franchise.
But, sometime last summer (2006), the Ilitch Holdings, Inc. corporate website was nearly purged of any reference to "MotorCity Casino" (words or graphics). And where it is mentioned, it's got "stand alone" status, isolated/buried at the bottom of the page; as if it's the bastard step-child no one wants to acknowledge except that it is the goose that is laying golden eggs for Ilitch Holdings. Inc.
While they have exiled MotorCity Casino from its place next to the other brands, they still lump its annual revenue or value into figures they publicly disclose for Ilitch Holdings, Inc. as a way to pump up their pizza dough!
"Their primary business interests include – Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Uptown Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, MotorCity Casino and a variety of venues within these entities. The holding company’s 2005 total combined revenues exceeded $1.5 billion."
After (as of December 2006)
click graphic below to enlarge for viewing
"Ilitch Holdings was established in 1999 to provide all companies owned by Michael and/or Marian Ilitch with professional and technical services. These services are provided to all of our businesses -- Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Uptown Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, and a variety of venues within these entities. In 2006, combined revenues of Ilitch-owned businesses totaled $1.5 billion.".
The purge was nothing short of a cut and past activity as can be seen by comparing the past and present banners. MotorCity Casino was cut out of the banner and the spot it held on the far right side of the logo line up is obviously left "empty."
Focus on the Family Called for Boycott
In late 2005 Focus on the Family started calling for a boycott of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. brands in light of the casino ownership. On the web pages of its family.org Citizen's Link Focus on Social Issues November 14, 2005, Focus on the Family's Chad Hill wrote:
"Michigan Take Action
"Pizza! Pizza! Casino! Casino!
Before you order another pizza from Little Caesar's, consider the following: Marian Ilitch and her husband, Michael Malik — Michigan residents — are the founders and owners of Little Caesar's Pizza chain. They also own the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers (see Ilitch Holdings). Nothing wrong here, as eating pizza and attending sports events are great family activities."Unfortunately, the Ilitch's are also partners in putting up the money for a casino bid by New York's Shinnecock tribe, and Marian Ilitch recently won state approval to become sole owner of Motorcity Casino in Detroit. Something is wrong here.
"Gambling exploits children and adults, ultimately destroying families.
"The Ilitch's are sending a mixed message: they are supporting family-friendly activities while investing in an industry that exploits people and ruins families.
Maybe Michigan citizens should send them a clear message: 'We don't fund gambling ventures through family-oriented activities.'"
Heading into the 2006 SuperBowl (spotlight on Detroit), Focus on the Family raised the volume. Then suddently Focus on the Family went quiet (nearly every mention gaming in Michigan was removed from its website); MotorCity Casino was removed from the Ilitch corporate website; and a month or so later, it was announced that Mike Ilitch (a Catholic) was going to fund some new evangelical-centered million dollar reality TV program pitting church choirs across the country against each other in some sort of "battle of the bands" type competition. One announcement for "Voices of Joy" included:
"...Michael Ilitch, the man who came up with the idea of "Voices of Joy" and also the founder of Ilitch Holdings, a family of companies dedicated to creating extraordinary and memorable entertainment and sporting experiences."
Numerous websites noted "Voices of Joy" was the "brainchild" of Mike Ilitch. However, there's no record of any hype on the project coming out of the Ilitch Holdings, Inc. headquarters.
Had Ilitch bought his way out of a boycott? Did the threat of a national boycott raise concern with Major League Baseball? Was this another chapter in the Abramoff scandal? Wouldn't the winning Choir be receiving a million dollar jackpot gleaned from Detroit slot machines? How would that be different than Ralph Reed and other evangelicals secretly taking Indian Casino money from Abramoff's team in exchange for supporting political activities that would benefit Abramoff's clients?
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