The real reason Ilitch opposes the Ticket Tax?

posted by blogger Jasper at jasper.webvomit.com:

"I’d like to point out that Detroit Slum Lord and Tigers/Red Wings owner, Mike Ilitch is leading Fans Against Ticket Taxes. Anytime this guy does anything, its for his own benefit...He’s afraid he’ll have to “open his books” as well, since he recently started selling Tiger tickets through his company, rather than Ticketmaster."

Ilitch helping fans scalp tickets and making money of it
According to the Tigers website:

"In conjunction with Detroit Code Section 5-1-3, tickets may not be resold or offered for resale in a manner or at a price in violation of any federal, state or local law or regulation. Resale of game tickets at any price is strictly prohibited in and around Comerica Park. The Detroit Police Department may ticket violators."

However tickets sold through the Tigers organization are exempt. So the Tigers have set up a Tigers ticket exchange board, "Tigers Replay"-- in essence allowing folks to scalp tickets within the bounds of the law. In exchange for serving as the middle man, the Tigers organization nets 10% of each transaction.

Mike Ilitch was helping people scalp tickets to World Series games last Fall and making more money getting paid another 10% to do it.

The real reason Ilitch opposes the Ticket Tax?
Blogger Jasper is suggesting that if the proposed Ticket Tax is approved in Lansing, Ilitch might be forced to open his Tigers box office books -- and those at the Red Wings, Fox Theater, City Threater, etc -- to state regulators in ways he doesn't now.