On heals of 2005 NHL lock out, can Ilitch recover from current casino labor dispute?

The Ilitch family and the Detroit Red Wings have never fully recovered from the NHL's 2005 labor dispute. Ilitch failed to sellout Joe Louis Arena both during last year's playoffs (2006-2007) and this years opening games (2007).

Hockeytown fans have complained of the high price of Red Wings tickets among other things and feel they've not been courted or treated well since the 2005 lockout.

And now, the Ilitch organization, in negotiations with labor unions for contracts at MotorCity Casino has reportedly locked the doors to its Detroit gambling hall and closed down its parking structure. Bus loads of disappointed gambling patrons are being turned away and heading to the new MGM Grand Detroit and elsewhere.

The question is, how long will the Ilitch organization continue to lock out patrons of its newly expanded gambling hall; and will the opening of MotorCity Casino's new hotel facility next month be enough to bring about a swift recovery in lost gaming revenue?

MotorCity Casino's parent company CCM Merger, Inc. currently has a negative credit rating with Moody's; and both Moody's and Standard & Poor's were forced to downgrade the casino's holding company's credit ratings after the first year of Ilitch ownership because it was leveraged at rates higher than projections investors were originally told to expect.