Little Caesars Arena Granted An Unprecedented Four NCAA Events Before Venue Opens

DETROIT, April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The NCAA announced today that Little Caesars Arena will be the host site for three Division I Men's sporting events, in addition to rounds 1 & 2 of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Championships, which was announced in November, 2014. This means the venue has been awarded four events before its opening in September, 2017.

The scheduled events at Little Caesars Arena are:

• March 16 & 18, 2018 Men's Basketball First/Second Round, Detroit Mercy Hosts
• April 9-11, 2020 Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four, Michigan State Hosts
• March 18 & 20, 2021 Men's Basketball First/Second Round, University of Detroit Mercy and Oakland University Host
• March 17-19, 2022 Men's Wrestling Championships, University of Michigan Hosts

Little Caesars Arena, future home to the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons, was designed to accommodate a wide range of sports events, concerts and family shows, including hockey, basketball and wrestling. This recognition by the NCAA is a testament to the state-of-the-art arena itself, as well as the vibrant resurging area surrounding it—the Ilitch organization-led 50-block sports and entertainment development known as The District Detroit.

"Being selected by the NCAA is yet another piece of evidence pointing to the attractiveness of Detroit and the success of the city's rebirth," said Olympia Entertainment president and CEO Tom Wilson. "The combination of sports, music, stores, new restaurants, residential, office and ongoing development in the region makes Detroit a perfect destination for NCAA fans.

"The confidence the NCAA has shown in the Ilitch organization, Olympia Entertainment, the Detroit Sports Commission and our partners at University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan State University, Oakland University and the University of Michigan is tremendous," Wilson continued. "Our goal was always to bring Detroit to the forefront of national and international audiences, through our artists as well as our student-athletes, coaches and fans. We are thrilled to make good on our promise to provide a first-class sports and entertainment venue that surpasses all expectations. We're proud to work with the Detroit Sports Commission and each of these prestigious schools to host the events, and look forward to showcasing Detroit on a national and international scale."

About Olympia Entertainment

Olympia Entertainment, a Detroit-based company founded by entrepreneurs Michael and Marian Ilitch, is one of the country's most diverse sports and entertainment companies and the largest organization of its kind in the Midwest. The company owns and operates Detroit's Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre, the intimate City Theatre and also books and operates Joe Louis Arena and books Comerica Park. Olympia Entertainment also handles business operations for the Detroit Red Wings, an Original Six™ member of the National Hockey League and collaborates with the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise and other Ilitch companies.

Other Ilitch companies include: Little Caesars Pizza, Ilitch Holdings, Inc., Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, the Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program and Olympia Development.

About Little Caesars Arena

Home to the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons and other sports and entertainment events, concerts, family shows and community functions, the new Little Caesars Arena will feature a dramatic arena bowl, proximity to the action and great sight lines. Rich with the tradition of the Original Six™ Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Pistons and Detroit's incredible musical heritage, Little Caesars Arena will also feature state-of-the-art technology and fan amenities. Little Caesars Arena, the crown jewel of the 50-block revitalization project known as The District Detroit, will open in the fall of 2017.

SOURCE Olympia Entertainment