Ilitch Owes Detroit

The operator of Joe Louis and Cobo arenas in downtown Detroit owes the cash-strapped city more than $971,000 in unpaid property taxes on the venues.

The Detroit Free Press reports Thursday that tax documents show Olympia Entertainment has been in arrears on the taxes since 2009.

Joe Louis Arena is home of the Detroit Red Wings, and the building’s operator, Olympia Entertainment, owned by Mike Ilitch, is behind on paying property taxes.

Olympia Entertainment is part of Mike Ilitch’s stable of companies. Ilitch also owns Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.

Ilitch is seeking a $650 million multiuse development, which would include an events center.

The Michigan Senate on Wednesday approved legislation to help finance a project that would include a new hockey arena.

The bill has been returned to the House and would allow use of tax dollars collected by the city’s Downtown Development Authority for the project.