Olympia Entertainment has taken over operations and management of the
Masonic Temple,
a move that its Cass Park neighbors hope will be good for the area.
"I'm excited by the promise of some much needed exterior improvements,"
says Jim Young of the Cass Park Neighborhood Development Corp. "It's
great to see people finally coming and going from the Masonic. The
sidewalks are cleared, the weeds cut down."
Richard Kughn,
a Mason who assisted in negotiating the agreement, also sees Olympia's
capacity as a boost to the facility. “It was apparent that we should
search for an organization that
had the experience and organizational capability to better present the
Masonic Temple Theatre to the public," he said in a statement. "After
much due diligence, it
was apparent that Olympia Entertainment and the Ilitch organization
were
the right organization to meet our objectives. We are delighted to
find a partner that enables us to build a win-win relationship.”
The
Ilitch family's empire includes the nearby MotorCity Casino and Hotel,
which, at the minimum, provides a convenient lodging facility for
Masonic event-goers. And who knows? Perhaps a more formal
transportation, entertainment, dining and lodging package structure
will shake out in the wash.
For his part, Young is eager for Olympia to leave its (large)
footprint on his neighborhood. "Let's hope Olympia and the Masonic
become active partners in Cass
Park improvements -- what a great place for outdoor music," he says.
"Olympia
might even be able to say it transformed Cass Park the way Bryant Park
was resurrected in New York."
Read more about Cass Park and the Masonic Temple here.
Sources: Olympia Entertainment and Jim Young, CPNDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh