Dan Gilbert. (Photo: Deadline archive)
Dan Gilbert
Dan Gilbert, the Quicken Loans founder and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is in “serious discussions” about potentially buying the Detroit Tigers, sources tell The Spun.
Gilbert, who grew up in Southfield, is “110 percent” interested in purchasing the hometown team, and the current owners of the Tigers are open to a possible sale, though none has been negotiated as of now, Matt Hladik of the Spun reports, citing unnamed sources.
Since the death of Mike Ilitch in 2017, rumors have circulated that the family might be willing to sell the team.
Earlier this month, Bill Shea of Crain's Detroit Business reported:
If Dan Gilbert sells off all of his casino and gambling interests, that could clear the way for him to buy the Detroit Tigers — but only if he's interested and only if they're for sale.
Major League Baseball forbids its team owners from having any stake in wagering operations, and Gilbert would be free of that restriction if he divests himself of his Detroit-based Jack Entertainment LLC that includes six casinos and racetracks, a move that a Bloomberg report on Thursday said was under consideration.
