Olympia Entertainment Names New President to Oversee Company Growth

Olympia Entertainment Names New President to Oversee Company Growth

Industry Expert Dana Warg to Lead Major Sports And Entertainment Company

DETROIT, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Warg, a 26-year entertainment and sports facility operations expert, has been named president of Olympia Entertainment. In his new assignment Warg will direct one of the most diverse entertainment and sports companies in the United States. In addition to leading the company as it addresses future strategic growth and expansion opportunities, Warg will oversee the operation of Detroit's fabulous Fox Theatre, as well as booking and operations responsibilities for Joe Louis Arena, home to the Detroit Red Wings, Cobo Arena, City Theatre and various other venues in metro-Detroit. Warg will also coordinate the concert bookings and related entertainment activity at Comerica Park, home to the 2006 American League Champion Detroit Tigers.

"Dana will be a great asset to the company and region with his proven track record and comprehensive background in global operations, booking, venue acquisition, team negotiation and facilities management," said Christopher Ilitch, president and chief executive officer, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. "Warg will lead our talented Olympia Entertainment staff to continue to bring patrons the best variety of sports and live entertainment options available in Detroit and the surrounding region," Ilitch said.

Warg comes to the Motor City from Los Angeles, where he most recently served as facilities senior vice president for AEG since October 2004, and oversaw the day-to-day booking and operations for all AEG owned and operated venues in the United States, England and Germany, including the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie (Texas), and the Colosseum at Caesars Palace (Las Vegas).

"I am extremely pleased and honored to join the Ilitch organization, a company which is held in the highest esteem in both the sports and entertainment industry throughout the United States," Warg said of his appointment. "It is my hope that my experience and knowledge of the entertainment industry will be a compliment to the future growth and stability of this outstanding company. I look forward to the challenges which lay ahead and working with the talented staff at Olympia Entertainment to create an even more dynamic and aggressive organization which will serve the needs of the Detroit region." Warg also cited his enthusiasm to work with the many diverse organizations and companies in Metro-Detroit to continue to making the city a top destination for major entertainment and global attractions."

Located in the heart of Detroit, one of the leading entertainment markets in the country, highlights of Olympia Entertainment's portfolio include the following:

-- Olympia Entertainment's Fox Theatre is recognized as a top grossing
theatre in North America, having hosted sold out family, concert and
comedy events year after year. Recognized as a crown jewel of Detroit,
the Fox Theatre hosts the region's premier private events including the
MLB All-Star Game, Super Bowl XL, Ryder Cup, and most recently WWE's
Wrestlemania 23.

-- The Joe Louis Arena, home of the NHL Detroit Red Wings, plays to
capacity crowds year in and year out. As the center of Hockeytown, the
Joe Louis Arena hosts "College Hockey at the Joe" featuring the NCAA
CCHA regional championship including the University of Michigan
Wolverines and this year's National Champions, the Michigan State
Spartans. The region's premier college hockey holiday tournament, the
Great Lakes Invitational, has been hosted by Joe Louis Arena for 27
consecutive years.

-- The Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena continue to host top-grossing
concert events each year including, most recently, shows performed by
Justin Timberlake and Detroit area native Bob Seger. Bob Seger's
recent return to the legendary Cobo Arena brought rock 'n roll fans to
their feet as he and the Silver Bullet band rocked Detroit, creating a
timeless image of Detroit's Cobo Arena.

-- The Hockeytown Cafe, recognized by ESPN as the #2 sports bar in
America, is the place to be and be seen during every major event.
Detroit Red Wings hockey, Detroit Tigers baseball, Detroit Lions
football, Fox Theatre events, group outings or relaxing in front of
giant 63-inch plasma televisions enjoying fresh ground rounds, deep-
dish pizza or beers of the world, the Hockeytown Cafe is the place to
visit.

-- The City Theatre, located in the Hockeytown Cafe complex, is a unique
venue that has played host to local and national touring acts including
plays written by nationally-recognized sports columnist Mitch Albom.

-- Comerica Park, the fan-friendly ballpark and home to the 2006 American
League Champion Detroit Tigers, is known as a great outdoor concert
venue and has hosted major concerts such as the Rolling Stones, Eminem,
Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Dave Matthews and Bruce Springsteen since opening
in 2000.

Warg began his career in 1978 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, as the director of the University of Northern Iowa Dome, and held facility management positions of increasing responsibility across the United States over the next eight years. In 1986, Warg joined the former Ogden Entertainment in Minneapolis, where he served as vice president of operations and was responsible for 33 arenas in North America and Europe. He then served as chief executive officer of the Target Center in Minneapolis for 11 years, before being named vice president of arena operations for SFX Music Group and Clear Channel Entertainment. He then went on to serve as executive vice president of programming and development for Nederlander concerts before joining AEG.

Warg replaces Randy Lippe, who was appointed senior executive, Arena Development, for Olympia Development in August 2006. Lippe has continued to oversee Olympia Entertainment while leading Olympia Development's efforts as it evaluates renovating Joe Louis Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings, or designing and building a new arena. Olympia Development is an Ilitch-owned real estate and community development company.

A native of Honolulu, Warg earned a bachelors degree from Iowa State University in 1972, and will relocate to the Detroit area with his wife Rebecca in the coming months from Los Angeles. He is also an active member of several industry and business organizations, including: member, Governors (Minnesota) Task Force for NHL Hockey; member, Northwest Airlines board of advisors; member, Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Bureau board of directors; council member, GersonLehman Group; member, International Association of Auditorium Managers; and member, TPC.

In addition to Olympia Entertainment, Ilitch-owned businesses in the food, sports and entertainment industries include: Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Development, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, MotorCity Casino, Uptown Entertainment, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, and a variety of venues within these entities. 2006 total combined revenues of Ilitch-owned companies exceeded $1.6 billion.

A photo of Mr. Warg is available on the news/media page of http://www.olympiaentertainment.com/.

Source: Ilitch Holdings, Inc.; Olympia Entertainment

CONTACT: Jennifer Kulczycki, of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.; +1-313-983-6168

Web site: http://www.olympiaentertainment.com/

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