16 | MARCH 12 • 2020 Jews in the D continued from page 15 sure venues have the right per- formers and events. He will focus on finding ways to grow the busi- ness, including attracting highly competitive national events to the city. He also has oversight on marketing campaigns, integration of the latest technology trends and front-end and back-end operations. Recently, he launched the redesign of 313presents.com. Handler has inherited some top-grossing venues. DTE Energy in Clarkston was named the No. 1 amphitheater in the world, with close to 600,000 paid attendees in 2019, according to Pollstar, an industry trade publication that provides year-end rankings. Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons, moved up to No. 2 in the U.S. for top arenas for concert ticket sales, behind only Madison Square Garden (where Handler also once worked). LCA sold more than 900,000 tickets last year. “I love every one of our ven- ues,” Handler said. “Meadow Brook Theatre is almost like a summer camp, nestled in the woods at Oakland University. Comerica Park will be the host of four very, very big concerts this summer, and it provides a tremendous atmosphere in the great outdoors.” Among its seven venues, 313 Presents also operates the intimate 400-seat Sound Board at Motor City Casino Hotel and the historic and grand Fox Theatre in Downtown Detroit and produces events at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights. Handler views his new role as a way to impact economic activity in Detroit. “More qual- ity events and shows will result in more activity downtown,” he said. He’ s most looking forward to helping the team achieve its full potential. “There are 40 people on the team now. I think they’ ve got incredible talent, ” he said. “We want to do some big ambi- tious things together. ” To that end, 313 Presents will be hosting the 2020 Frozen Four on April 9 and 11. That will be the second of four NCAA events at LCA. The company also will host the NCAA Men’ s Basketball first and second rounds in 2021. And it’ s got the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 2022. All four bids were awarded before LCA opened its doors. 313 Presents partners with the Detroit Sports Commission, which prioritizes the region’ s efforts to secure these big events. Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons and a board member of the Detroit Sports Organizing Corporation, said he is excited to have Handler on board at 313 Presents. “He not only has fantastic work achievements behind him, but he also has deep roots in the city, ” Tellem said. “We are looking forward to his contributions to the community in years to come. ” Handler sees many positive opportunities to sell Detroit to outsiders. “I think we perfected R&B and punk and hip hop, in addition to Motown and tech- no, ” he said. “Detroit is looked at as a sports-loving town. The four major professional teams are beloved. I think people see Detroit is a city with a vibrant and still-emerging food and restaurant scene. I think a lot of people see Detroit is a city of industry and creativity and art and design and innovation. “So, I think there are lots of different ways that people view and embrace and are inspired by Detroit — Detroit is making its mark.” “He not only has fantastic work achievements behind him, but he also has deep roots in the city. We are looking forward to his contributions to the community in the years to come.” — ARN TELLEM TOP: Handler’ s office desk: photos of his two children and his wife — and a U-M Red Wings cap. ABOVE: This AP photo hangs in Handler’ s office. It shows his great-uncle, referee Lou Handler, declaring “The Raging Bull” Jake LaMotta the 1950 Middleweight Champion in a win over Frenchman Lauren Dauthielle.