editor’s note: Ilitch Sports and Entertainment CEO Ryan Gustafson defended the institution’s workplace culture on Wednesday in communications with employees and media organizations.
At least eight men employed by the Detroit Tigers, its business arm or broadcast partner have been accused of misconduct toward women since 2023, including four vice presidents and two other high-ranking employees, an inquiry by The Athletic found.
Seven of those eight were accused of mistreating women employed by Ilitch Sports and Entertainment (IS+E), which operates the MLB franchise, the NHL’s Red Wings, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena and other entertainment entities. The allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation.
Six of the men either resigned, were fired or did not have their contracts renewed — three exited in a six-month period beginning last November.One vice president was suspended after The Athletic requested comment about the allegations against him late last week.
“The dysfunction is woven into the culture. It feels like a bunch of guys who can do whatever they wont,” said a current male employee. “It’s not a place women can feel safe.”
The Athletic began investigating the organization in late April after Tigers assistant general manager Sam Menzin abruptly resigned after 13 years with the team.Menzin, then 34, was viewed in some circles as a rising star, ascending from intern to the front office. The Tigers did not disclose why he left, but The Athletic reported that Menzin departed after an internal investigation found that he sent lewd, unsolicited photos to multiple women who worked for the team. For this report,The Athletic spoke with more than 45 current and former employees and reviewed emails,human resources documents,text messages and court records.
In interviews, current and former employees described a “boys club” culture at IS+E were women were told not to wear specific skirts or pants because male colleagues found them distracting. Several women said men routinely commented on their appearance; the executive who was recently suspended allegedly commented on whether or not women were attractive enough to work in sports.
The Tigers are also one of only three (out of 30) MLB teams that don’t offer paid maternity leave.
“There’s just been little things, things that it’s just like, OK, well, it’s as I’m a woman. And I had never felt that way working in sports. … I’ve never felt that way or so belittled by people in a workplace untill I worked for the Tigers,” said one former employee. She and others were granted anonymity as they still work for the company or in professional sports and/or feared reprisal from officials in Detroit.
Employees also said some company leaders were hostile toward older employees.The Tigers have been sued at least three times in federal court in the last three years by former employees who alleged age discrimination.
“They find a way to get rid of the older people and they bring in younger people,” said one former employee who spent more than a decade with the organization.
In a statement attributed to Olympia Entertainment, which is affiliated with IS+E, the organization said: “We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, nonetheless of seniority or tenure. We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace.”
The most serious allegation involved Michael Lienert, who joined the company in 2019 and was promoted to IS+E’s vice president of premium sales and private events in September 2021. While in that role, Lienert would stare at women in a manner that made some of them uncomfortable, according to three women who said they felt that way and two men who were told that by women in the organization.
He also allegedly engaged in at least two relationships with female coworkers that were not disclosed to the organization,as required by company policy,according to multiple sources briefed on the matter. In early 2023, Lienert was in a heated exchange with one of those female coworkers and allegedly pushed her down a flight of stairs, according to three sources.
The organization said: “As soon as we became aware of concerns involving Mr. Lienert,we immediately suspended him and initiated an investigation. Mr.Lienert resigned shortly thereafter.”
lienert, who served as vice president of partnership sales with the Chicago Fire FC of MLS for the last six months, per his LinkedIn, did not respond to requests for comment. Lienert’s attorney, Daniel J. Kramer, disparaged the reliability of “the girl” Lienert allegedly pushed down the stairs. Asked specifically if Lienert pushed a woman down a flight of stairs, Kramer said that Lienert denied all allegations against him.
the woman that Lienert allegedly pushed did not respond to interview requests.
Chicago Fire FC said in a statement Wednesday that the organization first learned of the allegations made against Lienert from The Athletic’s report that morning, and “Mr. Lienert is no longer employed by the organization.”
Between november 2024 and April 2025, three additional high-level officials left the organization. that included Menzin, who the team said resigned before he coudl be fired, and Josh Bullock, the vice president of business operations in Lakeland, Fla., where the Tigers have their spring training complex.
Before being hired in January 2023, bullock worked at the XFL with IS+E president and CEO Ryan Gustafson. Three people told The Athletic they witnessed Bullock verbally harass male and female employees, sometiems on the field. four people, both male and female employees, said they heard Bullock use vulgarities to describe women and, in some of those cases, discuss sexual acts.
On Feb. 18, 2025, Bullock was at a downtown Lakeland bar with several colleagues when he allegedly made inappropriate comments in front of several women, according to three organizational sources. As Bullock was being escorted out by male colleagues, he allegedly shoved a female employee. Following an HR investigation, Bullock was fired in late March.
Bullock did not respond to multiple emails, text messages and phone calls. The organization said: “As soon as we became aware of concerns involving Mr. Bullock, we promptly investigated and terminated his employment the following day. The organization was never made aware of a physical altercation.”
The third high-ranking organizational official to exit during that six-month stretch was Rob Gehring, director of video content production. He joined IS+E in January 2024 after more than two decades at NFL Films, per his LinkedIn page.By the summer of his first and only year in Detroit, multiple women alerted HR about his conduct, according to three organizational sources. Gehring was counseled not to call female colleagues “honey” or other pet names, and not to touch them unnecessarily, according to two sources briefed on the situation.
The complaints against gehring continued. He allegedly asked a female colleague which dating app she was on, according to a team source, and commented on one female employee’s body to colleagues. HR launched an investigation that lasted about a week; Gehring was fired around Thanksgiving, about 11 months after he joined the team.
Gehring, responding to an email listing the allegations made against him, said that in spring 2024 he was told he was “too amiable” with other employees, but he denied any improper conduct. “Neither the conversation I had in the spring nor the conduct your sources imply I engaged in was the reason for my departure at IS+E,” he wrote. Asked in a follow-up email why he exited the organization, Gehring did not respond.
“As soon as we became aware of concerns involving Mr. Gehring, we promptly investigated and terminated his employment,” the organization said. Asked about the earlier complaints to HR about Gehring, the organization said it had no further comment.
two other high-ranking IS+E officials accused of making inappropriate comments to and about female employees remain with the organization.
Peter Soto was hired as vice president of game presentation and fan experience in August 2023. On game days, Soto was frequently enough on a live audio channel accessed by more than a dozen people. According to two people with access to the channel, Soto once allegedly referenced Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex parties; in another instance, he allegedly likened a talkative female employee to a stripper in that he “didn’t look her in the eye.” Multiple organizational sources said an effort was made to keep lower-level employees off the headsets so they wouldn’t hear Soto’s inappropriate remarks.
team sources described four different instances when Soto commented on female employees’ appearances. In two instances,Soto allegedly told women they weren’t attractive enough to succeed in the sports industry,according to people present when the remarks were made. He deemed a third woman “hot” enough to make it,according to a former employee who heard that remark. In another instance, he commented on a woman’s buttocks, according to one person who heard the comment and another who was told about it.
HR was made aware of at least some of Soto’s alleged remarks, according to two team sources, though it’s unclear if he has faced any scrutiny. After The Athletic sought comment regarding the allegations against Soto, he was suspended. The organization said: “A prior investigation did not substantiate terminable conduct. Immediately after being made aware of additional concerns, Mr. Soto was suspended pending the outcome of a new investigation, which remains ongoing.”
Soto’s attorney, Brian J. Farrar, said: “Mr. Soto is truly shocked by these allegations and denies any inappropriate behavior. Throughout his long career, he has always fostered an inclusive and inspirational surroundings.”
Ben Fidelman, IS+E’s vice president of communications and broadcasting, started his sports career with internships for MLB.com and the commissioner’s office. He has a close relationship with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, whom he refers to as his uncle. Fidelman, who received his undergraduate degree in 2017, joined the Tigers the same year. He was promoted to manager of communications by December 2019 and director three years later.
Since his promotion to director, Fidelman allegedly yelled at a female employee and called her “stupid” within earshot of two people, who conveyed what they heard to The Athletic. Another former employee said she overheard Fidelman make demeaning remarks about her physical appearance. Another woman who worked under Fidelman said that when she told him she didn’t feel included in some workplace matters, he replied: “You shouldn’t feel included.”
“More than once, I’ve heard him screaming at women in the organization,” said a current male employee.
In all, 10 people – men and women – said they witnessed Fidelman make inappropriate remarks or exhibit behavior that was described by some as “belittling,” “domineering” and “disrespectful.”
Three employees made HR aware of other interactions they witnessed in which Fidelman allegedly made inappropriate comments or verbally harassed staff, according to four organizational sources. No formal complaints were filed against him regarding those incidents. In April, HR received a formal complaint from a female employee alleging retaliation and gender discrimination by Fidelman, according to an IS+E source and HR documents reviewed by The Athletic.
The HR investigation into the female employee’s allegations from April lasted about a week. In June, Fidelman, 30, was promoted to vice president.
After contacting the Tigers for comment last week, The Athletic heard, unsolicited, from two women and a man who currently work in the organization. Those individuals said they wanted to speak off the record about their positive experiences with Fidelman. Asked to give on-the-record comments in support of Fidelman, they declined to do so.
The organization said Fidelman would not comment on the allegations and added: “It is inaccurate and unfair to group Mr.Fidelman within a story about accusations of sexual harassment or related misconduct. A concern unrelated to either was raised, and consistent with our process, it was investigated thoroughly, and no wrongdoing was found.” In defense of Fidelman, Ron Colangelo, IS+E’s senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, said that The Athletic “may have talked to the 10 or 12 people who were disgruntled, and that’s unfortunate.”
For a time, Fidelman’s responsibilities included liaising with the team’s radio and television broadcasters, assisting with contract negotiations and scheduling. While not officially employees of IS+E, team broadcasters fly with the team, stay at the same hotels and work closely with team personnel.
In 2023,former Tigers player Cameron Maybin joined Bally Sports Detroit (now fanduel Sports Network) as a pre- and post-game analyst. early in the season, Maybin allegedly told one team employee he liked to watch her walk away from him, according to that woman and a person she told about the remark around the time it occurred. At least two women received late-night calls or messages from Maybin that they considered inappropriate. In one text message, viewed by The Athletic, Maybin wrote: “probably not the best idea we hang I’m trying to stay married.” In another, after the woman declined to socialize with Maybin, he wrote: “You can always stop by, my door is wide open for you.”
An HR official began asking employees about Maybin’s behavior in May 2023. Maybin still appeared on the broadcast the rest of the season.He didn’t return in 2024.
Maybin did not respond to multiple calls and text messages seeking comment.
In June 2024, broadcaster craig Monroe — another former Tigers player — was taken off the air after being publicly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. In July 2024, police in Frisco, Texas, took a report for sexual assault of a child in which Monroe was listed as the suspect, according to an officer with the Frisco Police Department.The officer said last week the case was inactive and declined further comment.
Monroe’s attorney, michael Manley, declined to comment on the case. In 2024, when the allegations surfaced, he issued a statement, saying Monroe “vehemently” denied the claims. Monroe said in a phone call saturday that he wanted to respond but needed to talk to his legal team first. he did not respond to further inquiries.
The network that employed Maybin and Monroe said in a statement: “Upon being made aware of the allegations against Cameron Maybin and Craig Monroe,we coordinated with the Tigers,and both were removed from the network’s broadcasts,and their contracts were not renewed.”
Chris Ilitch assumed control of the Detroit Tigers in 2017 after the death of his father, Mike. (Chris Schwegler / Getty Images)
Over the last several years, the business side of the Tigers, Red Wings and affiliated entities — such as Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena — have been transformed.
IS+E was formally rolled out in 2022, but even before then, the business departments from the tigers and Red Wings merged, employee roles and managers changed, and cuts were made. At various points, the organization eliminated positions, lowered sales commissions and curtailed employee perks.While the Tigers and Red Wings baseball and hockey operations are separate, many business employees found themselves suddenly working for both teams with little to no notice.
Some current and former employees acknowledged that a reorganization of the business was needed, but many people said the breadth of the changes over a relatively short period of time eroded the culture. As 2021, the organization has had three different presidents on the business side; those executives have reported to Chris Ilitch, who assumed control of the team in 2017 after the death of his father, Mike.
“The merger was the worst thing to happen to that organization,” said one former employee.
when IS+E was formed, the Tigers’ human resources department was, like other divisions, folded into the larger enterprise.the group in Detroit is responsible for the Tigers, the Red Wings, Olympia Parking and, as of 2024, employees of Ilitch Holdings. In addition to Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena, IS+E also operates the Fox Theater, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill. Human Resources is led by a senior vice president and has two directors — one dedicated to sports and entertainment — and four employees who are business partners, according to the Tigers’ website.The group added an investigator last year.
Current and former employees said they felt HR may have been too overburdened to address all the concerns raised by employees. When a major incident occurred or a formal complaint was filed, the HR staff investigated. But many people felt that smaller issues that might have presaged a larger problem were sometimes waved off.Allegations of Misconduct and a “Boys Club” Culture at the Detroit Tigers
Table of Contents
Recent reports and accounts from current and former Detroit Tigers employees paint a picture of a workplace grappling with allegations of misconduct, inconsistent HR responses, and a pervasive “boys club” mentality. These claims raise concerns about the team’s internal culture and its handling of employee complaints.
Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior
Several women have come forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior by Sam Menzin, the Tigers’ former head of player development. In the fall of 2022, one female employee reported to an HR official that Menzin put his arm around her waist in a copy room. According to the employee, the HR representative downplayed the incident, stating, “Oh, that’s just Sam.” [Detroit Free Press] Menzin has not publicly responded to requests for comment.
Inconsistent HR Responses
A recurring theme in the accounts is the perceived inconsistency in how HR addressed complaints. One former employee stated, “There’s no consistency…Not everyone is held to the same standard, and it’s not (for) little things.” [Detroit Free Press] This suggests a potential disparity in the request of workplace policies and a lack of equitable treatment for employees.
the Rise of a “Boys Club” Mentality
current and former employees describe a gradual shift towards a “boys club” atmosphere within the organization. This type of environment often fosters a sense of exclusion and can contribute to a culture where inappropriate behavior is tolerated or overlooked.The specific details of how this mentality manifested are still emerging,but the consistent use of this term by multiple individuals points to a significant issue.
Impact on Employees
At least five women have voiced concerns about the workplace environment. The allegations and perceived lack of support from HR have likely created a challenging and possibly hostile work environment for those affected. The long-term consequences of such a culture can include decreased morale,reduced productivity,and difficulty attracting and retaining talent.
Detroit Tigers’ Response and Ongoing Investigation
The detroit Tigers have acknowledged the allegations and stated they are taking them seriously. The team has engaged the law firm Miller & chevalier to conduct an independent investigation into the claims. [MLB.com] The investigation aims to determine the validity of the allegations and assess the overall workplace culture within the organization.
Key Takeaways
- Multiple women have alleged inappropriate behavior by a former Detroit Tigers executive.
- Employees report inconsistent responses from HR when addressing complaints.
- A “boys club” mentality is alleged to have permeated the workplace.
- The Detroit Tigers have launched an independent investigation into the allegations.
the outcome of the independent investigation will be crucial in determining the next steps for the Detroit Tigers. Addressing the concerns raised by current and former employees is essential for fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace culture. the team’s response will likely set a precedent for how similar issues are handled in the future, both within the organization and across Major League baseball.
Publication Date: 2025/09/11 17:46:05