Fox Theatre Partners with KultureCity to Make All Events at Iconic Theater and Music Venue Sensory Inclusive
26 Feb / 2019
All events at Fox Theatre to promote an accommodating and positive experience for guests with sensory needs.
Event staff has been trained and certified by leading medical professionals on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation.
Little Caesars Arena and Comerica Park in The District Detroit also earned KultureCity certification in July 2018.
DETROIT – The Fox Theatre, located in The District Detroit, has joined Little Caesars Arena and Comerica Park to partner with KultureCity, making all events hosted at the iconic theater and music venue sensory inclusive. This initiative will promote an accommodating and positive experience for all guests with sensory needs.
The certification process entails the event staff are trained by leading medical professionals on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to best handle a sensory overload situation. Sensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads will be available to all guests who may feel overwhelmed by the environment. Guests will also have access to sensory areas for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment.
In July 2018, Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena earned KultureCity certification. Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers, became the first Major League Baseball ballpark to be certified by KultureCity. The award-winning Little Caesars Arena, home to the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons, is the first combined NHL and NBA arena to gain certification. Both facilities are operated by the Ilitch organization. The Ilitches own and operate the Fox Theatre.
“We’re thrilled to add another venue in The District Detroit to our partnership with the Ilitch organization,” said Traci Johnson, Executive Director, KultureCity. “We’re very grateful that guests with sensory sensitivities will be able to attend concerts and shows at the historic Fox Theatre and have the resources available to assure an accommodating and positive experience.”
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with KultureCity, and to provide guests at the Fox Theatre a comfortable experience when they attend a concert or show,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “KultureCity is a tremendous organization with a great mission. We’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to over stimulation and noise. With its new certification, the Fox Theatre is now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible when attending any event at the venue.
The Fox Theatre, which was purchased by the Ilitch organization in 1987, turned 90 years old on September 21, 2018. In 2000, the Ilitches opened Comerica Park just two blocks east of the Fox Theatre. In September 2014, ground was broken on Little Caesars Arena, which opened in 2017. Little Caesars Arena is located just three blocks north of the Fox Theatre and is one of the anchors of The District Detroit.
ABOUT THE FOX THEATRE
The Fox Theatre, headquartered in The District Detroit, is the city’s crown jewel. A premier venue for live music and entertainment and one of the largest and busiest theaters in the world, the Fox Theatre was established in 1928 and purchased by Michael and Marian Ilitch in 1987. In 1985, the theatre was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and in 1989 it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark after the Ilitch organization completed a $12 million restoration, returning the venue to its original splendor. The Fox Theatre, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2018, has hosted the world’s greatest performers and most popular shows, and to this day, continues to provide generations of Detroiters countless memories as one of the most elegant theaters in the world while displaying its versatility in hosting world-class entertainment events, concerts, family shows and community functions.
ABOUT KULTURECITY
KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using their resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs; not just those with Autism. In the past year alone, KultureCity has created several sensory inclusive venues and events including the NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, 16 NBA arenas, 5 NFL stadiums, 5 NHL arenas and countless zoos, science centers and aquariums across the nation.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT DETROIT
The District Detroit is a dynamic urban destination in the heart of Detroit. One that includes something for everyone—a dense neighborhood experience with a variety of developments alongside Detroit’s premier sports and entertainment venues. Connecting downtown Detroit to growing nearby neighborhoods such as Midtown, Corktown and Brush Park, The District Detroit is having a dramatic economic impact on Detroit and is a driving catalyst of the city’s remarkable resurgence. The District Detroit represents $1.4 billion in new investment to Detroit including the new Little Caesars Arena, Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University and Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion. Additionally, new office, residential and retail spaces will continue to add momentum to Detroit’s amazing comeback for years to come.