The Detroit Tigers organization is facing a crisis that goes far beyond the baseball field. A series of investigations and employee accounts paint a picture of a toxic workplace culture where harassment, discrimination, and misconduct have persisted for years.
Since 2023, at least eight men affiliated with the Tigers, its business arm, or broadcast partners have been accused of misconduct toward women. Those accused include four Vice Presidents and at least two other senior employees. The allegations range from offensive comments to physical confrontation, and insiders say the behavior has been tolerated at the highest levels.
Resignations and Suspensions
Six of the accused either resigned, were fired, or had their contracts not renewed, with three departures taking place in a six month span beginning last November. One Vice President was formally suspended only after The Athletic questioned the organization about allegations raised against him.
“The dysfunction is woven into the culture. It feels like a bunch of guys who can do whatever they want. It’s not a place women can feel safe,” one current employee said.
A “Boys Club” Environment
Former and current employees described a workplace culture at Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, which oversees the Tigers, Red Wings, Comerica Park, and other venues, as a “boys club.” Women said they were told not to wear certain pants or skirts because male colleagues would find them distracting. Several reported routine comments about their appearance, including one executive who allegedly judged whether women were attractive enough to work in sports.
The Tigers are also one of only three Major League Baseball teams that do not provide paid maternity leave. Employees said the lack of support for women extended beyond benefits to an overall environment where respect and accountability were absent.
Misconduct At The Top
The most high profile case involved former Assistant General Manager Sam Menzin, who abruptly resigned in April 2025 after 13 years with the team. An internal investigation concluded that he had sent unsolicited lewd photos to multiple women, including staff members. The team did not disclose the reason for his departure publicly, but the circumstances were later confirmed by investigative reporting.
Another serious allegation involved Michael Lienert, a Vice President of Premium Sales and Events. According to multiple accounts, his conduct toward female employees drew complaints, raising further questions about leadership inside the front office.
Peter Soto, another Tigers executive, was also accused of making inappropriate comments over internal live audio channels during game days. Reports say Soto referenced sex parties, compared a female employee to a stripper, and made repeated remarks about women’s looks and bodies, including whether or not they were “attractive enough” to succeed in the sports industry.
Discrimination Claims
The problems inside the organization extend beyond gender issues. The Tigers have been sued at least three times in federal court in the past three years by former employees who alleged age discrimination. Multiple workers said company leaders were openly hostile toward older staff, with one long-time employee claiming management deliberately replaced older workers with younger hires.
“They find a way to get rid of the older people and they bring in younger people,” said one former staffer who spent more than a decade with the organization.
Company Response
Olympia Entertainment, which oversees Tigers operations, issued a statement saying it is committed to “a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion” and that it does not tolerate discrimination or harassment. The statement said complaints are investigated promptly and can result in termination, regardless of seniority.
But critics point out that many of the most serious departures and disciplinary actions only happened after outside inquiries or press reports exposed the issues. That has led to concerns that accountability is more reactive than proactive.
A Systemic Problem
Interviews with more than 45 current and former employees, along with reviews of HR documents, court records, text messages, and emails, point to a deep rooted cultural problem inside the Tigers and Ilitch Sports and Entertainment. Women say they were belittled, judged on appearance, and warned against speaking out. Older workers say they were targeted for removal. And multiple lawsuits have alleged unlawful treatment.
What’s emerging is seemingly not a case of one or two individual bad actors, but a system that allowed misconduct to spread unchecked. The Tigers may be a storied franchise on the field, but off the field the organization is now confronting some of the most damaging allegations in its history.