The Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons are sharing a brand new home in the city of Detroit this season in Little Caesars Arena. The Red Wings have already played their first games on their new home ice this regular season, but the Pistons got their chance to break in the new court for regular season play on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
To celebrate the return of the Pistons inside the city limits of Detroit, none other than Eminem was on hand for the pregame festivities to formally welcome the Pistons home.
Yep, this happened.
EMINEM delivered a message to the crowd at Opening Night at @LCArena_Detroit! pic.twitter.com/0TpB6KU5fz
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 19, 2017
Eminem at Pistons game is a big deal. Dude is rarely seen outside the Batcave. (Photo by Robin Buckson at @detroitnews) pic.twitter.com/UQnbIqf1kw
— Adam Graham (@grahamorama) October 19, 2017
The Pistons had played their home games in Oakland County in the Pontiac Silverdome and The Palace at Auburn Hills from 1978 up through the 2016-2017 season, so it had been a long time since the Pistons actually played in the city of Detroit. But negotiations in recent years with the ownership group of the Red Wings led to a plan to bring the Pistons back to the city starting this season. And nobody was more proud of that than Detroit’s own Slim Shady.
Eminem is a Detroit native and has always remained true to his roots, so it was not a shock to see him on hand for the first game of the NBA season. And given the rapper’s recent headlines on the political scene for his blasting of President Donald Trump, some will speculate there may be a political agenda at work here from the Pistons. That is largely speculation. However, it is interesting to note another Detroit-based musician was booed at the game Wednesday night: Trump supporter Kid Rock.
Kid Rock got booed at the Pistons' opener last night — and Eminem got cheered. pic.twitter.com/E00DC0iJYM
— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) October 19, 2017
It would seem Pistons fans at the season opener have collectively chosen their sides after Eminem drew the line in the sand in his viral freestyle rap putting the President on blast.
