Since 1988, the Detroit Pistons have played out in Auburn Hills, Michigan at the Palace of Auburn Hills, about 45 minutes away from downtown Detroit. But that appears to be changing, as a press conference has been called for Tuesday afternoon with the Pistons and Ilitch Holdings, the development arm of the family who owns the Red Wings and Tigers. And there’s only one reason for that…
The Pistons are going to announce they’re moving into Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit alongside the Red Wings in the fall of next year. The arena seats 20,000 and is located right downtown close to both Comerica Park and Ford Field.
Back in September, Pistons owner Tom Gores hinted that negotiations to move the team back into the city where they haven’t played since the end of the 1978-79 season. Before moving into the Palace, they played at the Pontiac Silverdome.
“We’re always looking at it. We’ve gotten a chance to really get to know the Ilitches,” Gores said then. “I know Chris now well. They’re a great family and I respect a lot of what they’ve done for Detroit.
“We’re always assessing it, but it’s got to be good for everybody — us included — and for our fans.”
A recent trend in sports arena/stadium development is moving them out of the suburbs and back into the heart of the city (unless you’re the Atlanta Braves), and it seems that most teams are following an influx of people who are moving back into cities and downtown clusters. With that, it seems that the Detroit Pistons are going to follow.
The Red Wings and Pistons haven’t shared an arena since 1961, when they both played at the old Detroit Olympia.
