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Suburban flight basically doesn't exist anymore so this sounds like a win win move for the Pistons and their fans. Fans that live in Detroit can get to games quicker and easier. The Pistons will be doing their part to help grow the urban core of the city and will return to their roots. Most teams play in the actual city that they represent so the Pistons aren't doing anything novel here but it is progressive thinking on the part of Gores. For the city of Detroit's sake, let's hope it happens.
Pistons owner, Arn Tellem looking to move to team to downtown Detroit
The Pistons could actually be playing in the Motor City. (USATSI)The Detroit Pistons have the city of Detroit in their name but they actually play 31 miles north in Auburn Hills. After playing in downtown Detroit in the early '80s, the team moved away from the city to play in the much larger Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. But after the Palace of Auburn Hills was built, the Pistons made the move even further away from the city and have stayed there for close to 30 years.
The Detroit Lions used to play in the Silverdome but now play in Ford Field which is located right in Detroit. According to Terry Foster of the Detroit News, this is something that the Pistons are beginning to explore doing - playing in downtown Detroit. Pistons owner Tom Gores has made this the first item for new hire Arn Tellem to tackle.
One of Tellem's first agenda items when he takes over Aug. 3 is to explore bringing the Pistons downtown from Auburn Hills. That likely would mean a meeting with Chris Ilitch and Mike Ilitch from Olympia Entertainment, which has launched a $650 million arena and business project.
"We will put Arn in charge of helping us analyze how we can talk to the other business leaders," Gores said. "We are going to charter Arn to study that (moving downtown). It will be one of his first things."
The Pistons have two viable options. They can move into the new Red Wings arena, which is scheduled to open in 2017, and share it with Olympia Entertainment. There is also a Hail Mary option to tear down the half-built Wayne County Jail and build an arena in conjunction with Quicken Loans chairman Dan Gilbert.
