Without the Pistons under the same roof as the Wings it will be extremely hard for him to secure private financing to build the stadium. The Ilitches will need the private financing even if they were to get partial public financing, but in this economic climate it's a pipe dream to think that they would be able to secure public financing. Then there are the regional economic indicators: how does he convince a private financier to contribute funds to building a new arena in a region that is posting the steepest income drops in America? How do you finance a major league arena in the only American state to have contracted in population over the past decade? Securing the financing under those conditions would probably be enough of a stretch with the promise of revenue streams from two different professional sports organizations, let alone just one.
So with all of this in mind... I find it hard to envision a new Red Wings arena that is not shared with the Pistons. If it does happen any time soon, it will be financed significantly by the Ilitches themselves.
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