Pistons in serious talks to build practice facility in Midtown, move into LCA

**SpartanDawg** · September-30-16, 04:39 PM

This rumor just won't quit, really think we may see talks fire up quite a bit in the coming year.

Although it may not come to fruition there's no denying the Pistons know they need to be downtown.. it's where the action is.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ce-facility-in

**EGrant** · September-30-16, 05:58 PM

Currently DREADING the journey from downtown to The Palace this season. On a normal year, it's a mess, but the construction on 75 this year is going to take years off my life. This move cannot come soon enough.

**emu steve** · September-30-16, 07:26 PM

Couple of thoughts:

1). Any ideas of a location? I assume the facility would be like a small arena for a very small college with maybe 2 - 3K seating, not simply four walls. Maybe a bare bones O-rena. I could see UDM, EMU, etc. playing a game there if it has say 3K seats. I could see high school games there or MHSAA tourney games. I bet EMU would LOVE to play a game there [[say vs. CMU or WMU). BTW, little known fact: EMU signed as a transfer sitout Tobias Harris' younger brother, Terry Harris. BTW, the EMU coach, Rob Murphy, is a native Detroiter and I'd assume would love to get into Detroit as much as possible.

2). Would they go higher [[5K?) and try to bring back a WNBA team?

I believe Washington is spending 50M for a practice facility, arena, etc. for the Wizards and WNBA Mystics.

The idea of separate facilities for NBA games and practice is getting more common within the NBA.

EDIT: I saw the square footage as 60K. Doesn't seem very big to me. I was unable to find the square footage for Oakland U's O'Rena.

The one for D.C. would be 118K square feet and cost [[now) 65M, up from 55M.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...d=ss_tw-bottom

**EGrant** · September-30-16, 09:50 PM

Most practice facilities are not designed to have seating. They have a few courts, offices, training facilities, etc. Not typically open to the public. The Bulls just built a new one, for reference.

**schulzte** · September-30-16, 10:49 PM

I don't think the Pistons should move downtown permanently, and I hope there is room for both venues in Metro Detroit. The Palace is still an excellent venue, and it may better serve country or some classic rock acts that draw bigger from outside of the Metro area, or family shows when you want to be able to get parked, watch Disney on Ice or whatever, and go home. Hopefully the top end rock, pop, and rap shows move downtown.

It would be great if the Pistons moved 4-6 home games per year downtown though. It might free up the Palace to do an extended run of something, and it would help rebuild the Pistons brand in Detroit.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · September-30-16, 10:53 PM

I do think the Pistons will move downtown. It will be better for them in almost all respects. The Palace, as a relatively modern, debt-free arena, will live on for years as a profitable home for the many other events they host. In fact, during the winter with hockey & bball locking up many dates at LCA, it will be able to host more non-sports events. The only downside for Gores is he will lose the portions of revenue now earned by the arena at Pistons games.

**emu steve** · October-01-16, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by EGrant

Most practice facilities are not designed to have seating. They have a few courts, offices, training facilities, etc. Not typically open to the public. The Bulls just built a new one, for reference.

I do believe you are correct.

The Bulls is 60K sq. feet. The quote for the Pistons is 60K sq. feet.

What the Wizards/Mystics are doing is a training facility for the Wizards and a home court for the WNBA team.

Detroit doesn't have a WNBA team.

As a P.S. I don't know if the D.C. facility will be used by others, e.g., high school games maybe some college games, etc.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · October-01-16, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I do think the Pistons will move downtown. It will be better for them in almost all respects. The Palace, as a relatively modern, debt-free arena, will live on for years as a profitable home for the many other events they host. In fact, during the winter with hockey & bball locking up many dates at LCA, it will be able to host more non-sports events. The only downside for Gores is he will lose the portions of revenue now earned by the arena at Pistons games.

Gores doesn't have a downside at all. He's rich, he'll make it up, one way or another.

**SpartanDawg** · October-01-16, 07:46 AM

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...-points-remain

more updates.. guys this really looks like it's going to happen.. key points that remain:

"The look of the arena is one of the three chief concerns a top Gores lieutenant said they have in relocation talks with the Ilitch family, who are building the $627.5 million arena for their Red Wings and have named it for their Detroit-based pizza chain.Gores also wants to ensure he continues to get value for The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pistons' suburban Oakland County home since 1988, said Mark Barnhill, a partner and spokesman with Pistons owner Gores' Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity private equity firm. Gores has spent $40 million to $50 million on Palace renovations since buying the team and venue for $325 million in 2011.
Finally, any relocation deal also has to make sense for Pistons constituents, such as fans and corporate sponsors, Barnhill said."

"No detail on specific sticking points has leaked from negotiations, but sources have told Crain's that the talks are beyond preliminary and have added urgency now that Little Caesars Arena is less than a year from opening. It's less costly to build basketball infrastructure during construction — the building already will come equipped with hardwood courts for college tournaments — than it is to retrofit the arena after it's complete."

that highlighted part is why i really think they want to start playing at LCA with the wings right when it opens.. this would be impressive if they pull it off

L. Brooks is going to be SEETHING if Detroit takes back the last team that leaked out to the burbs

**Hypestyles** · October-02-16, 10:36 AM

I hope that this happens. I am curious about this leaked information. Why now? Why no formal press announcement?

So does this announcement undercut sales efforts at the Palace at all? All the high-end seats and suites and season tickets they're still trying to sell?

I guess we'll see what happens-- if anything...

**313WX** · October-02-16, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

I hope that this happens. I am curious about this leaked information. Why now? Why no formal press announcement?

So does this announcement undercut sales efforts at the Palace at all? All the high-end seats and suites and season tickets they're still trying to sell?

I guess we'll see what happens-- if anything...

We've become so spoiled from Dan Gilbert's style of announcements [[which he almost always follows through on) that we forget normally, people prefer to hold off on making big public announcements until everything's etched in stone and the ink's drying, so that people's expectations aren't set too high in case things fall apart.

For example, take the 3rd Detroit Meijer store that Duggan announced nearly 2 years ago that we haven't heard anything else about.

**313WX** · October-02-16, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I do think the Pistons will move downtown. It will be better for them in almost all respects. The Palace, as a relatively modern, debt-free arena, will live on for years as a profitable home for the many other events they host. In fact, during the winter with hockey & bball locking up many dates at LCA, it will be able to host more non-sports events. The only downside for Gores is he will lose the portions of revenue now earned by the arena at Pistons games.

Once the Pistons leave, I do see the Palace eventually going the way of the Pontiac Silverdome after about 10 years or so.

The Palace's biggest problem is that it's practically in the middle of nowhere. Other than folks who live in Northern Oakland County, it is not fun or easy trying to get in / out of there for events [[this is what I hear from *EVERYONE*, not just people in the city proper).

Besides, with Ford Field and the expanded Cobo Center, the Palace has plenty of far more attractive competition in terms of offering for a modern facility.

**Scottathew** · October-02-16, 11:20 AM

I wonder if the 14 year I-75 is at all a factor? Basketball does have a significant portion of the season outside of road construction season, so perhaps not as much as a summer sport would.

**313WX** · October-02-16, 11:24 AM

BTW, like with the Lions, there's probably going to be an "induced demand" factor too.

I bet you have hundreds [[if not thousands) of fans who would otherwise attend the games regularly if the Pistons were in a more accessible location [[such as downtown) and they were in short walking distances to all sorts of other pre and post-game attractions [[Casinos, Bars, Restaurants, etc.).

**Atticus** · October-02-16, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

Once the Pistons leave, I do see the Palace eventually going the way of the Pontiac Silverdome after about 10 years or so.

The Palace's biggest problem is that it's practically in the middle of nowhere. Other than folks who live in Northern Oakland County, it is not fun or easy trying to get in / out of there for events [[this is what I hear from *EVERYONE*, not just people in the city proper).

Besides, with Ford Field and the expanded Cobo Center, the Palace has plenty of far more attractive competition in terms of offering for a modern facility.

The Palace is difficult to get to, and would fare much better post-Pistons if it were located in the Novi area or somewhere along I-275. Then at least it could be marketed as a "state of Michigan arena".

Along I-275 they could also market it to outside the metro area for shows and events as well [[i.e to Ann Arbor, Kzoo, Lansing, Toledo, etc). The Palace is difficult to get to from any of those cities, and the Michigan cities it is convient to [[Flint, Saginaw) are not doing the best economically right now.

**ABetterDetroit** · October-02-16, 01:17 PM

Is the Palace still a nice viable building? Sure. Would a contender for a championship every year help attendance? Duh. None of that changes the fact that the Palace sitting at a freeway exit in suburbia with 72 acres of parking around it that you must get your car into and out of in order to do anything other than attend the event just plain sucks and couldn't be anymore 1980s lame.

**southen** · October-02-16, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

Is the Palace still a nice viable building? Sure. Would a contender for a championship every year help attendance? Duh. None of that changes the fact that the Palace sitting at a freeway exit in suburbia with 72 acres of parking around it that you must get your car into and out of in order to do anything other than attend the event just plain sucks and couldn't be anymore 1980s lame.

That's exactly what it is. You can see from the MLS plan that he and Gilbert floated that he appreciates an environment that allows for other entertainment options as they tend to feed off one another. I wonder if his practice facility will also include some sort of entertainment option in the form of retail or a hockeytown cafe-esque sort of restaurant and bar. I haven't been to a Pistons game since moving downtown. I would definitely go if they were to come down and share the arena.

**softailrider** · October-02-16, 06:39 PM

I usually go to a handful of games a year. I'll do the same if they move or stay put. I will say though, we always have a great time at the Palace. I think the Pistons do a good job. I know they rip you off for parking but it is close and easy. It's nice that you can drop off passengers right by the door if they don't want to walk in the cold.

**drjeff** · October-03-16, 10:03 AM

I have never been to Pistons game at the Palace and almost never go to concerts there unless it's something I desperately want to see and can't anywhere else. Getting in and out of there is a nightmare. I don't know what you people are referring to in terms of it being modern and still "great-" the walkways are far too narrow, bathrooms are too small, and the lines at the concessions create huge problems with the flow of people [[again because the walkways are too narrow.) The Joe is actually easier to navigate through. Once in your actual seat it's a pretty good venue but everything else about it sucks.

**Enduro** · October-03-16, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by 48307

I wonder if the 14 year I-75 is at all a factor? Basketball does have a significant portion of the season outside of road construction season, so perhaps not as much as a summer sport would.

How ironic would it be if L Brooks' beloved plan for a bloated I-75 would be the thing that drives the Pistons out of OC and back home to Detroit? Unfortunately he won't live long enough to see how obviously shortsighted the I-75 plan is with a re-surging city proper, telecommuting and automated cars all around the corner.

**emu steve** · October-24-16, 05:47 PM

The "Pistons to Detroit" rumor continues to pick up steam with more reporting today about a possible move to LCA. Crains Detroit and others have the story. I quote this: " Detroit Pistons, who are said to be in the final stages of talks to relocate in 2018 to under-construction…"

**SpartanDawg** · October-24-16, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by emu steve

The "Pistons to Detroit" rumor continues to pick up steam with more reporting today about a possible move to LCA. Crains Detroit and others have the story. I quote this: " Detroit Pistons, who are said to be in the final stages of talks to relocate in 2018 to under-construction…"

Yup... L Brooks even conceded the fact that he thinks the Pistons will move downtown. Hope he's pissed

> Patterson also said during Monday's interview that he has met recently with Arn Tellem, vice chairman of Palace Sports & Entertainment, and was told that the Pistons "are in the final stages of negotiation" to move downtown.

> Gores' California-based private equity firm,Platinum Equity, has researched the best value for a post-Pistons Palace, and a likely scenario is that the building would be demolished and the land sold for commercial office development because of the property's proximity to automotive companies

**313WX** · October-24-16, 07:22 PM

I guess until now, below [[the sale of The Palace) has been kept completely under wraps.

It's a very good sign [[the attempt to sale, not the fact that L.B. Patterson is still an asshole).

Oakland County turned down offer to buy Palace

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...lace/92703370/

**R8RBOB** · October-25-16, 07:21 PM

I think it was a smart move by Gores. He knew Patterson would not buy the Palace but it did was make Oakland County an unofficial real estate broker to get the Palace and grounds sold. Gores and the Pistons are good as gone and he could leave the Palace empty which would be no different than Pontiac leaving the Silverdome empty. [[bad example...Pontiac could no longer sell the Silverdome as the place to go with Ford Field in downtown and the same will happen to the Palace)

People will say what about the money he has invested? Chump change...he's a billionaire. He is not going to miss it and with the opportunity to make more due south I don't think he's gonna break a sweat.

Originally Posted by 313WX

I guess until now, below [[the sale of The Palace) has been kept completely under wraps.

It's a very good sign [[the attempt to sale, not the fact that L.B. Patterson is still an asshole).

Oakland County turned down offer to buy Palace

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...lace/92703370/

**401don** · October-25-16, 09:21 PM

The 384 million dollar figure is of course completely insane. The question, though, is what is the Palace worth, in its location, with no tenant? To me the number might be 50-100 million. At that figure, would Gores [[and Ilitch) sell it and allow to compete with the new arena? It might make enough money for the new owner to keep it going but I don't see Gores allowing it when he would probably get a similar amount for the land.