New Arena on the Horizon??

[EL Jimbo]

st some concerts, but that doesn't help fill it up more than 80 days a year.

I guess the way to look at it is this. What do you do with the Palace between roughly May and October? With both the Wings AND the Pistons playing in a new downtown arena, their likely won't be a whole lot of dates available in the wintertime to host concerts at the new arena. However, during the offseason, the new arena and Pine Knob should MORE than be able to accommodate the full lineup of larger concerts in the region.

This might be totally unworkable and off the mark, but what about building a theme park using the Palace as a large theater attraction in the park? You could curtain off the upper bowl during the theme park season. I balk at the notion of an automotive themed park because it brings back painful reminders of the Autoworld debacle, but if this park actually had some real rides then it might not be a bad idea. ESPECIALLY because unlike other nothern amusement parks, when the weather closes down the park in the winter, the Palace can revert back to being a concert venue to provide additional income.

I'm just trying to think WAY outside the box here.

[BShea]

Confirmed on the record: Karen Davidson wants to sell the team, former minority owner Oscar Feldman says.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100119841

[R8RBOB]

Confirmed on the record: Karen Davidson wants to sell the team, former minority owner Oscar Feldman says.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100119841

No brainer. It was Davidson's baby, not hers and I don't think the son wants to run it. I don't believe he had any part in runing the team.


http://r8rbob.wordpress.com

[BShea]

Ethan sat on the board that oversees the Pistons/PS&E.

No, I don't think it was a no-brainer either and no shock [[no pun intended), but Feldman's words are the first confirmation. The organization has been lip-sealed on this. I'll be following up online and in print. Stay tuned.

[kenp]

Feldmans still around, wow. Thats a name from the past.

[kenp]

The 479M value of the Pistons must include the Palace, but does it include all of PS&E? Would they plan on selling all their venues in one shot or seperate aqusistions?

[Gistok]

Unlike the Ilitch family where the wife and several of the kids are involved in running the business.... Bill Davidson kept his current wife and son from a former marriage away from day to day operations of his multi-billion dollar business and entertainment empire.

So it should come as no surprise that there is little allegiance to continuing the ownership of these businesses among the family.

It wouldn't surprise me if Guardian Industries [[the main Davidson business) was sold off as well... eventually.

[EL Jimbo]

Would they plan on selling all their venues in one shot or seperate aqusistions?

Depends on the offer. Why would anyone buy the Palace independent of buying the Pistons without being 150% certain that the team would stay there. Without the Pistons, the Palace is pretty irrelevant.

[kenp]

I agree the Pistons and the Palace are one, Im referring to Pine Knob, Meadowbrook etc.
If they are selling off everything then I would think Illitch would be interested. He would have control of just about all the entertainment venues in the area as well as both the Pistons and Red Wings. I can see many options open to him including having the Pistons play downtown on some nights and at the Palace on others and the same for the Wings. Look at all the fans in the North who go to the Palace but dont want to go to Detroit. And what about all the downriver or eastsiders who dont want to travel to the Palace.
He could even have top acts play at both venues.

[esp1986]

The 479M value of the Pistons must include the Palace, but does it include all of PS&E? Would they plan on selling all their venues in one shot or seperate aqusistions?

The value of the pistons at $479 million was the value of the team alone... the arena itself is worth nearly $300 million, maybe more.

[stasu1213]

I think that the pistons owner should ask the Ford family if the pistons could play at Ford Field. It is already enclosed and more people would see a pistons game if they play in downtown detroit ford field than at auburn hills. Pistons and Lions once shared the pontiac silverdome they could share the ford field

[detlump]

The Pistons are having a hard time filling the Palace as it is, Ford Field would be as empty as Lions games most nights. There are quite a few cities that share an arena between an NHL and NBA team.

The Palace could get a minor league hockey team again, like the Vipers. They did draw well, with low ticket prices compared to the Wings, family deals, $1 dog and beer night, etc. Plus a lot of people don't want to drive downtown to watch hockey. But I agree, without the Pistons making a profit at the Palace seems tough. There aren't as many concert acts as there used to be, either. It's a nice arena, seems too young to get rid of.

The Joe is really outdated, especially the bathrooms, no camera pits, etc. I really hate seeing guys stand up to block the camera view during games. Cheesy. That space could be converted over to Cobo space, and make more use of the riverfront view.

[sirrealone]

Am I the only one that thinks that Karen Davidson is a little disrespectful in all this? Mr. Davidson spent his life building things that he was passionate about, the Pistons being only one of them, and it seems like he is barely cold in his grave before his widow is doing everything she can to dismantle that empire. While I can understand that she may not have the passion for running Guardian Industries or the Detroit Pistons, or may not be interested in some of the properties that they had, it's not like she was/is for a shortage of cash where it's necessary to rid herself of these things. Yet look how fast the Shock were sold and moved.

I guess when I look at stuff like the Shock being sold, the Pistons 'for sale' rumors, putting properties and other stuff on the market, today's story regarding some charities and investments and what not, and I just can't help but wonder if she was in it for the last ten years [[they were married in 1999), to some extent, for the money. I certainly hope not because Mr. Davidson built a great legacy, and I'm just alarmed at how quickly everything he worked for and enjoyed seems to be getting thrown by the wayside.

[EL Jimbo]

Am I the only one that thinks that Karen Davidson is a little disrespectful in all this? Mr. Davidson spent his life building things that he was passionate about, the Pistons being only one of them, and it seems like he is barely cold in his grave before his widow is doing everything she can to dismantle that empire. While I can understand that she may not have the passion for running Guardian Industries or the Detroit Pistons, or may not be interested in some of the properties that they had, it's not like she was/is for a shortage of cash where it's necessary to rid herself of these things. Yet look how fast the Shock were sold and moved.

I guess when I look at stuff like the Shock being sold, the Pistons 'for sale' rumors, putting properties and other stuff on the market, today's story regarding some charities and investments and what not, and I just can't help but wonder if she was in it for the last ten years [[they were married in 1999), to some extent, for the money. I certainly hope not because Mr. Davidson built a great legacy, and I'm just alarmed at how quickly everything he worked for and enjoyed seems to be getting thrown by the wayside.

There is no question that any time a much younger woman marries a rich, older man the "Gold Digger" thought comes to mind.

As far as being disrespectful, all I have to say is that Bill Davidson's passion led him to build his corporate empire. You NEED that passion in order to successfully operate and grow a business like that. I think it would be more disrespectful to let what he built wither on the vine because your heart really isn't in running the business than it is to sell it to people who DO have the passion needed to keep those enterprises successful.

[Gistok]

Channel 2 News was inteviewing Mrs. Davidson at a game today, and she kinda said that the Pistons were his baby. She said that she is in no hurry to sell, but just putting feelers out there. Can't begrudge her that.

As for the best possible outcome that I can see [[for Detroit)... I can't see Mike Ilitch buying them and building a new arena in Foxtown area. Cha-ching!!

Maybe Dan Gilbert will want to sell the Cleveland Cavs and buy the Pistons instead. That way he and Ilitch could build a new combined arena behind the Fox, and even put his Quicken HQ in the area [[Statler/Tuller site).

Granted it would be awkward having the Cleveland arena decommissioned as Quicken, and use the name for a new Detroit arena instead... but stranger things have happened.

And then there's the issue of the Palace...

[R8RBOB]

Am I the only one that thinks that Karen Davidson is a little disrespectful in all this? Mr. Davidson spent his life building things that he was passionate about, the Pistons being only one of them, and it seems like he is barely cold in his grave before his widow is doing everything she can to dismantle that empire. While I can understand that she may not have the passion for running Guardian Industries or the Detroit Pistons, or may not be interested in some of the properties that they had, it's not like she was/is for a shortage of cash where it's necessary to rid herself of these things. Yet look how fast the Shock were sold and moved.

I guess when I look at stuff like the Shock being sold, the Pistons 'for sale' rumors, putting properties and other stuff on the market, today's story regarding some charities and investments and what not, and I just can't help but wonder if she was in it for the last ten years [[they were married in 1999), to some extent, for the money. I certainly hope not because Mr. Davidson built a great legacy, and I'm just alarmed at how quickly everything he worked for and enjoyed seems to be getting thrown by the wayside.

This is why a king or queen has a prince or a princess to maintain the legacy of the king or queen. I said that Davidson's son didn't a part in "running" the Pistons and perhaps that is why Davidson didn't leave the team to him. You look at the Mara family how they were able to still own the NY Giants though it is 50%. The father had his sons learning the family business from the ground up. That way when the father dies, he will know that the team will remain in the family. Same with the Rooney family though most of the sons sold their shares in the Steelers but it is still controlled by the oldest Rooney son. Even Larry Miller could die knowing that his son would take control of the Jazz.

Is Davidson's wife being disrespectful? No, because she probably didn't want to be the next Georgia Frontiere. She got the team by default and she got enough money to live the rest of her life without worrying about Social Security. The Pistons will be a casualty of Davidson dying.

[BShea]

Tom Wilson tells me that it's "logical" that the Pistons and Red Wings share a new facility:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100129956

Also: Dan Gilbert, Roger Penske and Pete Karmanos have all rejected the idea of owning the Pistons:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/shea

[Det_ard]

Tom Wilson tells me that it's "logical" that the Pistons and Red Wings share a new facility:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/100129956

Also: Dan Gilbert, Roger Penske and Pete Karmanos have all rejected the idea of owning the Pistons:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/shea

Are they short of cash since KK hasn't paid them back yet?

[schulzte]

I've got some new 3-D model pictures of what a new arena behind the Fox Theatre might look like. Check them out and let me know what you think. They're at http://www.newolympia.blogspot.com

[esp1986]

I've got some new 3-D model pictures of what a new arena behind the Fox Theatre might look like. Check them out and let me know what you think. They're at http://www.newolympia.blogspot.com

Awesome... the 3D mockups are pretty good... although, we can all debate where in that area the arena may actually be built... on Adams, Grand River, or elsewhere...

[eriedearie]

schulzte - I like your ideas for the New Red Barn! Good stuff there

[buildingsofdetroit]

I've got some new 3-D model pictures of what a new arena behind the Fox Theatre might look like. Check them out and let me know what you think. They're at http://www.newolympia.blogspot.com

That's might sweet! Now, would you mind putting it between Woodward and Cass, north of I-75, where some of us think it'll go? You'd have to knock out the Hotel Eddystone and Park Avenue for it.

[schulzte]

I'm glad you folks seem to like it. Most of the response has been positive, some don't like the location, others don't think we should try to recreate history. I just don't want to see the Red Wings build a Palace-style arena downtown. That is not to say the Palace isn't a great building; it is. I would like a Red Wings arena to have more character than that though, and not just be a modern 20,000 seat cash register.

[Baselinepunk]

Great building. The ruin porn is gonna look really sweet when it gets torn down in 30 years.

[schulzte]

That's might sweet! Now, would you mind putting it between Woodward and Cass, north of I-75, where some of us think it'll go? You'd have to knock out the Hotel Eddystone and Park Avenue for it.

Check out the site now, I modeled the arena right on Woodward Avenue. I didn't have to knock out either hotel, the footprint of the building isn't that big.