The Detroit Pistons has reached an agreement in principle with the City of Detroit and Olympia Entertainment for the team to move from the Palace of Auburn Hills to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit area. The Pistons will play at Little Caesars Arena in the 2017-2918 NBA season.
ABC reported that the Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores was set to appear at a news conference on Tuesday with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Ilitch CEO Christopher Ilitch. Gores already acknowledged last month that the Detroit Pistons was so close to a deal to leave The Palace of Auburn Hills and will start playing in downtown Detroit area by next season.
It's official the Detroit Pistons will be moving from the Palace of Auburn Hills next season to play in Downtown Detroit. pic.twitter.com/9x5U3czfQc
— Piston Nation (@PistonNation0) November 21, 2016
The Detroit Pistons have been in couple discussions about playing in the downtown Detroit area that is being built for the hockey team Detroit Red Wings, who are owned by other Ilitch holdings member. The arena site distance was about 30 miles from the Palace of Auburn Hills.
According to US Sports News, the Little Caesars Arena was in the same part of downtown Detroit area where the Tigers and Lions will host their games. And Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit area is not far from where Gores and Dan Gilbert have been hoping to put a new stadium for a Major League Soccer team.
The Detroit Pistons have been playing in the Palace of Auburn Hills since. The Palace was built with private funds by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons before his death in 2009.
The Detroit Pistons won their championships in its first two seasons in Palace of Auburn Hills and again in 2004. Although the atmosphere slipped in recent years as the team went through a rough stretch on the court, the Detroit Pistons returned to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009, and the Pistons appear headed in the right direction in Stan Van Gundy's third season as their coach and team president.
Tom Gores bought the Detroit Pistons from Karen Davidson in the year 2011. Gores told the media it was important to remember all the success that the Detroit Pistons had in the Palace of Auburn Hills.
