Pistons Officially Announce Move to Downtown Area Beginning Next Season

The Detroit Pistons have made the not so secret move official. This will be the Pistons 29th and final season at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons owner Tom Gores along with the city of Detroit's mayor, Mike Duggan announced the following in a press release today.

Detroit Pistons Owner Tom Gores, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Christopher Ilitch and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced today agreements under which the Pistons will move to downtown Detroit and begin playing at the new Little Caesars Arena starting next season.

Pistons owner Tom Gores spoke on the move.

“This is a historic day for our franchise, and for the City of Detroit,” Mr. Gores said. “We’re moving to a beautiful new arena that will provide a state-of-the-art fan experience, and we’re investing in the future of Detroit. I've always believed that a sports franchise is a community asset with the power to unite and inspire people," he added. “There’s a big responsibility that goes with that, but there’s also a big payoff. Not just for the city of Detroit, but for the whole region. Detroit is rising, reinventing itself. The Pistons are doing the same. We’re in this together, and we couldn’t be more excited about that.”

Detroit's mayor Mike Duggan added:

“This is further proof of Detroit’s resurgence and we look forward to welcoming the Pistons in their new home."

The move was not made in secret. Rumblings began that the Pistons could be on the move out of Auburn Hills since last season.

The Pistons will host special nights at The Palace throughout the season honoring former players, the three championships the Pistons won at The Palace, and special moments in the history of the arena.

“The Palace has been an incredible home filled with great memories and has served the franchise well for nearly three decades,” Tom Gores said. “The entire Pistons organization appreciates the dedication of everyone in Auburn Hills and Oakland County who helped make the Palace so successful.”

The Pistons’ move is subject to approval by the NBA, and is expected to be presented to the league’s Board of Governors sometime after the first of the year. Between now and then, formal legal agreements will need to be finalized, including an arena sub-concession and various other agreements between PS&E, the Ilitch organization and the City of Detroit Downtown Development Authority (“DDA”).

The move to Little Ceasers Arena will make history. With the Pistons and Red Wings playing under one roof just blocks from the Tigers’ Comerica Park, and Ford Field, home to the Lions, Detroit will be the only North American city to have each of the four major professional sports leagues housed within four blocks in its urban core.

Featured image: The District Detroit