Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Gores has been focusing on putting a winning NBA product on the floor ever since he bought the Detroit Pistons around two years ago. He also would like to see more bodies in the seats at the Palace of Auburn Hills, but that will likely come if and when the team starts winning more games.
There continues to be talk of Gores moving the Pistons 30 miles south back to downtown Detroit, where the Pistons haven’t been since the late 1970s. The Detroit Red Wings will be building a new arena soon, and the debate of where the Pistons should be will probably never cease until they would eventually make the move.
The saying of never say never certainly applies here. Down the road, Gores might be tempted to move the team to downtown Detroit to join the Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions, but circumstances would have to be such that it would behoove the Pistons to make the move.
The Palace remains a fabulous facility, and it was drawing the fans impressively when the team was winning. The Pistons weren’t able to bring fans to downtown Detroit when the team was at Cobo Hall. When the Pistons hit five straight seasons with losing records, it was inevitable that the fans would stop coming. The Palace has tried to keep the fans by bringing in musical guests at halftime.
The Palace has been the home to three NBA champions. It’s been an excellent venue for other events. Gores has no obligation to downtown Detroit, which did nothing to keep the Pistons in the late 1970s. Gores should keep the team at the Palace for many years to come.
John Raffel is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnCarlRaffel, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Tom Gores Needs To Do Much More For Detroit … - Rant Sports
Tom Gores Has Been Good Owner For Detroit Pistons … - Rant Sports
Detroit Pistons Owner Tom Gores May Instruct Staff To … - Rant Sports
