OVER THE HILL? PISTONS SELLING TICKETS AT SAME RATE AS MAGIC

          While the Magic stated that they are "selling about" 20
     new season-ticket packages per day in "anticipation" of
     signing free agent F Grant Hill, the Pistons, Hill's former
     team, are selling around the same number, according to Becky
     Yerak of the DETROIT NEWS.  Palace Sports & Entertainment
     (PSE) Exec VP John Ciszewski: "There's not a fan who wanted
     to see Grant leave, but they're excited to see what our next
     move will be.  We'll work harder and make sure The Palace is
     still an exciting place to be."  Hill's departure comes at a
     time when PSE "is in the midst of an unprecedented marketing
     study launched to reconnect with fans and crank up the
     Pistons as a brand."  The rebranding initiative "was
     prompted not by Hill's leaving but rather last season's
     attendance drop."  The team averaged 17,783 fans per game
     last season, down from 19,380 the previous year, as season-
     ticket sales fell 5%.  The team "even hired" SFX subsidiary
     N.Y.-based SME Power Branding earlier this year.  Next
     season's marketing campaign will incorporate the theme
     "Every Night," inspired by the "toughness, aggressiveness
     and hard work" that new President of Basketball Operations
     Joe Dumars "embodied" when he played for the Pistons.  Yerak
     noted that Dumars will be the focus of ticket brochures next
     season.  The team has also commissioned WA-based Leigh
     Stowell Research to conduct a 15-question survey of about
     1,000 fans, which the team is now reviewing.  The firm will
     also do a similar study of sponsors.  PSE President Tom
     Wilson: "We want the Pistons to be like the L.A. Dodgers. 
     It doesn't matter who's wearing the uniforms; you go see the
     Dodgers.  That's how we want to market the Pistons, as
     opposed to around one superstar" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/11).2