One of Arn Tellem's "first agenda items" when he takes over as Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair in August is "to explore bringing the Pistons downtown from Auburn Hills," according to Terry Foster of the DETROIT NEWS. That would "likely mean a meeting" with Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch and Ilitch Holdings President & CEO Chris Ilitch, whose Olympia Entertainment subsidiary has launched a $650M arena-and-business project. Pistons Owner Tom Gores said, "We will put Arn in charge of helping us analyze how we can talk to the other business leaders. We are going to charter Arn to study that (moving downtown). It will be one of his first things." Foster notes the Pistons "have two viable options." They "can move into the new Red Wings arena, which is scheduled to open in 2017, and share it with Olympia Entertainment." The team also can explore "a Hail Mary option to tear down the half-built Wayne County Jail and build an arena in conjunction" with Quicken Loans Chair and noted Detroit developer Dan Gilbert, who also owns the Cavaliers. If the Pistons move, The Palace at Auburn Hills "would not close" but rather "remain as a special-events and concert venue." Olympia Entertainment President & CEO Tom Wilson in a statement said that he is "willing to work with Gores in future business ventures." Gilbert said that he "has met with Gores." Foster writes one of the "biggest divides in sports" came in the late '70s, when former Pistons Owner Bill Davidson "moved the franchise to the Pontiac Silverdome rather than join the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena." Gores now "wants to bridge the divide and work together with Gilbert and the Ilitch family" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/8).
MOTOWN RISING: In Detroit, Tom Walsh writes forging possible partnerships with the Ilitch family "is job one" for Tellem. Gores: "Arn knows the Ilitches. We have great respect for the Ilitches, and one of the first conversations we'll have -- and have Arn coordinate -- will be with the Ilitches on what they're thinking. ... We just think partnering with the Ilitches to help Detroit is just a positive thing." Gores said of moving the team downtown, "I think we have to be open to anything." Walsh writes hiring Tellem was "aimed squarely at ramping up the franchise's activity in community affairs and business leadership in the Detroit region and also discussing possible partnerships with the Ilitches and others." Gores and the Ilitches "are both competitors and potential partners." For example, the Pistons "could renew their current TV deal with Fox Sports Detroit -- or partner with the Ilitches' Olympia Entertainment group" to form an RSN. A Pistons spokesperson said that Tellem "will not have an ownership stake when he joins the franchise in August, but a direct equity stake is possible in the future." Gores "sees Tellem as a power player, whose full-time presence in Detroit can raise the Pistons' profile among business and community leaders in Michigan." Gores said part of the attraction for Tellem "was really to make a big difference in Detroit" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/8). The DETROIT NEWS' Foster wrote Tellem's hiring "is not so much a basketball move as it is a city of Detroit move." This "is about making an impact for a city that needs more heroes" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/6).
EXPLAINING MYSELF: In a special to SI, Tellem wrote the decision to switch careers "has been the most difficult of my professional life," but Gores was "offering me the chance to join him in making a difference in Detroit and its surrounding neighborhoods." Tellem: "I thought, 'I'm 61. If not now, when? ... I'm grateful to Tom Gores for giving me this opportunity, and to my friend Casey Wasserman, who, in my mind, runs the finest sports marketing and talent management company in the business. My confidence in Casey and the WMG agents has helped me make the jump" (SI.com, 6/5). Meanwhile, Tellem's move had ESPN afternoon talk shows on Friday wondering if the Pistons may now have an advantage in signing some of his former clients. ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said it is "more of a move for Arn Tellem … because his former agency has so many clients." He said the hiring is “not some stealthy, shady act by the Pistons.” Columnist Kevin Blackistone said, “I certainly don’t think that anybody is just going to flock to Detroit now just because Arn’s in the front office.” espnW's Kate Fagan: “NBA free agents weigh a lot of factors when they decide where to sign next. Not very high on that list is where their former agent is now the Vice Chairman" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 6/5). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said, "He’d be a former agent, and former agent is different from agent. At this point now you’re looking at players in a league where’s there is movement, but they move primarily for one thing, money.” The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan said he gives Tellem "credit for wanting to go to Detroit -- and there’s some altruism here, I really believe that. He’s really plugged into what the new regime there can accomplish and helping Detroit regain itself. That’s very admirable." Ryan: "If they think it’s going to attract a free agent, no” (“PTI,” ESPN, 6/5).
