There are talks to bring the Pistons to downtown Detroit "to play the occasional game -- or perhaps even all their games -- at the new Little Caesars Arena," but they are in "only the earliest of stages," according to Bill Shea of CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS. Olympia Entertainment President & CEO Tom Wilson "described the discussions as talks to begin talks, or pre-negotiations." Wilson said that there is "no deal in place now," but there could "eventually be a plan for the Pistons to play some or all games" in the new venue. Wilson said, "They have to look at it. The momentum is down here." Shea noted for years, there "has been scuttlebutt, rumors and hints that the Pistons could play downtown -- something team owner Tom Gores has said since buying the team" in '11 that he is "open to if a deal made sense to him." His $325M deal to buy the Pistons "included the Palace of Auburn Hills, a 22,000-seat debt-free venue" from which Palace Sports & Entertainment "keeps all revenue." Wilson and PS&E Vice Chair Arn Tellem would be the ones to "hammer out any deal for the Pistons to play downtown, a pact that would have to resolve revenue splits from concessions, parking and other streams of cash." If the Pistons were to play games there, it "likely would happen" in the '18-19 NBA season (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 9/15).
