The Pistons last night hosted their last game at The Palace of Auburn Hills before a crowd of 21,012, and the upcoming move to new Little Caesars Arena is "why the vibe felt so hopeful" in the loss to the Wizards. By moving to downtown Detroit, the franchise will be "reclaiming a part of its roots" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/11). The night, "soaking in nostalgia, was more like a long goodbye with a basketball game playing in between the video tributes and special presentations." Dennis Rodman "carried the game ball to center court," while John Salley and Isiah Thomas "played to the adoring crowd" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/11). The night "included the best memories" and "some of the best characters" from the venue's history (DETROIT NEWS, 4/11). It was a "festive atmosphere that was more party and celebration than sadness" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/11). The night was about "appreciating the past and looking eagerly toward the future" (AP, 4/10).
TNT "long had been scheduled to televise the game and did not adjust to an alternate contest after the Pistons fell out" of playoff contention. That was "unfortunate" because FS Detroit, led by the broadcast team of George Blaha and Greg Kelser, "could not interject local context into the telecast." TNT was "not FSD's equal in that regard" (MLIVE.com, 4/11).
While it is a "shame to leave a building still so livable, the Pistons knew they needed new life." Olympia Entertainment President & CEO
Tom Wilson, a former Pistons exec, said, "I've always viewed this (Palace) as kind of a Disneyland, because it aspired to a different standard than the old arenas. This changed the arena world. But maybe it was too antiseptic, looking back at it. Whereas the Joe is Detroit, gritty, beat up a little bit, lots of hard times, it just seemed more kind of real" (
DETROIT NEWS, 4/11). The DETROIT FREE PRESS goes with the header, "
The Story Of The Palace Of Auburn Hills: Somehow, It Worked." DETROIT NEWS: "
Son Will See Davidson Legacy Endure In Detroit."
