Tom Gores and his Platinum Equity investment firm on Friday announced a "definitive agreement" to purchase the Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment from Karen Davidson. The deal includes the team, the Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre and the operating rights to Meadow Brook Music Festival. Terms of the agreement were not announced. The sale is "subject to review and approval" by the NBA BOG (DETNEWS.com, 4/8).

Gores said, "I grew up here, I am glad to be back, and I am very excited about all the possibilities looking forward" (FREEP.com, 4/8).

The Mets sold out their home opener this afternoon against the Nationals after working through some late givebacks of sponsor ticket holds, and are expecting in excess of 100,000 for the weekend series. Ticket sales remain up year over year for the embattled club, though team officials declined to firmly predict yet a full-season attendance increase. "That's still going to be in part a function of team performance, but we remain encouraged by the marketplace," said Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard. Asked about the impact on sales from the ongoing Bernie Madoff-driven financial crisis, Howard said, "Everything's a factor, but fans are excited about this team." Mets season-ticket renewals are in excess of 85%.

Univ. of California-Berkeley officials Friday said that the school's baseball program will continue following a successful and ongoing fundraising effort that has already raised $9M, which was presented Thursday to school Chancellor Robert Birgeneau. The funds raised are about 10% short of the initial $10M goal, and donors and school administration have agreed that the team's formal reinstatement will be announced once the $10M target is met through the fundraising (Univ. of California, Berkeley).

The United Soccer League has agreed to a three-year broadcast extension with 10-year partner Fox Soccer Channel. For '11 the USL, which occupies the third division of soccer competition in the U.S., will see 10 regular-season games aired on FSC as well as two playoff matches and the Sept. 2 championship game. FSC will also air the USL Women’s league championship on July 31 and the USL Development League championship on Aug. 13. The deal builds on the league’s former broadcast partnership with FSC, which last year only televised the league’s championship game.

The MLB Giants will wear specially designed jerseys from Majestic and caps from New Era on Saturday to receive their World Series championship rings prior to their home opener against the Cardinals. Some World Series winners in recent years have opened the season wearing caps and jerseys with letters and numbers outlined in gold, but this will mark the first time the lettering and numbering will be entirely in gold (MLB).