The Palace of Auburn Hills' new Club 300 on the arena's suite level is "set up like a club lounge and can accommodate up to 330 people," and is part of "an effort to boost attendance at the Palace," according to Frank Witsil of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. While it is not "exclusive," it "certainly has that air about it." To make Club 300, the Palace "gutted 16 top-level suites in the fall and began promoting it this year." Ticket holders "take an elevator up to the 300 level (thus the name), and wear a wristband to get in." There are "two bars, a food buffet, places to hang coats, comfortable seating for group conversations -- and large-screen TVs." Tickets, which "include food and drinks, are available to groups and individuals, and depending on the event, can range from $35 to hundreds of dollars." Palace Sports & Entertainment VP/Business Development & Premium Seating Chris Quinn said that the area is "targeted at adults 24-36 years old." He added that Palace execs are "still developing the space -- and are eager to see how well it will attract fans and increase attendance from last season's ranking of 28th of 30 teams in the NBA." Quinn also hopes that the Palace "eventually will be able to find a sponsor and sell naming rights" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/12). Quinn indicated that a "minimum of 50 tickets must be sold before the club is activated and the Pistons accept walk-up buyers." Palace Sports has "opened the club for about a dozen Pistons games" so far this season (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/11 issue).
