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First-round tickets to Pistons playoff games will cost less this year than they did last year, the team said Monday. Opening-round tickets will cost the same as regular-season tickets, a move by the team to appeal to the poor economy in Metro Detroit.

Most tickets range in price from $80 to $100. Prices for the later rounds of the playoffs have not been announced, but the Pistons said those seats will be lower than the 2007 postseason, as well.

Playoff tickets go on sale the first week of April, with the first round of the playoffs starting April 19.

The Pistons announced opening-round playoff tickets will cost the same as this season's regular price tickets. That's a change from last season, when playoff tickets increased from regular-season rates. The average ticket price is 23.8 percent lower than 2007's first round. "Everyone has been affected by the economy and everyone is feeling it," said Tom Wilson , the CEO and president of the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment. "Our decisions were based on all of the direct feedback we received from our fans and the fact we are empathetic to everyone's situations."

The price break gets bigger as the price increases: A seat that cost $105 in 2007, will be $80 this year. A $90 seat will be $65. The discount even goes down to the cheapest seat in The Palace: the $12 nose-bleeds will cost $10.

Prices for the later rounds of the playoffs have not been revealed, but the Pistons are promising tickets also will be lower than the 2007 postseason. Tickets will go on sale during the first week of April, with the first round of the playoffs starting April 19.

The Pistons announced on Monday that the price for first-round playoff tickets will be the same as 2007-2008 regular season prices, which will be less than last season's playoff ticket prices. For example, regular season tickets that cost $80 this season will cost $80 in the first round of the playoffs. During the first round of the playoffs last season, those tickets cost $105. "Everyone has been affected by the economy and everyone is feeling it," said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment. "Our decisions were based on all of the direct feedback we received from our fans and the fact that we are empathetic to everyone's situations."

Ticket prices for the second round and beyond, will be announced at a later date.

The Pistons also announced that for every playoff game, 50 pairs of tickets will be held for military personnel and their families."Holding these tickets for military personnel is just a very small way of saying 'thank you' for all that they have done for our community and our nation," Wilson said. "We want to share our success with those that have made such meaningful sacrifices for us."

The Pistons announced today that first-round playoff tickets prices will remain the same for 2007-08 season ticket holders.

This means that 2008 first-round playoff tickets will be less than the same round last year.

The Pistons also announced the team will hold 50 pairs of tickets for every playoff game and give them to local military personnel and their families. Individual tickets for the first round of the playoffs normal go on sale in the first week of April.