Pistons for sale,

[PS&E G.S.]

Here is the link http://detnews.com/article/20100117/SPO ... town-arena


I had been hearing rumors of this for a while. From what I understand it would have to be a package deal. One that includes the Palace, Pistons, and DTE (Pine Knob). It worries me for several reasons.

First of all, if Mr. Ilitch buys the team I think that the Pistons would be the third team on his priority list. He seems to not care about basketball. How much money and work would he put into a team he cares little for?

Second, Can he monetarily support three pro sports teams in this economy? That is a lot of dough (pun intended) for any one to shell out. Michigan's economy being what it is, it is a valid question.

Third, if Ilitch dose not buy the team then who? Not allot of people in Michigan capable of buying and running a professional sports team. It is very possible the team could move out of the state.

Fourth, Who ever buys the team will be inexperienced at running a NBA team. (Rebuilding team, new owner=crap shoot?)

Fifth, what happens to the Palace? I don't think it could operate an concerts alone, just too big and to expensive to maintain.

Sixth, is moving downtown a good thing? Parking is already a problem. Having the Pistons, Lions, and Tigers all playing the same day IS theoretically possible. The article talks about the Wings potential loss of season ticket holders by moving to the Palace. The same can be said for the Pistons if moved to downtown.

Makes me think of how this is going to effect the Pistons this year and next with making player moves. Is Karen going to allow Joe to make trades or sign players? She could simply say that its for the next guy to worry about. Will free agents be willing to come to a team with so many questions lingering?

Quite a few things to think about.

[Cowology]

**** me...

[roc]

**** me...

[roc]

and I have been hearing these rumblings for a bit as well

[JNewton]

Not a huge surprise. Karen Davidson is all about the cash and her actions in the last year prove it. We'll see who's out there, I wonder if Dan Gilbert would take a crack if LeBron leaves Cleveland this summer (although I don't see anyone lining up to buy the Cavs if LeBron isn't on the roster). Who else? Peter Karmanos? I don't see Illitch bidding for them.

As for the Palace, I don't see the Pistons leaving it anytime soon despite what the "sources" are telling McCoskey. Where would the cash come from to build a new arena in this economic climate? They're sure as hell not getting any from Wayne County or the state. Meanwhile the Palace would be included in the sale of the team, and has received tens of millions in upgrades and renovations in the last decade (North Tower addition, the dungeon suites, Comcast Pavilion, the West Atrium renovation a while back, etc.) I sort of wonder if the story was leaked to McCoskey from the Illitch camp as a negotiating tactic (the Red Wings have had discussions about playing at least a few seasons at the Palace while lining up financing and building a new arena.)

All in all, it makes you a little nervous, but I don't think the NBA would let the Pistons leave Michigan, especially in light of Bill Davidson's relationship with David Stern.

[PS&E G.S.]

I hope you are correct. I work at the Palace and it makes me nervous about my future. I am only a part time employee, but currently it is my only job. Times being what they are, ANY job is a good one. I know nothing will happen any time soon but it still worries me.

It is hard for me to believe that any one would buy the the Palace, one of the top ten entertainment venues in the U.S. in rating and attendance every year ( until this year), and close it. It would seem to me that person would be throwing away money. The building is older but is well maintained, it has lots of parking and a good reputation. But who knows.

[Cowology]

Not so much worried about the team leaving Michigan as just nervous about what new ownership is going to mean. It could either be good, or we could see Joe get replaced by a mechanical monkey that runs on AA batteries.

I wouldn't expect anything to go down prior to '11, but Joe may be in the unenviable position of trying to get value out of a fire sale. We could be forced into the sort of tank job that many fans have been advocating, but without the sort of long term plan necessary to actually make it a productive venture. We could be looking at a pretty bare cupboard with no plan to spend anytime in the near future. That's pretty bleak.

Then again everything could be just rosey. It's the not knowing that scares the **** outa me.

[PS&E G.S.]

One thing is for sure. We currently have an owner that could give a S#*! about the team. In that respect we can't get much worse. I just hope whatever happens it happens as quickly and painlessly as it possibly can. It would be better for all involved.

[princeofpalace]

so much for keeping it in the family.....

What else can go wrong for this franchise this year.

[Bigzoos]

great more insult to injury.... what's next???? hope this doesn't affect the players in the locker room and future trades that will happen

[Liqourish]

I said all this when the Shock were sold off after being reassured that they were safe and I remember the OP telling me how wrong I was and how I didn't understand the costs of running a basketball game.

Karen Davidson doesn't give a **** about basketball or the teams her husband loved. She's all about the money. It's why Bill Laimbeer quit a few games into the season. It's why the Pistons are only carrying 14 players even though they are under the salary cap and no where near luxury tax.

The Pistons could very well be in the same boat as the Shock and it doesn't matter that the NBA is more successful than the WNBA. If the owner doesn't care, the team is in jeopardy.

[slimdogg694]

Having the Pistons, Lions, and Tigers all playing the same day IS theoretically possible.

Add in the Red Wings as well.

[slimdogg694]

It stings not having the Davidson name on the Pistons.....but

I would rather have an owner that loves basketball and will do anything to make the Pistons a successful team. It seems like Karen Davidson is not that person.

[princeofpalace]

I said all this when the Shock were sold off after being reassured that they were safe and I remember the OP telling me how wrong I was and how I didn't understand the costs of running a basketball game.

Karen Davidson doesn't give a **** about basketball or the teams her husband loved. She's all about the money. It's why Bill Laimbeer quit a few games into the season. It's why the Pistons are only carrying 14 players even though they are under the salary cap and no where near luxury tax.

The Pistons could very well be in the same boat as the Shock and it doesn't matter that the NBA is more successful than the WNBA. If the owner doesn't care, the team is in jeopardy.

I feel like Pistons always carry 14 and then add a vet later in the season

[RustInPeace]

**** my life. I don't want to have to buy a ****load of $5 cardboard to support all the teams.

[HeroicKennedy]

I'm not too worried about a firesale, mainly because we committed $95 million in new salaries over the offseason. Also, this is McCoskey. Should be taken with a certain amount of salt.

Also, I think there's a good chance that whoever buys the team will likely keep it in Michigan, despite the rather poor economic climate.

[Rich2Hassan]

If Arkan Jonna buys the Pistons, i know i will have a job.

[b-diddy]

[quote="Cowology"] We could be forced into the sort of tank job that many fans have been advocating, but without the sort of long term plan necessary to actually make it a productive venture. We could be looking at a pretty bare cupboard with no plan to spend anytime in the near future. That's pretty bleak.

thats a pretty good summation of the last 2 years.

people act like the davidsons were the greatest owners ever. i never got that. bill was meddlesome, played favorites. no plan to spend is a little extreme since theres a salary floor, and its not *THAT* much less than the pistons currently spend on salaries (in the low 40s, i believe). mystery owner will almost certainly spend atleast what bill did, and probably more (even if its a corporation that buys it).

karen selling the team makes perfect sense. why would she want that headache? the mere chance that accountability returns to auburn hills excites me.

[Low-Ki]

Bah! I hate multi-purpose venues. They were talking about my idea (which I guess isn't so original) on one of the radio stations today where Ilitch would build a throwback hockey-only arena for the wings. He wouldn't try to compete with The Palace or Ford Field for concerts and tractor pulls.

It would be build with seats right on top of the action. Outside of the bowl, the concourses would be state of the art, but once you entered the seats it would be all about hockey and only hockey. Ideally it would have a couple community rinks as part of the complex for minor hockey- to really make it about hockey. It would be a throwback.

[nasty daddy]

I just posted that the Pistons are not for sale but could be soon according to a source.