Officials: Pistons 'Deep In Discussions' And 'Optimistic' About Downtown Move
DETROIT (WWJ) - Key executives are finally responding to the persistent rumors about a Detroit Pistons move from Auburn Hills to downtown Detroit.
Arn Tellum, vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment, says they're in serious talks with Olympia Entertainment about moving into Little Caesars Arena alongside the Detroit Red Wings.
"We're deep in discussions and hopeful," he told WWJ City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas on Friday. "It's all positive, it's all positive...I think it would be fantastic for the city if we can accomplish this. I think it would electrify this city."
Olympia Entertainment President and CEO Tom Wilson echoed that optimism.
"The beautiful thing right now is the story, with or without another team, is just the resurrection of this city — how it's coming back and the speed with which it's coming back and how much people are embracing this around the country," Wilson said.
"And so this would just be another peeve to the puzzle, so we're optimistic, but we're gonna wait and see how it all plays out...let's just cross our fingers."
Tellum pointed out that the move would make Detroit the only city that has four teams right in the heart of downtown.
If a deal is done, an announcement could be made as early as Friday at the Pistons home opener.
This latest news comes a few days after Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson talked about how the county, in June, turned down an offer to buy the Palace of Auburn Hills for about $384 million.
"There's no guarantee they're going to keep (the Pistons) there and I'd end up with a stadium. I've got one right now that's empty," he said, referring to the now vacant Silverdome the Lions left for Ford Field in 2002.
Patterson said he couldn't gamble taxpayer funds, even if there was a chance the deal could have kept the Pistons in Oakland County.
