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With the Ilitch family finally making its intentions about a
new downtown hockey arena official, and with the NHL finally resolving its
labor dispute, it seems like the Red Wings will remain in downtown Hockeytown
for the foreseeable future, which is great. The new complex seems like it would
be very impressive and promising, and would turn countless parcels that Mr.
Ilitch currently holds into productive assets for the city on multiple levels.
On the other hand, with the Palace remaining a fine venue,
it does not appear like the Pistons and their improving product will move
downtown anytime soon, despite sagging crowd levels. Investing hundreds of
millions of dollars into a brand new facility when the Palace remains in great
shape does not make financial sense. While the City is a core market for the
Pistons, I can't imagine marginal ticket sales from a move downtown would
offset the investment required anytime soon. Perhaps Mr. Gores should invest in
express buses to bring downtown fans to the Palace instead.
That being said, I think the new hockey facility represents
an interesting opportunity for future Red Wings and Pistons collaboration. Why not
have the Pistons pay ~10 games a year downtown at the new stadium, and have the
Red Wings play a similar number of games at the Palace? Such an arrangement could
help increase accessibility to each franchise and broaden the fan base. NHL and
NBA franchises share arenas in other cities, and the IHL did use the Palace in
the 1990s, so the concept is technically feasible. This way, at least until the
Palace fully depreciates, the regions assets could be utilized in a creative
way that builds new bridges and connections.
