Suburbs not ready to let Ilitch walk with Pistons

Say bye-bye...

Detroit is too poor to build a new facility, no tax base to support a municiple bond or any type of tax increase to fund it so if the team leaves it will have to leave Detroit. My guess is that he may buy the team, but they will stay in Auburn Hills.

The Silverdome sold for $500k after the Lions returned to Detroit. I wonder what a Piston-less Palace might fetch?

We're not gonna take it! lol

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:15 AM ET  08.10 by no-brainer

Detroit is too poor to build a new facility, no tax base to support a municiple bond or any type of tax increase to fund it so if the team leaves it will have to leave Detroit. My guess is that he may buy the team, but they will stay in Auburn Hills.

Not so Fast...from the story ;) Ilitch's plans for the Pistons presumably involve a NEW downtown arena to be shared by the Pistons and Red Wings - a concept endorsed in March by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing (Piston Great).

The Foxtown district has been mentioned for years as a potential site for a new arena. Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey said the proposal would "bring another entertainment venue to our city and bring people to our city."

So screw the taxpayers...

Milwaukee has been talking about how to replace The Bradley Center, which opened in 1988, need more luxury boxes etc.. and it was a gift, The late Jane Pettit and her husband, Lloyd Pettit, gave the $91 million arena to the city in memory of Jane's late father, Harry Bradley (Allen-Bradley Company) and Lloyd who owned the Admirals minor league hockey team was trying to get a NHL team in Milwaukee.

The Palace is ranked the #1 arena in the nation? According to who?

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:00 AM ET  08.10 by ... Nova

Not so Fast...from the story ;) Ilitch's plans for the Pistons presumably involve a NEW downtown arena to be shared by the Pistons and Red Wings - a concept endorsed in March by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing (Piston Great). The Foxtown district has been mentioned for years as a potential site for a new arena. Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey said the proposal would "bring another entertainment venue to our city and bring people to our city." So screw the taxpayers...

yeah, but you gotta pay for it somehow and I'm sure they would try to use a tax or municiple bond, both hugely unpopular these days, especially in one of the poorest cities in the country. Their tax base has been decimated by the fall of the 'big three' so unless they are talking about putting up their own money, I can't see it happening.

The noted Palace of Auburn Hills was privately paid for and financed, a first amongst big arenas (I think). I credit Illitch for wanting to move the team back downtown but I'm not sure how feasible it will be to do so, at least right away. It'd be tough for mayor Dave Bing (voted top 50 all-time NBA player) to continue with the tough budget cuts for the school and then turnaround a rubber-stamp a new sports arena.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:30 AM ET  08.10 by jgb

Good point.In this economy......unless the guy uses all of his own $....how can you expect a battered community to pay for a new arena, when there's obviously a perfectly good one there.I'm not familiar with the distance to Detroit or other drawing cities.....but the arenas only 25 years old, hardly a beatup, run down place that would justify a new one

Paging JGB...
The Pistons are to sign McGrady, you saw him last season for the Knicks. Give me the scoop. Is there ANYTHING left in his tank?

Pistons signed McGrady.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 10:47 AM ET  08.10 by BIGGIE

Paging JGB...The Pistons are to sign McGrady, you saw him last season for the Knicks. Give me the scoop. Is there ANYTHING left in his tank?

It depends on what you're looking for. He may be able to give you 15-17 minutes if he can manage to stay healthy, but the days are gone where he's actually a factor.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 10:47 AM ET  08.10 by BIGGIE

Paging JGB...The Pistons are to sign McGrady, you saw him last season for the Knicks. Give me the scoop. Is there ANYTHING left in his tank?

Biggie - He showed some flashes last year - The first couple games a bit rusty but was able to distribute and didn't shoot too bad. After that though it was hit or miss - played half way decent some games and the others was a complete non-factor.


Really all depends on his knee pain and if he is willing to not be the main focus he can help the Pistons.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 10:47 AM ET  08.10 by BIGGIE

Is there ANYTHING left in his tank?

Maybe; but it's Regular, it isn't Hi-Test anymore.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 11:10 AM ET  08.10 by Hllywd: Olskool

It depends on what you're looking for. He may be able to give you 15-17 minutes if he can manage to stay healthy, but the days are gone where he's actually a factor.

I'm imagining Joe Dumars is ready to salary dump Rip and get almost NOTHING - Eddy Curry. So, I imagine that Tracy will actually start for the Pistons. We got Ben Gordon so he'll get the starters minutes and be asked to close out games.

Also, Dumars will try and find some minutes for Daye whose still putting on weight and not ready to play the three.

All in all McGrady should be asked for 15-20 minutes at the 2, 5-10 and the 3.

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 11:12 AM ET  08.10 by JoeRiv

Really all depends on his knee pain and if he is willing to not be the main focus he can help the Pistons.

This concerns me...'me first' has not been a good quality to bring to Detroit. I'll trust Joe D had a chat about this with McGrady.