# Mike Ilich to buy Pistons **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 5, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123 "2010-10-05T15:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/1 "2010-10-05T15:07:10Z")
Mike owns the Tigers and Red Wings now. May as well buy the Pistons too. Davidson owned them for many years buy after he died, it was obvious his wife did not want them. Ilich has pretty good sports organizations behind him. It could help the franchise . There is a blurb on TV saying they will announce the sale later today. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/2 "2010-10-05T15:18:28Z")
THe Pistons include a stadium in the suburbs that holds concerts. Ilitch’s Tiger complex in Detroit includes Fox Theater . He is going to be in control of a major portion of concerts in the Detroit area. Maybe he can buy the Lions from the Ford family. They have been making money off it for years without developing the team . ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/3 "2010-10-05T16:31:37Z")
I thought this was some sort of weird WoW-related game mechanics thread. “Make lich to buy pistons”. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/4 "2010-10-06T03:45:24Z")
The Pistons include Palace entertainment which included Pine Knob ,one of the areas biggest concert sites. The Downtown Fox area has the biggest acts that come to Detroit. He will have his fingers in a lot of Detroit and suburban shows. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/5 "2010-10-06T14:56:45Z")
The Dope largely doesn’t care so much for basketball, and even fewer care about the Pistons. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/6 "2010-10-06T15:02:53Z")
Will Ilich move the Red Wings to the suburban Palace of Auburn Hills from the downtown Joe Louis Arena? Should he do so? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/7 "2010-10-06T15:08:51Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Will Ilich move the Red Wings to the suburban Palace of Auburn Hills from the downtown Joe Louis Arena? Should he do so? Word is he will move the Pistons back downtown. Brooks Patterson is already bitching about it. We build arenas for our pro teams one after the other. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/8 "2010-10-06T15:21:05Z")
I think it’s a good thing. He’s been a very active owner and the Red Wings have thrived under his ownership. > [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > The Dope largely doesn’t care so much for basketball, and even fewer care about the Pistons. Uh, threadshit much? Or was I whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/9 "2010-10-06T15:36:08Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > > [@zamboniracer](#): > > > > Will Ilich move the Red Wings to the suburban Palace of Auburn Hills from the downtown Joe Louis Arena? Should he do so? > > Word is he will move the Pistons back downtown. Brooks Patterson is already bitching about it. > We build arenas for our pro teams one after the other. While I’ve never been to “The Joe”, I’d hate to see them abandon the Palace, which is a beautiful and extremely well-designed arena, IMHO. I know they can play hockey there because the old IHL Detroit Vipers played there. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/10 "2010-10-06T16:15:54Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I think it’s a good thing. He’s been a very active owner and the Red Wings have thrived under his ownership. > > > [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > > > The Dope largely doesn’t care so much for basketball, and even fewer care about the Pistons. > > Uh, threadshit much? Or was I whooshed? Not threadshitting at all. The Dope doesn’t follow basketball too closely. There are a handful of posters, and that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/11 "2010-10-06T21:17:02Z")
What happens to the Palace if the Pistons move out? Are there enough concerts/wrestling/whatever else in there to justify keeping it open? EDIT: And is Ilitch just buying the Pistons or the whole Palace Sports & Entertainment conglomerate from the Davidson estate? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/12 "2010-10-06T22:10:36Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > What happens to the Palace if the Pistons move out? Are there enough concerts/wrestling/whatever else in there to justify keeping it open? > > EDIT: And is Ilitch just buying the Pistons or the whole Palace Sports & Entertainment conglomerate from the Davidson estate? I would presume that right there is the negotiation line. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/13 "2010-10-08T03:13:11Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > What happens to the Palace if the Pistons move out? Are there enough concerts/wrestling/whatever else in there to justify keeping it open? > > EDIT: And is Ilitch just buying the Pistons or the whole Palace Sports & Entertainment conglomerate from the Davidson estate? All of it, including Pine Knob. He will control almost all the sports and entertainment in the Detroit area. Davidson’s widow just wants out. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/14 "2010-10-08T07:35:14Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > The Dope doesn’t follow basketball too closely. There are a handful of posters, and that’s about it. Why do you suppose? Demographics? ISTR at least some general interest in March Madness, but maybe college hoops isn’t what you had in mind… ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/15 "2010-10-08T21:44:46Z")
Davidson was a good owner, but when he died, his widow didn’t want the team. Ilich is up there in years. In two or five or ten years, Detroit may be going through this again, times three. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-ilich-to-buy-pistons/556123/16 "2010-10-09T02:19:22Z")
He is 81. But he has his whole family involved in his operations. The problem is who gets the reigns when he passes them on. But there are plenty of people in the organization .