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The Palace / Auburn Hills, Mich.

The privately financed Palace of Auburn Hills was built expressly for the Detroit Pistons.
Year Opened: 1988
Capacity: 21,454
Architect: Rossetti Associates
Web Site: palacenet.com
Phone: 248/377-0100
Anchor Tenants: Detroit Pistons (NBA) / Detroit Shock (WNBA)
Parking/Directions: Ramp If you see the word “OPEN” flashing on the sign, then take the onramp to the ramp entrance. This is a quick and easy way to bypass the heavy traffic at the main entrance and get into the lot fast. You can easily get to the VIP lots, Cingular Club lot, General and Press parking from the ramp entrance. North Drive: The North Drive is located right next to the large electronic marquee sign on M-24. Go around the South Drive to North Drive to avoid the heaviest traffic. You can easily reach the general parking areas and special lots from North Drive. Harmon Drive: Harmon Drive is located on the north end of the parking lot and is another great way to avoid the heavy traffic on M-24. Use Exit 83 and follow the green “Palace” road signs. You can reach all parking areas from Harmon Drive.

History
Prior to the opening of the Palace, the NBA’s Detroit Pistons never really had a suitable venue to call home. From 1957 to 1978 the team played in Olympia Stadium and Cobo Arena, but both were considered undersized for the NBA.

The Pistons then moved to football’s Pontiac Silverdome, which was a huge facility but caused poor sightlines for viewing basketball. In 1988 Piston’s owner Bill Davidson led a group to build the Palace for $70 million, which was entirely privately financed.

The Pistons have won three NBA Championships since relocating to the suburbs of Detroit, and the WNBA’s Shock won the title in 2003.

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