The former home of the Detroit Pistons is about to be demolished, as crews were working at The Palace of Auburn Hills site over the weekend.
Home to the Pistons from 1988-2017, The Palace of Auburn Hills has sat largely idle in recent years, hosting its last event in the fall of 2017. The presence of Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit has made the venue obsolete for major professional sports and events, making its demolition seemingly inevitable. Earlier this year, those plans were confirmed, as it was announced that The Palace of Auburn Hills would be demolished to make way for a mixed-use development that includes office space.
On Sunday, crews were seen taking exterior signage off the arena, an early step in the Palace of Auburn Hills demolition process. More from ClickonDetroit.com:
Crews could be seen removing the name from the front of the arena. When it closed in 2017, The Palace of Auburn Hills was one of two arenas in the country that had not sold its name to a corporate sponsor — The other is Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores said he’s working with a real estate company to redevelop the site. The mixed-use development is expected to include corporate offices, along with research and development and technology companies.
Located in suburban Auburn Hills, The Palace of Auburn Hills opened in 1988 after its $90 million construction cost was privately financed by then Pistons owner Bill Davidson. The Pistons would play there through the 2016-17 season, their last before moving into the brand-new Little Caesars Arena, which they share with the NHL’s Red Wings.
Image courtesy Palace Sports & Entertainment.
RELATED STORIES: The Palace of Auburn Hills Set for Demolition
