Debate About Whether The Pistons Should Move Downtown Breaks Out On Valenti & Foster Show

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Conventional wisdom says the Detroit Pistons need to move to downtown Detroit from the northern suburbs to help boost the city's comeback story and create a central place for sports fans to catch their favorite team, be it the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings or Pistons.

As construction ramps up on the Detroit entertainment district surrounding a new Red Wings arena, many are holding out hope the Pistons move in nearby. But it's a matter of debate.

That debate erupted during the Valenti & Foster show on 97.1 The Ticket when producer Mike Sullivan and co-host Terry Foster went head to head on the issue.

"I don't see them moving downtown anytime soon," Sullivan said.

Why? Sullivan said it's not appealing because "80 percent" of season ticket holders are from northern Oakland County and southern Genesee County and it's just easier for them to pop into Auburn Hills than to get downtown.

"They would much rather just calmly do to Auburn Hills, get in, get out, instead of figuring out where to park and all that," he said, adding the players, for the most part, don't live inside the city either.

"We see the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings play downtown, they don't live downtown, they live in Royal Oak," Sullivan said.

Foster said: "It doesn't matter where players live, it's irrelevant to me."

On his side, Foster, who long covered the Pistons for the Detroit News, said if the team moved downtown, the demographics of season ticket holders would change.

"Have you ever parked at the Palace during a big game?" Foster asked. "It takes you 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot. Bottom line,  you're sitting in a car.

"I would much rather take the People Mover or walk, and be able to get out of there quicker."

Foster added if the team was downtown, friends could meet for dinner and drinks before or after the game and walk everywhere they need to go.

So, who's right?