Mike Illitch to buy the Detroit Pistons

[RedOrDead 5]

There are many things the Illitch's can do but turn the Lions into a great team? I'm all for happy thoughts and positive thinking but thats a step too far for me.

I revel in the pity expressed by people when I tell them a Lions fan, it counters the hatred expressed when they find out I'm a Wings fan. If the Lions became great it'd mess with my ying and yang or something.

i dont really care about the lions or want to talk about them but they will never win as long as they are owned by ford

[CenterIce 83]

I believe NFL rules would forbid Ilitch from purchasing the Lions. I think it's against NFL rules for an owner to also own competing professional teams in the same market.

I believe there was a NHL team recently transferred from parent to son to avoid this rule?

Colorado Avalanche. The father is buying the St. Louis Rams.

[FunkedUp 29]

I believe Detroit is the only city with a separate venue for all 4 teams. That will change soon. Get used to the Wings and Pistons sharing behind the FOX.

[RedFlag85 33]

However, how awesome would it be if they made a massive entertainment complex, with two arenas attached as one, sharing one wall and an atrium, but two separate actual arenas?

Wings on the North Side of the structure, Pistons on the South, then you could (in theory) even have both teams playing home games on the same night... also could share parking, concessions, etc, while still having double luxury suites... now THAT would be amazing...

Gave me wood.

[dobbles 252]

perhaps if we all buy 5000 hot n ready pizzas, mr. illitch will have so much money that he can afford to have the teams play in separate arenas still!

[dropkickshanahans 463]

YES! I'm so pumped about this! It took longer than I thought but after Tom Wilson defected to Illitch Holdings, I always knew in the back of my head that Illitch would buy the Pistons. What a relief it is too, I'm so glad he bought them, now I know they're gonna stay here for sure and are in good hands. The rumors about the team possibly moving was a little too much for me and I couldn't bear the thought of watching the "Pittsburgh Pistons" or whatever the possibilities were. You can't take a franchise like them out of Detroit. Illitch is such a bro.

Sharing arenas is gonna suck but it's necessary if Illitch wants to build a new arena for the Wings.

I find it hard to believe that the Pistons are worth 475 Million! Or did I just read that wrong. Even with PS&E 475 Million seems a bit steep! I wonder how much the Wings are worth????

You better believe it SON! Bill Davidson bought the Pistons for around $8-10 million or something like that back in the 70's I believe, and made Mr. Wilson (the guy who works for Illitch now) president of the Pistons and PS&E to handle all of their business, making the Pistons one of the top marketed teams in all sports and DTE theater one of the highest grossing venues.

I just wonder if his job will be somewhat the same or if Wilson will do some stuff for the Wings and/or Tigers as well.

[Datsyerberger 279]

I believe NFL rules would forbid Ilitch from purchasing the Lions. I think it's against NFL rules for an owner to also own competing professional teams in the same market.

I believe there was a NHL team recently transferred from parent to son to avoid this rule?

Incorrect. The rules in place prevent an owner from owning another team in a competing market (for example, the owner of the Broncos can't own the Knicks, because there's a competing NFL team in that region).

The rules were changed in I think '99 to allow a football owner to own other teams in the same region (for example, the owner of the Bears could buy the Cubs).

[Detroit40oz 21]

I believe Detroit is the only city with a separate venue for all 4 teams. That will change soon. Get used to the Wings and Pistons sharing behind the FOX.

As of this baseball season, Minneapolis/St. Paul has all 4 in different venues.

Minnesota Wild - Xcel Energy Center

Minnesota Vikings - Metrodome

Minnesota Twins - Target Field (shared metrodome until 2010)

Minnesota Timberwolves - Target Center

[dropkickshanahans 463]

i dont really care about the lions or want to talk about them but they will never win as long as they are owned by ford

I disagree. Ford Jr. has been alot more vocal and shown more dedication ever since the 0-16 season. Probably a wake up call to get their ass in gear for once. Now they've made moves like replacing Millen with Mayhew and replacing lots of other people that I think are set to put this team in the right direction. I mean look at us this year: Sure, we're 0-4, but we're actually competing against some very tough opponents these first four weeks, and not getting manhandled like years past. That just warms my heart. Hell, if we could just limit our mistakes, we'd probably be 2-2 or even 3-1 right now.

My point is, it took us 2 years from the 0-16 season to put a product out on the field, led by a backup QB, and actually be competitive to the point where you can argue we should win most of those games if we had Stafford in. That's very impressive considering most thought that with the garbage team we put out there a couple years ago, it would take at least 4-5 years to get to that point. I look forward to our first win against the Rams this Sunday, and hopefully more to come.

/end Lions rant. Sorry for being off-topic on that.