Pistons Provide Unique Opportunity for MI High School Basketball Teams

Pistons Provide Unique Opportunity for MI High School Basketball Teams

Raymond Boyd Getty Images

Every NBA season the Detroit Pistons play 41 home games and 41 away games to make up their 82-game regular season, and as an opening act they have Michigan High School basketball at Little Caesar's Arena (LCA). Earlier this week, Loy Norrix from Kalamazoo got to participate in this action as they got a clean Varsity sweep over the Potterville Vikings.

When the Pistons are hosting a game, they invite two high schools from within the state of Michigan to bring their varsity boys and girls basketball teams to play each other before the Pistons play later that day. Both teams and anyone else who purchases a ticket also receive a ticket to the Pistons game as well.

It's not uncommon to see a high school sporting event take place in a professional or college stadium and/or arena, but that's normally under different circumstances than the ones that the Pistons have arranged with LCA. A lot of times you will see these sporting events occur when the home team is away on a road game or road trip.

With the arrangements at LCA, the Pistons will be hosting a home game later in the day following high school games that take place. For example, Monday, January 23, the Pistons hosted the Milwaukee Bucks for a 7 p.m. tip-off, earlier that day the Loy Norrix Knights took on the Vikings from Potterville High school.

After their game players and fans were asked to leave the building as they finished prepping the arena for the NBA game that was to ensue. The two teams and their fans were given tickets to one of the All you can eat clubs to enjoy the game will 4th level seats.

I'm not sure if other professional arenas are doing anything like this or if they even rent out their arena to any events that aren't concerts or other entertainment events. I think the Detroit Pistons and LCA have done a great job with this promotion, not only are they getting more eyes on their team and arena but also providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the student-athletes.

5 Things That Could Replace The Infamous Holdout House Next To Little Caesars Arena In Downtown Detroit

The blighted home on the north side of Little Caesars Arena, infamous for its dilapidation and for its owners setting its asking price as high as $5 million when the Ilitchs tried purchasing it, has burned to the ground.

The house, located in the 2700 block of Cass Avenue, was considered an eyesore amid what is supposed to be a revitalized area of the city. As part of the agreement with the state of Michigan that gave them $400 million in taxpayer funds to use toward the construction of Little Caesars Arena, the Ilitchs promised to develop the surrounding 50 blocks into a 686-apartment neighborhood rife with shops, restaurants, and bars called The District Detroit. The Ilitchs said virtually all of the construction would be at least in progress by the end of 2018. As of 2022, practically no progress had been made on the development.

With that in mind, we've come up with a few ideas as to what could replace the Little Caesars holdout house in the 2700 block of Cass Avenue.

Detroit Airbnb Is Minutes Away From Comerica Park, Ford Field And Little Caesars Arena.

Located in historic Corktown, this Detroit Airbnb is within walking distance to Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Little Caesars Arena.
Filed Under: basketball, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, High School basketball, LCA, Little Caesars Arena, Loy Norrix, Loy Norrix High School, NBA
Categories: Articles, Michigan, Sports
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