The Detroit Pistons need their own Jurassic Park soon

I can’t help but get jealous watching the NBA finals, not only because I wished the Detroit Pistons were playing in them, but the Toronto Raptors fans are flat out insane.

In Toronto there is an area that seems to stretch endlessly outside of Scotiabank Arena, formally named the Air Canada Centre.  The fans wait for hours leading up until game time to not enter the arena but enter the party zone they’ve called Jurrasic Park.  The district Detroit needs to take some notes and get their own ready for when one of the sports teams here finally turn the corner. The Detroit Pistons qualified for the playoffs before being quickly bounced by the Milwaukee Bucks, but say the team was able to put up a fight would the Ilitches be ready to accommodate some of their loyalist fans?

Little Caesars Arena is an absolute beautiful establishment; it’s the late great Mike Ilitches’ castle, it’s deplorable he’s not still around to enjoy it some.  When it was announced the Detroit Pistons were moving downtown, for selfish, personal reasons, I was ecstatic.  I understand for the fans elsewhere mainly living in and around Auburn Hills, Pontiac, etc.  You’ve already lost the Silver Dome, which including the Detroit Lions; I fully understand your frustration.

If you haven’t been able to attend a game or concert at LCA, you might not have realized that there is plenty of space around the arena.  The South & West entrances have an abundance of space for activities, beverages, food, and so on.  The West end has a massive outdoor screen in place to hopefully show the game once either the Detroit Red Wings or the Detroit Pistons finally make a playoff run. Imagine closing off Woodward Ave in front of the Arena on a night where one of the teams have a chance to clinch a title?  The overflow of people from in and around the arena, spilling out into the street would be a similar scene to what’s currently happening in Toronto.

They do serve alcohol outside as the weather turns more agreeable, but they do not usually have much going on through the dead of Winter amid both teams’ regular season.  One missing thing; it’s critical when serving drinks with food are porta-johns.  They need to be mandatory in the future.  There is also no re-entry, once you’ve entered the arena you are committed, you can’t come back out and enjoy the festivities that are outside.

I hope one day, that area will become Detroit’s, Jurrasic Park.  Even once the Detroit Tigers finally become a threat to win again, I could imagine going to the West entrance of LCA to watch a Tigers’ playoff game with many other Tigers’ fans. It’s something the Ilitches’ need to focus on, that is if they even are committed to this District Detroit dream.  I feel the dream would be complete if the dreamer were still alive.  With Mike gone, it’s more dollars and cents rather than a personal accomplishment.