In 2010-11, Detroit Pistons fans will enjoy a wide variety of venue upgrades, innovative features and delectable offerings throughout The Palace when the team takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder in its home opener this Friday, October 29 at 8 p.m.
Those attending Detroit Pistons games at The Palace throughout the years have grown accustomed to a full evening of entertainment but, starting with the team’s home opener on October 29, they will enjoy a new concept in interactive entertainment with the new MegaPhone interactive game, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch.
Once per game, spectators will be presented a sports trivia question on The Palace’s crystal-clear PalaceVision scoreboard and given a toll-free phone number to call to answer the question. The caller will be prompted to dial in their answers and the top five fastest correct answerers will be listed on PalaceVision with the winner receiving a different prize each game. The Pistons are the lone Detroit professional sports team to feature this interactive program.
Also new this year, The Comcast Pistons Care Basketball Zone, an interactive fundraiser benefitting the Pistons-Palace Foundation, will be on The Palace concourse at the Northeast Entrance every home game. A $5 donation to participate will benefit scholarships, grants, educational renovations and the annual Pistons Care Telethon.
Participants will have the opportunity to shoot free throws for the chance to win autographed memorabilia and other unique prizes. Contestants have 24 seconds to make a determined number of shots to qualify and will be invited back at the end of the season for “Fan Appreciation Day” to participate in a pre-game shooting competition on the court to compete for the grand prize trip to Hawaii.
As for the overall Palace experience, guests will enjoy a new selection of menu items this season with the addition of Tubby’s Submarine stand at section 116-117. Select concession stands throughout the venue will feature new gluten-free items including stir fry, ice cold beer, apple slices, Better Made potato chips and Skittles. The exciting new menu item available this season will be “The Big Cheese-Rip and Dip,” a hot and gooey cheese bread with ranch and marinara sauce, which will make a perfect snack to share with family and friends.
The Palace Grille menu will feature many new dinner entrees including Free range Cornish game hens, Ricotta Gnudi with roasted peppers, asparagus, wilted spinach and basil oil and Lemongrass & ginger poached salmon, wok-fried vegetables, organic brown miso broth and appetizer selections such as baked brie “en croute” with fig marmalade and seared Ahi-tuna with Himalayan pink sea salt, shaved apple, celeriac slaw and Szechuan pepper oil.
The list of new items available in The Palace’s suites include Vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, Beef & Bean quesadillas, Italian stewed meatballs, Tandoori-spiced chicken breast, Cuban-spiced grilled skirt steak, Mac & Cheese and Greek chicken flatbread sandwich.
Pistons fans will be able to find literally something for every taste with a host of new merchandise at its retail stores with New Revolution30 jerseys from Adidas, which are made from new fabrics designed to increase players’ comfort and performance on the court. A new assortment of Pistons t-shirts and sweatshirts from Adidas will also be available.
In addition, a new line of Pistons bedding, including comforter, sheets, pillow cases and wallpaper border will be in stores. New Hooper stuffed mascot dolls are also available. Back this year is the Pistons Comfy Throws, the blanket with sleeves, which was so popular last season they sold out before the holidays.
Fans arriving on game day will first notice The Palace’s upgrade to its 94-foot tall I-75 landmark marquee as it received a total makeover including full-color video displays replacing its original amber light signage. The West Parking Lot was upgraded with two-inch cut-down and resurfacing including repairs to cracks and around manholes, and the a new roof was installed to replace The Palace’s outdated roof.
This summer, The Palace’s television studios expanded operations with installation of a permanent TV studio and four full HDTV Avid editing suites. The radio production facilities added a fully integrated edit suite with voice over room.
PNC, one of the nation’s largest financial holding companies, is the presenting sponsor for the Detroit Pistons. For more information about PNC, please visit www.pncbank.com.