Or cosmetic appeal, for that matter. Longtime Pistons fans know that every season the arena offers something new. But the changes this year to The Palace – celebrating its 20th year since the Pistons inaugurated it in style with their first NBA title during its maiden season – will be among the most visually dazzling and fan-friendly yet.

A $3 million renovation of the concourse and building exterior give The Palace a striking new look. On the inner walls of the concourse, between entrances to the seating sections of the arena bowl, are huge composite murals designed by Rossetti and produced by Meteor Graphics that feature great Pistons players of the past and present, many of them integrating some of the superstar musicians who’ve played The Palace over its two decades.

So, for instance, over by sections 116 and 117, you’ll find Dave Bing next to Sting. And between 103 and 104, you’ll find Paul McCartney and Steve Tyler sharing space with Dennis Rodman and Jerry Stackhouse. Or one with Joe Dumars and Bob Lanier with Elton John and Paul Simon. Other murals celebrate the Bad Boys, the 2004 Pistons champions and recent Detroit Shock champions under coach Bill Laimbeer.

“It’s more than eye-catching, it’s dramatic,” Palace CEO Tom Wilson said. “Our mission remains the same after 20 years: We want to make a night at The Palace a time that generates memories for friends and families to share over a lifetime. That means from the moment you walk into our doors – even before you get inside the arena itself – you feel safe and comfortable and like this is something special, and something special is about to happen.”

Rossetti Architects, the same firm employed to build The Palace, designed the project, which includes abraided stainless steel signage which shimmers and has an alluring three-dimensional effect. But they’re more than visually appealing; they provide simple, concise information and directions that steer people into and out of the arena and to their appropriate seat location.

“It’s cutting edge,” said Mario Etemad, Palace executive vice president. “It ties the parking lot into the entrances into the concourse, and you reverse it and it’s much easier to find your car now than before. Every single season we have introduced major renovations and facelifts and we wanted to offer our guests, on our 20th anniversary, a dramatic new look. If you came to the arena last month, when you return to start this Pistons season, it will have a totally different feel.”

Among the other changes, the section entrances to the arena bowl are painted in brilliant blues and reds to match Pistons and Shock team colors, new signage announces the section numbers and existing portable concessions have been given a sleek, contemporary look.

The concourse has also been outfitted with LED lights that can change colors – blue to red to green to purple – and can be programmed to signify specific triggering events inside the arena. For instance, a Pistons 3-point basket could mean the concourse will be bathed in the glow of bright red LED lighting.

The renovations when completed also will be reflected in The Palace’s exterior to better identify the arena’s main entrances, including the South entrance nearest the loading dock and the West Atrium entrance, which will soon feature a sign 4 feet high by 30 feet wide. The South entrance is due to be adorned by a huge sign on which cameras can zoom in during network TV appearances, for example, identifying the arena as The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“There was nothing really outdated or incomplete about the things this renovation addresses,” Wilson said, “but it sure gives us a bright, fresh look in year 20, which is pretty remarkable when you compare The Palace to much newer arenas in other cities. Was it something that was absolutely necessary? Probably not. But it comes back to making The Palace experience one our guests will always remember with a smile.”