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SMART Offers Buses on Special Route from Downtown Detroit to Select Pistons Games

Pistons SMART Express Rolls Into "Senior Year" For 2005-06 Regular Season

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - For the fourth consecutive year, the Detroit Pistons and SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) will partner for the Pistons SMART Express, offering residents of the City of Detroit the opportunity to ride to and from The Palace of Auburn Hills for select weekend and holiday home games during the 2005-06 pre-season and regular season.

The cost for the Pistons SMART Express is $2.00 each way, payable in cash or with a SMART Value Pass. Other SMART passes or D-DOT passes or transfers are not accepted. The Express will arrive at The Palace about 90 minutes before tip-off, giving fans plenty of time to enjoy all of the evenings pre-game festivities. Upon arrival at The Palace, fans only need to show their SMART transfer at the box office, where they can purchase a $22 Pistons ticket for a special SMART rate of $12.00. Thirty minutes after the final buzzer, the Pistons SMART Express will depart from The Palace, returning fans to their stops along the Woodward Avenue route.

The first night of the program will be Sunday, October 16, when the Pistons entertain the Minnesota Timberwolves in a pre-season tilt.

"The Pistons SMART Express has been a great program for the Pistons, SMART, and most importantly, our fans," said Pistons CEO Tom Wilson. "The community has been such a large factor in our success over the last four years. When you appear in the NBA Finals in consecutive years, the fans want more and more from you and we are going to work our tails off to give it to them. Forward-thinking and community-minded partners such as SMART help us continue our brand and perpetuate our reputation for outstanding customer service."


Download the Schedule
PISTONS EXPRESS GAME TIME CHANGE SUNDAY, MARCH 26
The start time for the Sunday March 26 game between the Detroit Pistons and the New Jersey Nets has been changed from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate a national broadcast by ESPN. Pistons Express scheduled pick up times along Woodward Avenue for this game have been adjusted as follows:

  • Woodward & Congress - 5:00 pm
  • Woodward & Warren - 5:08 pm
  • Woodward & W. Grand Blvd - 5:10 pm
  • Woodward & Manchester - 5:17 pm
  • Woodward & 6 Mile - 5:20 pm
  • State Fairgrounds - 5:24 pm

    Buses are scheduled to arrive at the Palace of Auburn Hills at 6:10 p.m. and will depart 30 minutes after the end of the game. If you have any questions please call Telephone Information at (866) 962-5515.

    • There are 11 games on the schedule for the Pistons SMART Express. They are:

  • Sunday, October 16 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves @ 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 22 vs. Miami Heat @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, November 5 vs. Toronto Raptors @7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, January 7 vs. Utah Jazz @7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, January 14 vs. Charlotte Bobcats @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Monday, January 16 vs. Boston Celtics @ 3:30 p.m. (MLK Holiday)
  • Sunday, January 22 vs. Houston Rockets @ 6:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 12 vs. Charlotte Bobcats @ 6:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 26 vs. New Jersey Nets @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 2 vs. Phoenix Suns @ 1:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 16 vs. New York Knicks @ 6:00 p.m.

    "The Pistons take an active role in giving back to the community and helping some of their greatest fans," said Dan Dirks, SMART general manager. "The SMART Pistons Express package gives Detroiters the opportunity for a bus ride and a Pistons ticket for $16. That is a great deal. SMART's role is connecting people to where they want to go...the Pistons Express is one more avenue for our customers."

    "Pistons Express" buses will begin running a special route along Woodward Avenue on Sunday, October 16. The Express will begin at Congress, making five stops including Warren Avenue, West Grand Boulevard, Manchester, McNichols (Six Mile) Road, and the State Fair Grounds. To make the service more convenient for fans, parking will be available at the State Fair Grounds.

    The Pistons and SMART partnership began three years ago, as part of the Detroit Pistons organization's increased commitment to the fans in the City of Detroit. Thanks in part to SMART's continued commitment to the residents of Detroit and their willingness to provide service to The Palace of Auburn Hills, the SMART Express has become one of the team's fastest and most popular community outreach programs. Since its inception, nearly 20,000 Pistons fans have taken the SMART Express to a Pistons game.

    The Pistons SMART Express is just one of many ways the Detroit Pistons organization continues to be involved in the city of Detroit. The Pistons "Read to Achieve" program will make appearances at Detroit schools and the organization has also opened four Reading and Learning Centers. These centers offer children a place to go before and after school where they can study, explore the Internet, or interact with other children. This season, the Pistons will continue their community involvement through book drives and shelter visits, as well as ongoing discussions between team executives, Detroit business leaders, and government officials to find unique ways to work in the city and with its residents.

    Rock Financial is the presenting sponsor for the 2005-06 Detroit Pistons. For more information regarding the Pistons SMART Express Package, please contact the Palace at (248) 377-0100 or SMART at (313) 962-5515. Or visit www.pistons.com or www.smartbus.org.