I was able to attend three games there while I still lived in Michigan. Two Pistons games several years before they became a championship contender--I want to say one of them was against the Los Angeles Lakers, but don't quote me on that--and one Detroit Shock (WNBA) game, long before they became known as the Dallas Wings. That last one's the only time I ever saw Bill Laimbeer in person, since he was coaching the team at the time. I don't remember much of the games themselves, but no one caused any trouble and I enjoyed myself on the whole.
I find it irritating, personally. The facility wasn't even that old; construction on it was finished back in 1988, and it still had pretty much everything the team needed. The only real point against it was that it was part of a northern suburb of Detroit as opposed to the city proper, but personally I don't think that should've been enough of an incentive to demolish it. Instead of just toughing it out, they put the Pistons in the same building as the NHL's Red Wings: exactly the same situation they were stuck in back in the 1970s, meaning that they're juggling schedules again. Le sigh...
Oh, well. Complaints aside, it was nice while it lasted. I don't have the same memories of the Palace as I did of the Silverdome, but the place was still easy on the eyes. And for those that were there, the memories of championships well-earned will be in their memories for the rest of their lives.
