Bing hopes to lure Pistons back to downtown Detroit

3/12/2010

DETROIT — Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says he hopes to lure the Pistons back downtown, where they played when he was on the team.

Bing told news executives Thursday the Pistons could relocate from The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons owner Karen Davidson has said she's considering a possible sale of the NBA team.

The Pistons played at Cobo Arena in the city when Bing was with them in 1966-75.

Bing spokeswoman Karen Dumas tells the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News the mayor hopes the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons could share a venue. The Wings' lease at Joe Louis Arena is up soon.

Dumas also says that Bing held a meeting of “a personal nature” Thursday with Tom Wilson, an ex-Pistons president now working for the Red Wings owners.