AUBURN HILLS -- The Detroit Pistons could and perhaps should win more at home, but those running Palace Sports and Entertainment have expected the franchise sellout streak to end as the nation battles a poor economy.
While the Pistons were slipping past the Miami Heat 93-90 on Wednesday, the streak ended on a Palace-record 259 consecutive sellouts dating to Jan. 19, 2004. The Pistons lead the NBA in attendance, averaging 22,076 tickets sold (capacity) for the first 24 home games, or 1,000 more than second-highest Chicago.
A crowd of 21,720 showed Wednesday at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
"This year has been a challenge because of what's been going on with the economy," said Tom Wilson, president of Palace Sports and Entertainment.
"We are still leading the league (in attendance), which is great, but the last few weeks have been really tough."
Empty seats have been a topic of conversation at The Palace most nights this winter because of no-show ticket buyers.
"The tickets have been sold," Wilson said. "For the first time, people are saying there's also parking to pay for and gas and a couple of hot dogs and a couple of beers and they don't know if they can afford the additional thirty of forty bucks, and they don't come."
The Pistons, 26-21, are 14-11 in home games and 12-10 on the road.
"If our record was better, it probably would have prolonged the streak," Wilson said. "But we've been talking all year that it would not have made it through this season."
