'Embarrassing Turnout:' Where Have All the Pistons' Fans Gone? (Not to LCA)

Remember "build it and they will come?"

One NBA game is way too soon to judge, but the Pistons's debut Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena wasn't exactly a big draw.

"The stadium . . . seems to already be struggling to get fans in its seats," posts Deadspin writer Lauren Theisen. "During the Pistons’ home opener tonight, the lack of a crowd has been impossible to ignore."

First-time visitors may have been gawking at the spiffy new arena instead of "a relatively meaningless game," she acknowledges. Julie Argonis, a Deadline Detroit reader in Plymouth, quips: "Maybe they're all getting pizza."

Sports blogger and podcaster Justin Spiro tweets after Detroit beat the Charlotte Hornets by 102-9: "LCA proved to be a very nice basketball venue. Better than I expected. Embarrassing turnout, though."

Attendance numbers weren't released immediately.

On Twitter, the optics aren't pretty:

Lower bowl. Center court. Opening night of the season. Brand new arena. Poor @DetroitPistons. pic.twitter.com/yyYoUZ47Td
— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) October 18, 2017

Free Pistons T-shirts a nice home opener gift and they help cover up unsold/unoccupied seats pic.twitter.com/owUvH4sTsG
— Richard Burr (@RichardBurr_DN) October 18, 2017

Can't blame/judge turnout when product is so dull even shiny new surroundings can't make it appealing. Win and they'll come. Zero buzz.
— JCGMSU (@JimGSpartan) October 19, 2017

The Pistons couldn't give tickets to their first game at Detroit's dumb new arena away: https://t.co/BEa7fef3Jy pic.twitter.com/Jiknend0rT
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) October 19, 2017

At Reddit, these are among comments under a link to Deadspin's article:

Wow, you mean the mediocre team with no real stars couldn't sell out their way-overpriced game? Shocking.
Your "average" fan has been pushed out with expensive ticket prices. It is cool to go to a game, sure. But who can afford, overpriced parking, overpriced food, and tickets?
I'll bet the majority of Pistons' fans live in Oakland County. In essence, the team moved away from its fan base. I can't see this team drawing any sort of a crowd, not until they get up into the 50+ wins, conference finals challenger status. Then maybe people will come on down.
Tickets could be had for $20 this afternoon. $12 seats available for Monday's game. I'd say the honeymoon is over.
I don't think it helps that the Pistons are probably the least popular of our 4 teams. Tigers, Wings, and Lions will always fill their venues; but the Pistons need to be doing well to sell out, it seems like.

Deadline Detroit readers jump in at our Facebook page:

Should have stayed at the Palace. Easy in, easy out. One big parking lot - secured and no creepy walks down side streets. Reasonable ticket prices. Not worth it. -- Dyann Pugliese, Macomb Township
No one can afford the parking let alone tickets and a pop. -- Ryan Cohee, Davison

Here’s how the broadcast looked as the second half began: