The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan is home to a number of different venues that a vacationer may be interested in. Just outside the Detroit area is Auburn Hills, Michigan, which is home to the Palace of Auburn Hills Arena. The building is a sports and entertainment venue for local residents and visitors. The arena was opened in 1988 as a home for the Detroit Pistons, an NBA team. The arena has also hosted the Detroit Shock of the WNBA. It used to be the home for the Detroit Vipers, an IHL team. However, the team ended in 2001. It was home to Detroit Safari of the CISL and the Detroit Fury of the AFL, also.

The Detroit Piston's never had a real home, until the 1988 building of the Palace. Before that they were in Olympia Stadium and Cobo Arena, which were both undersized for the NBA team. Bill Davidson, the owner of the Joe Louis Arena for the Detroit Red Wings refused to share his space with the team. For a time the team was at the Pontiac Silverdome, but it did not offer great sight lines for basketball viewing. Eventually the team was able to get $70 million in private funding for the Palace of Auburn Hills.

It is more than a home for the basketball team, though. Each year there are concerts held at the Palace. The first concert at the arena was Sting in 1988. David Lee Roth, Pink Floyd, and Crosby, Stills and Nash followed suit. The Palace is rich with history as it was the site of an assassination attempt on Jimmy Page, the Led Zeppelin guitarist in 1995. The Cure recorded a live album at the arena in 1992 and Kiss also recorded their third live album in 1992 at the arena. Phish was at the arena in 1997, as well as 1995, 1996, and 1999.

The Palace of Auburn Hills hosted WCW World War 3 for pay per view in 1997 and 1998. The WWF's SummerSlam was also at the arena. Madonna broadcasted live for her HBO Drowned World Tour and TNA's Slammiversary was held at the arena in 2009.

For many years artists and sporting events have been held at the arena. In previous years and coming soon will be acts like Van Halen, Rod Stewert, and Aerosmith. The arena tries to keep popular concerts and events at the palace.

The capacity for the arena is 22,000 people and up to 23,000 for concerts. There are luxury suites on site, 180 in all. Most of them are leased throughout the year despite the large number. Concessions located at the Palace include such items as fresh baked cookies, chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, pizza, Philly steaks, roasted almonds, and BBQ chicken sandwiches. Bratwurst, kettle corn, fresh popped popcorn, hot dogs, and Italian sausage are also available for food items. In fact the Palace of Auburn Hills pretty much has any type of food and drink a guest to an event could want.