Magic, Pistons will square off at Ice Palace

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 19, 2000

The NBA will come to the Ice Palace for the first time on Oct. 13, when the Magic faces the Pistons in a preseason game.

"We'd like to do one a year if we could," Ice Palace president Ron Campbell said Tuesday. "Obviously, we're trying to make this a full and busy venue with all sorts of options for the community."

Campbell said the teams have played the past few seasons at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., which is controlled by the Magic's ownership group. Palace Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Pistons and Lightning, controls the Ice Palace lease.

"Basically, it's a Detroit Pistons home game," Campbell said. "It's just an agreement we've had (with the Magic) to bring professional basketball to this venue."

Tropicana Field, under the names Florida Suncoast Dome and the ThunderDome, was the Tampa Bay area's previous NBA exhibition host.

Michael Jordan had 22 points as the Bulls beat the Sonics 109-103 on Oct. 18, 1990. The Magic beat the Pistons 103-88 in 1991. The Knicks beat the Lakers 93-77 in 1993, and the Hawks beat the Rockets 119-113 in 1995.

While the Bulls-Sonics game attracted 25,710 fans, the Hawks and Rockets drew 5,498. With the Magic's expected signings of free agents Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady, Campbell is sure the game will be well-attended. "I anticipate with the new signings it will be an exciting night and a big draw," he said.

Ticket information likely will be released next week.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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