I've made many visits to the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan, mostly for Detroit Pistons basketball games and I have always been impressed with the quality and value that I got for my money. Here's why...


SEATING & VIEW (A)

One of the best things about The Palace is the great view they offer from every section. I have had seats as far as the back corner two rows from the last to 8 rows behind the court and many others in between so I can give a genuine account of what the seating is like from many perspectives. Like I said, all of the seats are really good, unlike many stadiums I have been in where you'd need binoculars to see the action from the farther sections. You'll definitely get great value for the farther seats and fair value for most of the rest. The arena is built in a way that the rows go up steep so that the people in front of you are totally out of your way--their heads are below your knees when everyone is seated.

The seats themselves are very comfortable to sit in. The leg room can be a little bit cramped but you have to be pretty tall (over 6'5") to really notice.

ARCHITECTURE (A+)

It's built so that it is very easy to find your way to your seats. There is a hallway that runs around the arena in a circle and the staircases to each section are clearly labelled. The food stands and memorabilia shops are located on the outside wall surrounding the interior. There is also a restaurant called "The Terrace" which has good food but the prices can be high.

FOOD (A+)

Wow! The food at the Palace is great. There are many options to choose from such as the variety concession stand which has steak sandwiches--chicken fingers--fries--chili fries--hamburgers--& hot dogs, a Dominoes Pizza, ice cream stands, and other stands that specialize in things like pretzels or nachos, etc. I personally recommend the Philly steak sandwich and the chili-cheese fries. The "ice-cream dots" are good as well. The prices are a little bit high but that's normal for a place like a stadium. Anyone should be able to find something they'll enjoy.

STORES (A+)

There are a few shops in the main hallway for merchandise like shirts and jerseys, etc. The prices are not bad-- They may be a dollar or two more than major retail stores but some of the things are hard to find outside of the Palace. You can buy programs at the front as well. The best store in the building is "The Palace Lockerroom". You can find a large selection of jerseys, the newest team gear, posters, pennants, and other fan related merchandise.

ATMOSPHERE/EXPERIENCE (A+)

My experience at the Palace has been for sporting events so I can't comment on concerts specifically. For sports events the sound in there is great. With even just 3/4 of the stadium full the sound travels well and the place can get very loud. Commentators and players from out of town have rated the Palace as one of the loudest arenas to play in. The hallways are filled with great food options and plenty of fan shops as well as TV monitors that cover the game everywhere you look so you don't ever miss any of the action. For the Pistons, they go all out in making the experience fun for everyone every game. Prizes are tossed into the crowd at timeouts and in between quarters, the announcer is enthusiastic, and the jumbo video screen always gets the fans involved in the action.

PARKING (B+)

There are plenty of parking spots so you'll always find one fairly easily. One thing to note however, if you leave with the crowd you might have to wait in a line to get out for a while. I usually just stay in there and let the rush go by before I leave. Parking is generally pretty good at the Palace.


CONCLUSION

If you have a chance to go to a sporting event at the Palace you will have a terrific time. The Palace makes it a total entertainment experience from the minute you get in the building to the time you leave. A great place for a game.

Recommended: Yes

Parking Availability: Very Light Traffic