Detroit Pistons’ BetRivers Backcourt Club draws scathing reviews

The Detroit Pistons have done a lot to reach out to fans this offseason and most of it has been received positively.

They listened to the Teal Brigade who have been begging the team for years to bring back the teal uniforms, which they finally did.

The Detroit Pistons have worked with local rappers to design unique uniforms and courts that fans have mostly been happy with as they flocked to stores to buy jerseys and tickets.

The team even designed a uniform a based on a voicemail rant left by a disappointed fan who was as sick of the same old color scheme as he was sick of losing.

Even the fans like me who didn’t particularly like any of these changes (or care if I’m being honest), these types of gestures show that the franchise is listening to the fan base and wants to tailor an experience to the city and the people who actually cheer for the team night in and night out.

But their most recent announcement didn’t sit well with most fans.

Detroit Pistons: BetRivers Backcourt Club draws criticism

Recently the team announced an addition to Little Caesars Arena that most fans didn’t seem excited about. The BetRivers Backcourt Club will be an exclusive VIP section set behind the hoop on the visitor’s side, adding to the one that is already on the other end.

I had a lot of thoughts about this right away. Firstly, do we really need more VIP sections for a team that is already struggling to fill the arena? These tickets are going to be purchased by big companies, not regular fans who are the ones most supporting this team.

These tickets will often be comps for employees and prospective clients, so we are going to see a whole lot of people sitting back there on their phones while drinking expensive tequila, which doesn’t exactly scream “home court advantage.” Shouldn’t these behind the hoop seats be reserved for diehards who are going to scream their heads off and try to distract the other team?

It’s also not going to look good on TV, as there will be a big empty space behind the hoop. I wasn’t the only one, as the reaction on Twitter was mostly negative:

Those were the ones that were fit to print and didn’t have a string of expletives. But I think this one from our friend Pistons Thoughts may have summarized it the best:

Obviously the team is saying this will improve the fan experience, but the reality is that they are trying to make money, and didn’t ask any real fans about this at all.

Between the rise in the cost of living and ticket prices overall, average fans continue to get squeezed out of home games, which makes for smaller, quieter crowds and less of a home court advantage for your team.

I’d rather the Pistons had designated their two club sections as spaces for the loudest fans or even kids from local sports teams and Boys and Girls Club, which would have been a lot cooler gesture and connected the team even more with the city, but I guess those groups don’t splash out for $20 drinks.