A Guide to Watching an NBA Game in Detroit from Toronto

Basketball game tickets have seen a significant price increase over the years. Once, you could catch a game with stars like Kobe and the Lakers for just $100 in the lower bowl, or see the Spurs' Duncan for as little as $30. Today, a good seat in the lower bowl can cost up to $200. In December, I spontaneously decided to take a trip to watch an NBA game in Detroit. **Tickets:** Lower Bowl Row 3 - $60 per person. **Transportation:** Self-drive. **Accommodation:** One night at The Inn at 97 Winder, near the stadium, with a double room for $200 and free parking. **Group Composition:** Two passionate basketball fans. Given the game's start time of 7:30 PM and end around 10 PM, we chose to stay close to the venue. Here are our key considerations: 1. While staying in Windsor might have been cheaper, we preferred the convenience of avoiding customs after the game and also wanted to visit the Ford museum the next day. 2. Staying further from the venue would have required a longer drive or dealing with the potentially chaotic post-game traffic situation. 3. Detroit's safety concerns are well-documented, so we preferred to minimize our time in the city and return to the hotel promptly. We didn't need to leave early the first day, so I set off after lunch, picked up my friends en route, and after about 3.5 hours from Mississauga, we crossed the border over the Ambassador Bridge. Once in the US, we were in downtown Detroit, checked into the Renaissance Center, and by 6 PM, we were settled at the hotel. Dinner nearby allowed us to enter the stadium early, or we could have purchased food inside. For $60, we secured seats in the third row to watch the Pistons take on the Grizzlies. At the time, Morant was still the Grizzlies' star, known for his dynamic play and dunking ability. The value of player cards I had invested in was a stark reminder of how much player value can fluctuate. If we were watching the Raptors play the Grizzlies at the Maple Leaf Gardens, that seat would have been worth at least $1,000. Watching at the Pistons' home court is still a great way to get a close-up view of your favorite players at a fraction of the cost! The following day, we visited the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation before heading back. (There wasn't much else to do in Detroit.) After lunch, we made our leisurely return to Toronto, arriving before dinner. If you're an NBA fan, enjoy long drives, looking to save money by sitting close to the action, and aren't deterred by Detroit's security concerns, mark your calendar for the next season and let's plan our next trip!