Tom Wilson
From Hoopedia
Tom Wilson enters his 15th season as president of the [[Detroit Pistons]] and 18th as president of Palace Sports & Entertainment, Inc. During his 29-year tenure as the team's top business executive, the Pistons have won three NBA Championships (1989, 1990, 2004) and evolved into one of the best-marketed and most highly-valued teams in professional sports.
Palace Sports & Entertainment has enjoyed unprecedented success over the past three years, becoming the first sports franchise to win three major titles (NBA Championship, Stanley Cup and WNBA Championship) during the 2003-04 sports year. In February 2005, ESPN The Magazine named the Detroit Pistons as the number one franchise in professional sports according to its annual survey.
Elevating Wilson to the presidency in 1992, Managing Partner William Davidson stressed the importance of building a structure within the organization that will have a long-term effect.
Since joining the Pistons in 1977, Wilson has handled all business aspects of not only the Detroit Pistons, but also of Palace Sports & Entertainment, which includes The Palace of Auburn Hills, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Music Festival, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Shock. He was named Employee of the Year for 1990 by Guardian Industries, the Pistons’ and The Palace’s parent company. The award marked the first time Guardian Industries gave the honor to an employee outside of its direct glass manufacturing and fabrication divisions.
The Palace of Auburn Hills was designed largely around Wilson's input and he was responsible for staffing and developing organizational philosophies for the arena. Wilson's ability to create a family atmosphere among his staff and guests has produced entertainment at its best. Enhancing the Palace experience, The Casino Windsor Club was introduced in October 2001 and the Traverse Bay Entertainment Suite Level opened in September 2002 offering fans additional entertainment opportunities before and after every Palace event. The popular Key Bank Club and Vito Anthony Suites were added on the event level of the building in 2005. These new areas allow guests to experience unique views and exciting entertainment possibilities at each Palace event. Further expansion in 2006 yielded the sparkling new Comcast Pavilion and concourse. The concourse level boasts several food and beverage options including Detroit staples Big Boy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sanders Ice Cream and the popular Red Bull Bar. Fans can further enjoy their experience by visiting the upscale ERSA Club and Club 53.
Under his direction, The Palace has earned Arena of the Year awards nine times by Performance magazine, beginning with New Venue of the Year in 1988. The Palace was also named Arena of the Year by Pollstar after receiving that publication’s Best New Concert Venue honors for 1988. Wilson’s direction was instrumental in the acquisition and renovation of DTE Energy Music Theatre as well, and he remains actively involved in the operational phase and the ongoing improvement of the facility.
DTE Energy Music Theatre has been named the nation’s busiest, top-grossing or highest attended outdoor venue by Amusement Business in each of its 15 summers under Wilson’s guidance. It was named Best Outdoor Concert Venue in Pollstar’s 2000 Readers’ Poll and has also been nominated Amphitheatre of the Year during each summer of PS&E ownership. In 1994 Palace Sports & Entertainment assumed management of Meadow Brook Music Festival on the grounds of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
As executive administrator of Palace Sports & Entertainment, Wilson is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operations of its sales, advertising, marketing and broadcasting departments. Wilson directed the company’s purchase of the National Hockey League’s 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning along with the leasehold rights to its arena, the St. Pete Times Forum. He serves as Chief Executive Officer and Governor of the hockey team in addition to his role with the Pistons.
Under Wilson’s guidance, the Detroit Shock of the Women’s National Basketball Association was added to Palace Sports & Entertainment in the summer of 1998. Detroit won its second WNBA Championship in 2006, following a 3-2 series victory over the Sacramento Monarchs. Their 80-75 win over the Monarchs in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena drew 19,671 fans, the second-highest attendance mark in WNBA history. The 2003 season was a banner year for the Shock as they recorded a league-best 25-9 record and were crowned WNBA Champions by defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 2-1 in the WNBA Finals. The Shock set a WNBA attendance record (22,076) in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals and was the first team since 1890 to go from the worst team in a professional sports league to the best team.
A native Detroiter, Wilson joined the Pistons in 1977 as Sales Director and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer shortly thereafter. He graduated from Cass Technical High School and received a Bachelor's of business administration from Wayne State University. Upon graduation, Wilson worked for the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], the Los Angeles Kings, and the Forum.
Wilson serves on the William Beaumont Hospital Board of Trustees and was named the 1994 Executive of the Year by the Oakland Executives Association. He is also active in the Boy Scouts of America, which honored him with The Distinguished Citizen award in 1988, the Board of Directors for Boy's Hope and CATCH. Wilson was also instrumental in the development and implementation of the Pistons/Palace Foundation that has provided more than $20 million in grants and donations to deserving organizations and individuals throughout the state.
In 2002, he was presented with the prestigious Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur Award for the State of Michigan and in 2003 he received the Gerald R. Ford Sportsperson of the Year award from the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame for his contributions to the community.
Wilson and his wife, Linda, reside in Oakland Township with daughter, Brooke, and son Kevin.
