The Detroit Pistons are gearing up for the 2025 Pistons Pride Night at Little Caesars Arena on March 28 in a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Imagine rainbow colors dancing across the jumbotron, fans in Pride jerseys cheering alongside the world’s best athletes, and the energetic buzz of celebration rising above the usual game-day roar. As the Pistons Dancers prepare for a special halftime performance, a sea of fans cheers them on from a dedicated Pride section, creating a vibrant pocket of community within the larger arena experience. This is Pistons Pride Night, where sport and identity celebration merge into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Kevin Heard, founder of the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce, noted that this year marks the 11th Pride Night event the Chamber has hosted, a partnership that began at The Palace of Auburn Hills and has grown significantly since the team’s move downtown. “The great thing about the Pistons’ allyship is that they have put their money where their mouth is,” Heard said. “They are really engaging inside of the community and meeting people where they are because they really want to not only bring people to the game but also to impact the community overall.”
Over the years, the event has transformed from a simple game night into a full-fledged celebration that combines sports with purposeful community engagement.
A special package for a special night
This year’s Pride Night features an enhanced experience and a special Pride Party seating area, a dedicated section where attendees can enjoy all-you- can-eat hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and non-alcoholic beverages (with alcohol available for purchase).Pride package purchases also include a special Pistons Pride jersey.
The Pride Night package, available at pistons.com/pride, also includes a special Pride-themed halftime performance, the opportunity to shoot a free throw on the Pistons court after the game and a donation to a local charity. The dedicated seating area creates a unique opportunity for community connection, and as Heard notes, the ticket package offers a great deal of value, especially compared with pricing related to other professional sporting events.
More than just a game
Pride Night extends beyond basketball with pre-game and post-game activities designed to build community connections.
“There is normally a networking event that happens at Heritage Hall prior to the tip-off,” Heard noted. “So people can come early and network there.”
The celebration continues after the final buzzer with free entry to 215 West in Ferndale for an unofficial afterparty. “We’re really excited that our partners have opened up the doors to continue the celebration all night long after the end of the game,” Heard said.
Fans can also look forward to a halftime performance by the Pistons Dancers. Community members have the opportunity to participate alongside the dance team, creating a unique moment of visibility and celebration during the game.
Beyond symbolism: authentic engagement
In a climate where some organizations and corporate entities have scaled back LGBTQ+ initiatives, the Pistons remain steadfast in their support.
“The Detroit Pistons are proud to support the LGBTQ+ community through our annual Pride Night, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive environment for all,” said Melanie Harris, Detroit Pistons president of business operations. “We believe in using the power of basketball to unite and create a space where everyone is embraced for who they are.”
Heard believes basketball serves as a universal connector that transcends differences. “Regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, everyone should know what basketball is or have seen it, have played it, have walked by a basketball hoop,” he said. “And I think that’s something that we all can kind of be a part of.”
While Pride Night is a uniquely visible example of the Pistons’ commitment to inclusivity, the organization engages with the local LGBTQ+ community throughout the year.
“The Pistons have always been very consistent,” Heard said. “They actively seek out different organizations and different cultures and celebrate them all. Every year for the past six years, we’ve hosted an LGBTQ+ community round table around August right before the actual schedule drops for the following upcoming year. And they really want to say, ‘How can we make this better? How can we be integrated in other activities that you all are doing?’”
This collaboration extends to other community events as well. “Last year at the Chamber’s Colours Pride Gala, we had Hooper, their mascot, come and hype up the crowd,” said Heard. “And the year before that, we had the Pistons Dancers come and they took pictures with everyone.”
The organization demonstrates a broader commitment to economic empowerment within the LGBTQ+ community, as well. For example, Sterling Littlejohn, the Pistons’ manager of community and social responsibility, sits on the Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “I’m really happy to see that they’re not only all in on hosting a Pride Night, they actually want to see the LGBT community grow and expand as far as business acumen and access to capital is concerned,” Heard said.
Another example of the Pistons’ commitment to the LGBTQ+ community is its ongoing collaboration with The Phluid Project, a gender-free clothing brand founded by Michigan native Rob Smith.
Smith, who grew up in Grosse Pointe before launching a successful career in fashion, partnered with the Pistons to create an all-gender apparel line called “Basketball for All” that includes sweatshirts, T-shirts and hats.
“It’s about changing people’s hearts and minds in a place where there is rampant transphobia and homophobia,” Smith told BTL about the collaboration in 2024. “If there is some way to have sports open up to show inclusion and acceptance for all — not just queer folks — I think it’s a game changer that sets the stage for many organizations to follow.”
Smith praised the Pistons organization for their authentic commitment to inclusion. “The team has been amazing. They have really been leaning into wanting to do what’s right and showing whatreal inclusion looks like for queer folks,” he said. “Whatever is going on with their season, the thing is that winning comes in many forms, as far as I’m concerned. And they are winning in this space of inclusion and celebration.”
As the Pistons prepare to host their 2025 Pride Night, the event stands as a testament to the organization’s enduring commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion — a slam dunk for the LGBTQ+ community in Southeast Michigan.
This content is made possible through our partnership with the Detroit Pistons. Follow the team and buy tickets atnba.com/pistons.
Topics: News Michigan
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