From Crain's Detroit Business:
Alan Ostfield is out as president and CEO of Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc., the umbrella company that manages the Detroit Pistons and three venues.
"We have made some changes as part of an overall realignment of the business side of the organization. We appreciate Alan's contributions but have decided to move in another direction," Phil Norment, a partner with new Palace Sports owner Platinum Equity LLC, said in a statement this afternoon.
"The search for a president of business operations will be completed as quickly as possible. PS&E is also looking to expand its sales force and is in the process of hiring additional sales representatives."
Ostfield has been with the Pistons organization since 2000 but didn't spend very long at the top -- he moved into the role of CEO in Feb. 2010 after Tom Wilson resigned. Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reached Ostfield for comment:
"I knew that when I committed to stay on to get the organization through this transition that this outcome was a distinct possibility," Ostfield said. "This wasn't about me or one particular person.
"It was all about transitioning this organization on to the next phase from the wonderful ownership of Mr. Davidson. And I accomplished that."
In all likelihood, Ostfield's departure shouldn't directly affect the Pistons. Tom Gores made it very clear the day he was introduced that he has big plans for the entertainment side of the PS&E empire, a notion recently reinforced by retaining former Madison Square Garden exec Dave Checketts as an advisor. My hunch is that Ostfield will be replaced with someone more experienced in growing that side of the business.