Future late-night talk show host Craig Kilborn served as the team's radio play-by-play announcer.

On May 24, 1982, Continental Basketball Association (CBA) spokesperson Fran Greenburg announced that Detroit, Michigan had been awarded an expansion franchise by the league's board of directors.

A week later Barnes was suspended by the team for the rest of the season after missing two scheduled practices according to Spirits general manager Sam Washington who told the UPI, "I suspended him the rest of the season so he won't be obligated to be at practice and games and we won't be obligated to look for him [...] He's complained about the leg since the surgery, and we set up a program for him [...] He went two or three times.

Barnes responded telling the UPI, "I was at the house taking care of some other things [...] Sam [Washington] and I are friends and there are no hard feelings".

[6] In spite of this team vice president Robb Larson announced on July 3, 1985, they were close to finalizing a lease to use the University of Detroit's Calihan Hall.