>>Do you have any idea how far Pontiac is from downtown<<
Yup, sure do. I live three cities over.
I'm saying that Pontiac is as rough as any downtown at night.
And BTW, that's great that downtown Detroit is safer than it was 10 years ago. It still isn't safe.
A little dangerous is a like a little pregnant.
Actually at night there are plenty of places downtown I'd rather be than in much of Pontiac. Three cities over from Pontiac you live? Hmm.. would that be lily-livered Auburn Hills? To you, downtown Royal Oak probably looks sketchy. 48201 was my zip code for several years not too long ago, and have also lived in Ferndale just 6 blocks north of 8 Mile, and now live in Redford just a couple of stone throws from the city border.
Downtown is developing(re-developing I suppose) now at a pretty good clip. There is an actual night life, and good restaurants are popping up like weeds pushing thru concrete. Yes, it doesn't take long to hit some dicey neighborhoods, but downtown itself is on the upswing.
I have been to downtown Detroit a number of times but they were always during daylight. Mostly for Tigers games. The last time was a few years ago for the Auto show and that would be right at about this time of year. Its always a bit dicey when you are in an unfamiliar place but I didn't get any major bad vibes. Granted on these occasions I was like you for your dance thing part of a large crowd so it might be different if you are by your lonesome or perhaps at night which the Super Bowl will certainly be.