Comerica Park Renovations

[buckster1986]

It looks like the scoreboard is getting an overhaul at the expense of Tigerfest but I'll take it.

TigerFest put on hiatus for one year

Renovations to Comerica Park necessitate cancellation

By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 12/14/11 10:30 AM EST

DETROIT -- Progress usually takes time. Sometimes, it takes more than that. This is one of those times for the Tigers at Comerica Park, which is about to get some improvements for 2012.
While Tigers fans can look forward to an improved ballpark atmosphere next season, including upgrades to the enormous left-field scoreboard, the work required to get it done is going to take some patience through the long Michigan winter. Much as the Tigers hoped they could go ahead with TigerFest through it all, it has now become clear they can't hold it at their home. As a result, the club is putting its annual winter warmup event on a one-year hiatus, though their Winter Caravan will still go on as planned.

Read more here:

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/a...s_det&c_id=det

[buckster1986]

TigerFest canceled due to Comerica Park renovations; scoreboard to be updated
BY LYNN HENNING THE DETROIT NEWS

Detroit— Although they are keeping specific details quiet until just before Opening Day, the Tigers are upgrading 11-year-old Comerica Park, with emphasis on dramatic changes to the scoreboard, ahead of their 2012 season.

Those renovations have forced the club to cancel its annual January celebration, TigerFest, because of safety concerns and space problems associated with the remodeling.
Read more here:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20111214/SPORTS0104/112140385/TigerFest-canceled-due-Comerica-Park-renovations-scoreboard-updated?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[CLAUDE G]

If they would have not let Tiger Stadium go to crap and eventually tear it down, we could have had Tiger Fest there.

Its still a good location, if they want to setup temporary tents.

[Gistok]

Couldn't it be held at Ford Field this one time?

Never mind... it seems that the Lion's winning streak is ruining it all for TigerFest fans.


[[I'm kiddin'!).

[wolverine]

It was starting to show a little wear and tear so it's good to hear its getting renovations

[sirrealone]

Compared to those in other parks, the Comerica Park scoreboard was way out of date. That they're updating this is great news!

[buckster1986]

I came up with a short list of things I felt needed to be addressed....

http://woodwardspine.com/2011/08/29/...-still-shines/

[Occurrence]

Forget the scoreboard, if they are going to do some renovations they should put some seats in that aren't so far away from the field. Maybe find a way to put some shade in the place so you don't have to bake in the sun.

Comerica Park is bland and lacks character. I have a hard time believing people actually like that place. I think people have just accepted the fact that they are stuck with this mediocre corporate piece of crap and trick themselves into thinking they enjoy it.

[softailrider]

Forget the scoreboard, if they are going to do some renovations they should put some seats in that aren't so far away from the field. Maybe find a way to put some shade in the place so you don't have to bake in the sun.

Comerica Park is bland and lacks character. I have a hard time believing people actually like that place. I think people have just accepted the fact that they are stuck with this mediocre corporate piece of crap and trick themselves into thinking they enjoy it.

Totally agree. Anybody who thinks Comerica Park is a better place to watch a baseball game then Tiger Stadium was, needs to get their head examined.

[mikefmich]

Totally agree. Anybody who thinks Comerica Park is a better place to watch a baseball game then Tiger Stadium was, needs to get their head examined.

Aye...I've been to exactly one game at Comerica, and it took me 10 yrs to do that. I was about 10 rows up from first base, felt I needed binoculars.

[bartock]

Totally agree. Anybody who thinks Comerica Park is a better place to watch a baseball game then Tiger Stadium was, needs to get their head examined.

Nobody would argue with that. However, I would submit that most people go to Comerica to be at a baseball game moreso than actually watching a baseball game. Then, add in children. The park was designed with families in mind. The opportunity costs are too great to cater to "real" baseball fans that are at the ballpark to watch the game.

[ghettopalmetto]

I came up with a short list of things I felt needed to be addressed....

http://woodwardspine.com/2011/08/29/...-still-shines/

Comerica Park is showing it's age? Well, it is ELEVEN years old, which makes it downright crusty by Detroit standards. And all those obsolete dinosaur buildings in right-center field are just--distracting. Someone get George Jackson on the case....

IMHO, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field--both almost 90 years older than Commercialism Park, offer a far better fan experience. That is, for fans who show up for the baseball and not-so-much the rides.

One of the worst mistakes Detroit made in the past 100 years.

[buckster1986]

It's unfair to compare Comerica to Fenway and Wrigley. In todays ballpark standards it is a little behind in its use of technology. I'm not arguing that those parks offer a better experience. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I loved Tiger Stadium.

[ghettopalmetto]

It's unfair to compare Comerica to Fenway and Wrigley. In todays ballpark standards it is a little behind in its use of technology.

Are you arguing with yourself?

How is it unfair to compare Commercialism Park to Wrigley or Fenway? I mean, Detroit had a contemporary "dinosaur" of a ballpark, and spent millions of public dollars to demolish it and erect the beloved edifice that you now say is "behind", some 11 years later. The only technology you need for baseball is a damned bat and a damned ball. How difficult is that?

Go back to your video games.

[Lombaowski]

Comerica Park is showing it's age? Well, it is ELEVEN years old, which makes it downright crusty by Detroit standards. And all those obsolete dinosaur buildings in right-center field are just--distracting. Someone get George Jackson on the case....

IMHO, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field--both almost 90 years older than Commercialism Park, offer a far better fan experience. That is, for fans who show up for the baseball and not-so-much the rides.

One of the worst mistakes Detroit made in the past 100 years.

I've been to parks all across the country and grew up going to Tiger Stadium. Comerica is the single best investment the city of Detroit has made in forever and it's one of the best parks in baseball. Fenway is a dump, so was Yankee Stadium. "Atmosphere" and "experience" are subjective, some people just love sitting in 100-year-old parks because of some sort of reverence for history. I do like Dodger Stadium, but that place hasn't had to fight the Michigan or Boston winters and it was designed in a way that it could be renovated later.

Tigers Stadium was terrific and quaint, but it also had 20% of it's seats having an obstructed view and it would have cost way too much to renovate. Putting Comerica downtown has paid huge dividends to the city itself, another upside to Comerica.

[softailrider]

I've been to parks all across the country and grew up going to Tiger Stadium. Comerica is the single best investment the city of Detroit has made in forever and it's one of the best parks in baseball. Fenway is a dump, so was Yankee Stadium. "Atmosphere" and "experience" are subjective, some people just love sitting in 100-year-old parks because of some sort of reverence for history. I do like Dodger Stadium, but that place hasn't had to fight the Michigan or Boston winters and it was designed in a way that it could be renovated later.

Tigers Stadium was terrific and quaint, but it also had 20% of it's seats having an obstructed view and it would have cost way too much to renovate. Putting Comerica downtown has paid huge dividends to the city itself, another upside to Comerica.

At Tiger Stadium, the last row in the upper deck was closer to the field then the first row of the upper deck is at Comerica Park. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who thinks Comerica Park is a better place to watch a baseball game then Tiger Stadium was needs to get their head examined.

[1953]

Maybe they can paint it blue and orange and put in awnings and center-field bleachers and move it to Michigan and Trumbull?

[ThisIsForTheHeart]

Hopefully they put in two big scoreboards on each side of the field. I couldn't see the scoreboard during playoff time as i was sitting underneath it.

[DetroitPlanner]

They need more rides. Comerica Park is a pretty pathetic amusement park with only two. They have a bunch of green space in the center. I hope Ilitch puts in some roller coasters!

[sycloneman]

They need more rides. Comerica Park is a pretty pathetic amusement park with only two. They have a bunch of green space in the center. I hope Ilitch puts in some roller coasters!

Kid Rock could throw a concert for the opening of the rides and call it "Bad Ass Bonanza" or something similar.

[corktownyuppie]

Maybe Illitch can install a time machine so that patrons can return back to the era of their choosing and enjoy baseball from the comfort of their own fantasies.

[Hypestyles]

I wonder, what will the ticket prices be, after the renovations are done.. will they go up?

..side note-- anyone know what company provides the popcorn? I find it very salty..

[401don]

While we all miss Tiger Stadium but let's face it attendance was a joke the last 10 years of the park and nobody came from the suburbs much less visiting cities to stay downtown for the weekend and enjoy themselves.
As for Comerica, in many ways it resembles a neighborhood park far more than Tiger Stadium, which was a monstrosity from the outside. Even Trammell said he couldn't believe that big white warehouse was a ballpark the first time he saw it. As for the carnival rides, if it gets a few more little kids away from their video games and into a ballpark, maybe they'll grow up to become baseball fans. You certainly don't have to go anywhere near the rides if you don't want to. As for gouging the fans, you can still go to a ballgame for far less than other major sports and the Tigers offer some great week day prices.
I enjoy getting out of my seat and walking all the way around the park chatting with fans during a game instead of being shoehorned into my Tiger Stadium seat. Just be glad you're not in Rogers Centre in Toronto. Big, ugly concrete dome that's closed most of the year. Built with 400 million taxpayer dollars and turned over to the current team owners for 25 million! Okay, the Labatt's Blue is better, but it is 10 bucks a cup. Mike Ilitch may not be the perfect team owner, but you sure as hell could do a lot worse.

[ismoakrack]

Regardless of your feelings about TS, Comerica Park is in fact total disaster. Look at the end of the thread Comerica Park/Ford Field to see everything that was demolished to make way for the tacky monstrosity. It is sickening.

[CLAUDE G]

As far as Tiger Stadium, yes there where lots of things that where not too good. The steel columns, the small seats, and even the narrow concourses.

However all of those things put together is what made Tiger Stadium a great place to see a baseball game.