Does anyone in here consider Comerica Park home?

**dtowncitylover** · October-16-10, 01:06 PM

Wow some people have large somethings up their you-know-what. Of course, I went to only 3 games at Tiger Stadium. Barely remember anything.

I've only been to one other MLB stadium and that is US Cell in Chicago where the Sox play...compared to that stadium, Comerica Park is MUCH better. There's nothing to see at US Cell. There's no statues, skyline, or "flashy" things some people here might see. It's very bland.

I think people here might support sport venues more than they actually support the team.

**jackie5275** · October-16-10, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by LeannaM

I I think at some point building a new stadium becomes the smartest thing an owner could do, even if the new park doesn't have the same nostalgia as the old one.

Except in the most recent cases going back to the late 90s to now, it's not the owners who build them. They're usually financed by a taxing authority like what we have here.

**jackie5275** · October-16-10, 02:18 PM

As I've said before when the subject comes up, my dad & were at a game at Tiger Stadium in June, 1999. He suddenly died a week later from a massive stroke. That game was the last place & time I saw my dad alive, so Tiger Stadium has special meaning to me for that reason. However, not for that reason alone. Eastside Al enumerated many that I share with him.

The one thing for me that particularly stands out between the old & new is the class distinction. The super rich get the best viewing, most comfortable seats in the stadium which are on the lower deck. Also on the lower deck are the carnival attractions, the bars, more variety of food, more & better souvenier stands, usher service, more vendors with a bigger variety of wares, etc. You get the idea. When you were at Tiger Stadium, it didn't matter where you sat. Upper or lower deck, the fans were treated pretty much as equals. At Comerica Park, the haves with the higher priced tickets get so much more than those with lower priced tickets. It's like a fraternity. That's something that has always bothered me about Comerica Park. Even if I get tickets in a high priced area from StubHub, the ushers know I'm not a regular to that section and won't give me the same service. They'll stand at the top of the section and point to where my seat is. The regulars get escorted to their seat & get their seat wiped off before sitting down. Everyone should get the same service no matter which section or deck they get seats.

**detroittrader** · October-16-10, 04:22 PM

Here is "Ernie Harwell Park" today. Yes, I would rather see a game there, but I can't. So I go to Comerica because I like MLB and just being at the games.

**Gistok** · October-16-10, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by jackie5275

Except in the most recent cases going back to the late 90s to now, it's not the owners who build them. They're usually financed by a taxing authority like what we have here.

You'll find that most stadiums are publicly owned... even if they're partly privately financed, as Comerica Park was.... No team owner would want to pay the high city taxes of actually OWNING a stadium.

**Gistok** · October-16-10, 06:44 PM

[quote=jackie5275;190741]As I've said before when the subject comes up, my dad & were at a game at Tiger Stadium in June, 1999. He suddenly died a week later from a massive stroke. That game was the last place & time I saw my dad alive, so Tiger Stadium has special meaning to me for that reason. However, not for that reason alone. Eastside Al enumerated many that I share with him.

Wow Jackie.... lost my Dad same year, same month, same affiction... on the 16th.

**DetBill** · October-16-10, 06:46 PM

Been to Comerica tons of times,, I like it,, . No , its not Tiger Stadium but life does change. Ive been to other parks , was in Fenway two months ago.. Fun stadium but quite frankly, a dump., maybe thats the charm.. Compared to other cities new stadiums I have been to [[ Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Baltimore) I think its quite fine, brings lots of people downtown also which is always good.

**Gistok** · October-16-10, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

Wow some people have large somethings up their you-know-what. Of course, I went to only 3 games at Tiger Stadium. Barely remember anything.

I've only been to one other MLB stadium and that is US Cell in Chicago where the Sox play...compared to that stadium, Comerica Park is MUCH better. There's nothing to see at US Cell. There's no statues, skyline, or "flashy" things some people here might see. It's very bland.

I think people here might support sport venues more than they actually support the team.

I believe that the DISLIKE-ABILITY factor for Comerica Park is directly proportional to how dear to their hearts Tiger Stadium was... Aesthetics actually play a minor role...

**1KielsonDrive** · October-16-10, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

I believe that the DISLIKE-ABILITY factor for Comerica Park is directly proportional to how dear to their hearts Tiger Stadium was... Aesthetics actually play a minor role...

I disagree. I think new ballparks, for most part, are too carnival-like in their atmosphere. The stands are too far from the playing field. It doesn't help that I've grown disillusioned with big time pro sports. I still go to college and small pro venues more often: Fisher Field [[UoM), Old College Field [[MSU), Olds Field [[Lugnuts), Fifth Third [[Mudhens). I always liked the overhang of the upper deck at Tiger Stadium. Also, the centerfield bleachers. You could carry on a conversation with the outfielders.

**reddog289** · October-17-10, 02:45 AM

While reading this I am reminded of the many games I attended at Tiger Stadium, and for the 20 years I went to the Corner to see the Tigers play I enjoyed it. But when the new stadium was announced I knew I had to go to another park to see the Tigers.
I took many photos of both during that time.Tiger Stadium closing down and Comerica being built.I was waiting to see the new park, Yet sad that I would never get to watch the Tigers at the Corner after that final out back in 99.
Well after 10 seasons and about 40 trips to the CoPa or whatever it is called. I still need time to adjust to the place.I don't hate it. Yet it's not as warm as the old park, don't have the smell, and the carney rides lasted with me about 2 seasons.
I work afternoons, which is something I didn't while the Tigers were at Tiger Stadium. I try to follow them,Yet its not the same all around.The last game I was at was 2 seasons ago, Free Tix, Tiger Den.Got treated good by the usher.Had a good time, Yet did encounter the parking scam.And got the hell outta that lot.Something I never dealt with at the Corner.As well as the time at Comerica when I was "accused" of hitting another patron which I didn't.
All said I can say I enjoyed Tiger Stadium more, Yet it is time to move on. I doubt that Comerica will last as long as Tiger Stadium, But I might as well get used to it if I wanna see the Tigers play live.

**EastsideAl** · October-17-10, 12:36 PM

Does anyone have any architectural insight as to why they built Comerica the way they did? I would've thought that Tiger Stadium would be, if nothing else, a very good example of what makes a great and beloved ballpark. I think a lot of us would have been a lot happier with something more like a post-less Tiger Stadium with modern amenities, more like what the Yankees did with the new Yankee Stadium, than what we got, whatever its virtues [[like I said above, the place really isn't THAT bad.).

So, while I know it has to be somewhat different from the old stadium, every time I've gone to Comerica I've wondered why it had to be SO different.

I guess the things that strike me most are these. Why was the upper deck built so far back from the field, with so much exposed lower deck stands beyond it? Why no real roof for the upper deck, so almost all fans are left fully exposed to the elements? Why is the slope in a lot of the lower deck so slight that you often can't see clearly over the head of the person sitting in front of you? Why in the world were the walls built so deep up the alleys? [[A situation they eventually had to "fix" with that awful cyclone fence that puts left field spectators even further from the action and leaves the old flagpole out of play.)

I suppose I understand why they built the park south-facing, with that enormous gap in center and right fields. It gives the fans that skyline view, which is one of the place's best features. But it can seem to 'deaden' the crowd response, especially for those of us used to the more hothouse atmosphere of the fully enclosed old ballpark. Worse than that though, for most of the summer it makes seats along the third baseline unbearable during day games, and even for the first several innings of night games, with thousands of fans baking and staring directly into the sun, as well as messing up some hitters and fielders. This is the main reason why most baseball fields are built facing northeast.

Oh, and just something that nags the hell out of me, who decided on that silly left field corner of the upper deck that blocks out part of the scoreboard for most of the stadium?

gdogslim · October-17-10, 02:16 PM

I call it tiger stadium still, just like i call dte music center, pine knob.
i don't give props to corporations when the taxpayer really funds these things via bonds.

**1KielsonDrive** · October-18-10, 03:04 PM

You can tell by the status and condition of the corner that the City of Detroit had multiple options of developers and huge demand to redevelop the corner to a tax generating business. Like everything else Detroit City Hall does, they ram things through out of spite and ignorance, alienating the very people they should be wooing. Let's see.... Little Harry's, Madison-Lennox, Old City Hall....................... feel free to add to this list......

**Claude G.** · October-18-10, 03:22 PM

Tiger Stadium was much better.

Although I am forced to attend Tiger Games at Comerica Park, its nothing more than a tolorated annoyance.

Im personally waiting for the day they tear the place down and build a new stadium back at Michigan and Trumbull.

**Ray1936** · October-18-10, 04:20 PM

On the other hand, forty years from now this argument will not even exist. The paying public then will have no memory whatsoever of Tiger Stadium except in a few local history books.

Of course, the franchise itself may well have moved to Omaha by that time.

**Gistok** · October-18-10, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Tiger Stadium was much better.

Although I am forced to attend Tiger Games at Comerica Park, its nothing more than a tolorated annoyance.

Im personally waiting for the day they tear the place down and build a new stadium back at Michigan and Trumbull.

Maybe you should watch it on TV instead...

I hope that something is built on the former Tiger Stadium site, or better yet it becomes a permanent park with ballfield [[and maybe some commercial space).

Tiger Stadium was the worst thing EVER for the nearby Corktown neighborhood. I remember my first visit there very vividly in the 70s. We parked in a weed filled "unmowed" Corktown neighborhood empty lot, between 2 houses... very ugly. There were empty lots all over the neighborhood... surrounded by decent housing. I thought to myself... "I wonder if the neighbors who still live here like having 81 days a year of gridlock in their neighborhood... and the continual destruction by speculators of buying up houses, just to tear them down for parking in ugly weed choked empty lots.

Once the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, infill housing started to fill the scarred landscape that was that portion of Corktown closest to Tiger Stadium... and the neighborhood started to heal its' scars.

Tiger Stadium is looooong gooooone.... time to move on...

**Detroitnerd** · October-18-10, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Tiger Stadium is looooong gooooone.... time to move on...

Yeah, but the anti-democratic, dishonest, scare-the-public-and-make-em-pay sort of tactics that hornswoggled us into a bummer of a new stadium are alive and well. I figger that's good enough reason to remember how we got fooled in the first place. ...

**Vic_doucette** · October-18-10, 06:08 PM

I've got a disability that impairs my mobility to a degree. For that reason, I find things to like about Comerica Park. It's a great deal easier for me to get into, around and out of the stadium. The seats are more comfortable and some of the other amenities are pleasing. I like the statues -- especially Ernie -- and like the way the city skyline is shown off from inside the park.

On the other hand, I hate the "theme park" atmosphere of the place. I hate that most of the seats are so far from the field as well. A baseball-loving journalist pal of mine took pictures from the right field, upper-deck part of Tiger Stadim and of the same area in Comerica Park, using the same camera and lens. He told me that based on his photos, you were closer to the field in the back row of the right field upper deck at Tiger Stadium than you were in the front row of the same area in Comerica Park.

The lack of shade is a real turn-off as well, as I sunburn really easily. My wife won't go to a day game at the park; she says it's way too hot in the seats for her.

All things considered, I liked Tiger Stadium a thousand times better.

Don't even get me started on Joe Louis Arena. I'd be glad to push the button to blow the place up if I ever got the chance.

**softailrider** · October-18-10, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

On the other hand, forty years from now this argument will not even exist. The paying public then will have no memory whatsoever of Tiger Stadium except in a few local history books.

Of course, the franchise itself may well have moved to Omaha by that time.

Not if they continue to draw 2 millions people a year in spite of that abortion of a ballpark they play in.

DetroitDad · October-18-10, 08:06 PM

Comerica Park is a nice urban "neighborhood" ballpark. All that is missing is the neighborhood.

**1KielsonDrive** · October-18-10, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Maybe you should watch it on TV instead...

I hope that something is built on the former Tiger Stadium site, or better yet it becomes a permanent park with ballfield [[and maybe some commercial space).

Tiger Stadium was the worst thing EVER for the nearby Corktown neighborhood. I remember my first visit there very vividly in the 70s. We parked in a weed filled "unmowed" Corktown neighborhood empty lot, between 2 houses... very ugly. There were empty lots all over the neighborhood... surrounded by decent housing. I thought to myself... "I wonder if the neighbors who still live here like having 81 days a year of gridlock in their neighborhood... and the continual destruction by speculators of buying up houses, just to tear them down for parking in ugly weed choked empty lots.

Once the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, infill housing started to fill the scarred landscape that was that portion of Corktown closest to Tiger Stadium... and the neighborhood started to heal its' scars.

Tiger Stadium is looooong gooooone.... time to move on...

Listen, when you lose a long time friend, it may be time to move on, but you never forget them or stop talking about them. The same principal applies here. Time to move on, by itself, makes a pretty poor argument. If there had been a compelling reason for a new stadium and a sensible way to pay for it without it coming out of our [[the taxpayers) pockets to subsidize a billionaire, I might've gotten behind it. As a result, they've lost a lot of loyal customers/fans. Yes, they still draw, so the disconnect isn't readily apparent. I've made it a point to disconnect the next two generations of my family from the Tigers, Red Wings and Little Caesars. Illitch is a master at slopping from the public trough. If not for the whole Tiger Stadium 'preservation', followed by his Madison-Lennox 'preservation', [[Mike Illitch is a 'preservationist', is he not?) I, and the succeeding two generations of my family, might be Tigers, Fox Theatre, Red Wings, Little Caesars fans to this day.

**Gistok** · October-18-10, 10:02 PM

1Kielsondrive... the word "preservationist" likely won't be used to ever label him again in Mike Ilitch's remaining lifetime... at least not by the National Trust for Historic Preservation... and probably not by the Theatre Historical Society.... and certainly not a lot of DYES forumers.

I also agree that he feeds at the public trough... but compared to sports owers in other cities, his "taxing" effect on folks in Wayne County is much less than other cities. I do know that he got some state money set aside for recreational uses, as well as a Wayne County liquor by the glass tax and hotel/motel room tax... and city funds for infrastructure. But I bet he's either at or near the bottom nationally when it comes to taking your taxpayer dollars by sports franchise owners... at least until the present...

**1KielsonDrive** · October-19-10, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

1Kielsondrive... the word "preservationist" likely won't be used to ever label him again in Mike Ilitch's remaining lifetime... at least not by the National Trust for Historic Preservation... and probably not by the Theatre Historical Society.... and certainly not a lot of DYES forumers.

I also agree that he feeds at the public trough... but compared to sports owers in other cities, his "taxing" effect on folks in Wayne County is much less than other cities. I do know that he got some state money set aside for recreational uses, as well as a Wayne County liquor by the glass tax and hotel/motel room tax... and city funds for infrastructure. But I bet he's either at or near the bottom nationally when it comes to taking your taxpayer dollars by sports franchise owners... at least until the present...

In relative terms, as far as tax dollars are concerned, you've probably pegged him about right. I keep seeing his Illitch Charities signs along I-94. As I've asked before, what exactly has his foundation done that's of significant importance? This question is directed at all posters.

**CLAUDE G** · October-19-10, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Maybe you should watch it on TV instead...

I hope that something is built on the former Tiger Stadium site, or better yet it becomes a permanent park with ballfield [[and maybe some commercial space).

Tiger Stadium was the worst thing EVER for the nearby Corktown neighborhood. I remember my first visit there very vividly in the 70s. We parked in a weed filled "unmowed" Corktown neighborhood empty lot, between 2 houses... very ugly. There were empty lots all over the neighborhood... surrounded by decent housing. I thought to myself... "I wonder if the neighbors who still live here like having 81 days a year of gridlock in their neighborhood... and the continual destruction by speculators of buying up houses, just to tear them down for parking in ugly weed choked empty lots.

Once the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, infill housing started to fill the scarred landscape that was that portion of Corktown closest to Tiger Stadium... and the neighborhood started to heal its' scars.

Tiger Stadium is looooong gooooone.... time to move on...

If Tiger Stadium does get turned into a public park with a baseball field, I'll be there to help build it.

As far as Tiger Stadium scaring the neighborhood, there was baseball being played there at the same time many of those homes where being built.

Sure some homes had to come down due to parking, but thats the citys fault for not having a good public transportation system.. If we had mass transit, people would use it to attend the game, just like we use the people mover to attend the wings games.

You still got the same problem at Comerica Park with Parking, only difference is that Illitch bought all the property himself, jacked up all the prices, paved the lots, installed fance fences and planted a few trees to make it all look pretty.

**jackie5275** · October-19-10, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

As far as Tiger Stadium scaring the neighborhood, there was baseball being played there at the same time many of those homes where being built.

Sure some homes had to come down due to parking, but thats the citys fault for not having a good public transportation system.

Originally Posted by Gistok

Tiger Stadium was the worst thing EVER for the nearby Corktown neighborhood. I remember my first visit there very vividly in the 70s. We parked in a weed filled "unmowed" Corktown neighborhood empty lot, between 2 houses... very ugly. There were empty lots all over the neighborhood... surrounded by decent housing. I thought to myself... "I wonder if the neighbors who still live here like having 81 days a year of gridlock in their neighborhood... and the continual destruction by speculators of buying up houses, just to tear them down for parking in ugly weed choked empty lots.

Once the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, infill housing started to fill the scarred landscape that was that portion of Corktown closest to Tiger Stadium... and the neighborhood started to heal its' scars.

I have to disagree with you both. Claude-My mother grew up on Harrison, not far from Tiger Stadium in the 30s & 40s. Her house was built in 1870 as were many in the area. This neighborhood was pretty well established by the time the Tiger Stadium was built. I don't think many homes were being built while baseball was played. They were already there.
Gistok-I really don't think Tiger Stadium being in that area caused the neighborhood to be scarred. My mother has memories of it being an active neighborhood. There were no problems with people walking to their homes or to the street car after a ballgame through her neighborhood. Granted the 70s were alot different from the 40s, but I think to say Tiger Stadium was the worst thing EVER for Corktown isn't totally accurate. Tiger Stadium/Navin Field was there for baseball for 100 yrs. Over the course of a century there's opportunity for good & bad in a neighborhood. I think it experienced both. It wasn't a detriment to the neighborhood the entire time it was there. I have to believe that some of that scarring is attributable to the main things that have scarred other neighborhoods, the 67s riots, white flight, lack of city services, etc.