Comerica Park
Detroit, MI

Being just a mile from one of the most historical and well known stadiums in sports, it was hard for many fans to picture the Detroit Tigers playing anywhere else other than at Tiger Stadium. In 2000 that changed when Comerica Park opened. For more than 15 years before Comerica Park opened there were discussions in Detroit for a new ballpark. By 1988 several sites were identified as possible locations for a ballpark including west of Fox Theater, the northeast edge of downtown Detroit and north of Tiger Stadium in the Briggs community. The Tigers initially favored the site north of Tiger Stadium until the revitalization of Detroit's theater district began. In 1987, the Tiger Stadium Fan Club was formed to support renovating the stadium and developed plans to renovate Tiger Stadium for $30 to $85 million. The Tigers were hesitant of this plan because it would require acquiring ten acres of land and they would have to close the stadium for two years. When Mike Illitch bought the team in 1992 he became committed to having a ballpark built in downtown in order to help revitalize the area. However, that year citizens passed an ordinance that banned spending money on new stadiums.

The Tigers remained committed to building a new ballpark in downtown Detroit. By the mid 1990s Tigers President John McHale said that Tiger Stadium had 10,000 of the best seats in baseball, but was supported by 40,000 of the worst. It was clear that Tiger Stadium lacked many of the amenities of newer parks being constructed at the time. In 1995 the city agreed to help fund a new stadium and in March 1996 voters approved a plan to build a new ballpark in downtown Detroit. Following other ballparks that were built during that decade, the Tigers new ballpark was built mainly of steel and concrete, with a brick exterior. Constructed in downtown Detroit, construction began October 29, 1997. 

For the first time in over 100 years, opening day baseball was played at a different location other than at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. Nearly 40,120 fans filled Comerica Park on opening day, April 11, 2000. Located in downtown Detroit, Comerica Park is among several other prominent buildings including Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions and the Fox Theater. Many parking garages and parking lots are in the surrounding area and fans can easily get to Comerica Park. As one approaches the ballpark, fans see the brick exterior, massive light towers, and defiantly cannot miss the enormous tiger sculptures at many of the entrances. Once inside the ballpark, fans are on the main concourse as the field is 25 feet below street level.
 

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