Why will some of Tiger Stadium be dismantled?
Professional sports facilities on the size and scale of Tiger Stadium are unique buildings and difficult to adaptively reuse for purposes other than major league sports. Every vacated stadium the size and scale of Tiger Stadium has been demolished. Right now Detroit has a unique and unprecedented opportunity to preserve and re-use a significant portion of Tiger Stadium. It is unfortunate that some of the stadium most be torn down however it is a sacrifice that will allow Tiger Stadium to be used by generations to come.
What will happen to the land where stadium structure once stood?
The City of Detroit, which owns Tiger Stadium, will solicit proposals from interested developers to build on the property. Once development is completed, the field will be surrounded by mixed-use buildings offering housing, offices, and retail businesses.
What will you do with the field?
Baseball was played at the Tiger Stadium site as early as 1868 and Tiger Stadium should remain a baseball venue. The Conservancy believes Tiger Stadium can best continue its service as a youth and amateur baseball facility. Perhaps some future Willie Horton or Hal Newhouser will get their start in baseball at Tiger Stadium. Our research has indicated there are only five high quality 90-foot base path baseball fields available for youth baseball in the city of Detroit.
Have you considered minor league baseball?
Minor league teams, particularly the independent leagues, aren’t always economically stable. Many go out of business or relocate after only a few seasons. The best independents typically draw around 3000 fans to a game. Remember most minor league teams don’t compete with the 2006 American League champions two miles down the road.
Tiger Stadium played host to legends. Of the Major Leaguers in the Baseball Hall of Fame, 147 out of 198 played at Tiger Stadium. Minor League Baseball is a great institution but it isn’t the same as the Major Leagues. The Conservancy believes the best way to honor Tiger Stadium’s heritage and the legends that once played there is to re-use the facility for amateur baseball so future generations can develop their own love of the game and hone their skills at Tiger Stadium.
What about baseball that didn’t happen at Tiger Stadium, like the old Detroit Wolverines or Detroit’s Negro Leagues teams?
Tiger Stadium will be a place where fans can learn about the complete history of baseball in Detroit. The contributions of Charlie Bennett, Bud Fowler, Dan Brouthers, Turkey Stearnes, and Lady Baldwin are important to baseball’s history in Detroit but those names are obscure to many baseball fans. We hope to change that.
Do you hate the Tigers for moving to Comerica Park?
No. The Detroit Tigers are still the Detroit Tigers. They are the only charter member of the Western League (which became the American League) to still play in their original city. The Tigers have played in Detroit for 112 years and as a Major League franchise for 106 seasons. We think that’s pretty special. Without the Tigers, Detroit couldn’t lay claim to greats like Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Alan Trammell, and Lou Whitaker. And we are pretty high the current Tigers led by Jim Leyland. With a roster with the likes of Magglio Ordonez, Curtis Granderson, Dontrelle Willis, and Justin Verlander what Detroit baseball fan isn’t excited about the Tigers right now?
I’ve heard Tiger Stadium is in a bad neighborhood?
Not true. Corktown is Detroit’s oldest neighborhood and one of its most vibrant. Home values are hight and new businesses like Slows, Ladles bookstore, and Baile Corcaigh restaurant have been very successful. Crime is low in Corktown and surrounding neighborhoods. In fact Corktown is one of the few neighborhoods in Detroit to gain population in the 2000 census. We are happy to report that trend continues not only for Corktown but for much of southwest Detroit.
What has become of other stadiums after Major League teams leave?
Complete demolition. High rise apartments replaced Ebbets Fields. Comiskey Park was demoed for parking. Howard University Hospital is located on the Griffith Stadium site. In Cincinnati, there is an industrial park where Crosley Field once stood. The re-development of Tiger Stadium is a truly historic and precedent setting project.
