Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
I was at Motor City Casino (one of 3 casinos in downtown Detroit) for dinner Sat night, and took a picture of the Tiger Stadium site. You can see the footprint of Tiger Stadium. The original flag pole still proudly stands in the same spot it always has, in the field of play in center field. It’s hard to believe that a stadium like that was on what is a relatively small parcel of land. In the background, you are looking at the Ambassador Bridge that takes you to Windsor Canada. The river is the Detroit River, and at this point, Canada is actually south of the USA!

 

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

What are they planning on doing with all that land?
From what I understand nothing, I can't foresee anything ever happening with that lot. The only thing happening these days, are pickup baseball games, where you can drop by and just join the game that's going on.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

Thanks for the photo, Keith.

I hear there are plenty of empty lots and unmowed fields in downtown Detroit.
 

munson15

I want winners...
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

A sad photo for me. I love the old ballparks, and miss the distinctive sound that a bat meeting baseball made in the acoustically antiquated Tiger Stadium. In 1999, despite a ruptured achilles tendon suffered that February, I made the pilgrimage to Tiger Stadium for the first and only time. Was really glad I did. The overwhelming sentiment that kept coming to mind was 'why are they tearing this great place down'?
 

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

Munson, glad you made it here to visit the stadium...do you remember which game you went to? I did the same for Yankee Stadium before they closed down. JK, land is cheap in Detroit. Don't worry about the broken bottles, burnt out houses, tires, pit bull dogs, etc, though.

Here are a few pictures from the last time I was in Tiger Stadium from the final season of 1999.




 

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

Thanks for the photo, Keith.

I hear there are plenty of empty lots and unmowed fields in downtown Detroit.

JK, if you're looking to invest in a lot in Detroit, I head this one could be had for about $50...it's a great fixer upper...could be ready to move in by Dec of next year...once you get rid of the rats and the squatters!

 

munson15

I want winners...
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

I went to see Baltimore for a weekend series that year in May. I even made it out of the place with a discarded usher's chair as a souvenir, painted in the bright blue color they were using for many of the seats at the time.:cheers
 

Almost Allright

GO Bucks!!!
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

Been there 25-30 times but the first thought that popped into my head seeing those photos is all the times i wasn't there. Many a childhood evening spent listening to Ernie Harwell call the game on WJR.
 

markinsac

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

It's a shame they tore down that park. It could have been turned into a national park, a reminder of our past. And even the Tigers could have played one or two games a year there. What good did it do to tear it down?
 

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

From: "Force Out: How Detroit Lost Tiger Stadium"


p.s., you can see the Motor City Casino in the background, where I took my picture.
 

mrbowling300

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

WHO TORE THIS STADIUM DOWN AND WHY DID THEY DO IT? AND WHERE WERE THE BASEBALL-LOVING PEOPLE OF DETROIT?

markinsac, there was a big movement to save the stadium for 10 years until they tore it down. Even Ernie Harwell, the late Tiger broadcaster was willing to donate his entire baseball collection if they opened a museum there. There were plenty of ideas as to what to do w/ it, but none were practical, and more importantly, no one was willing to invest in it. The City of Detroit was the owner of the Stadium. They claimed the vacant stadium was costing $500,000 a year to maintain. In the 10 years since it closed, it was deteriorating, and was way beyond repair. The Tiger Stadium Conservancy tried raising money, but it wasn't enough. They had no further choice but to demolish it.
 

munson15

I want winners...
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

Sad, but true, 300. Who among us wouldn't want to visit a preserved Ebbets Field or Polo Grounds? I feel fortunate to have seen baseball live in old Comiskey Park, Tiger Stadium, the original Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, etc.
 

markinsac

EOG Dedicated
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

I can agree it would cost $500,000 a year to maintain this stadium. That's why i suggested turning into a national park, charging admission fees to view it or to use it to play baseball games and even suggest the Tigers play there once or twice a year generating the funds to maintain it. Or why not the Tigers pay the half mil? With a payroll that they dish, what's a half mil to them?
 

thedegen

EOG Enthusiast
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

i am from south of detroit. i drive by that field alot. i have a vile of dirt from the infield. was by there the other day and it wont be long before it looks like the rest of the city....a piece of shit.
 

munson15

I want winners...
Re: Site of Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI

I can agree it would cost $500,000 a year to maintain this stadium. That's why i suggested turning into a national park, charging admission fees to view it or to use it to play baseball games and even suggest the Tigers play there once or twice a year generating the funds to maintain it. Or why not the Tigers pay the half mil? With a payroll that they dish, what's a half mil to them?

+1
 
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