Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Tiger Stadium on the Ropes
Detroit News reports that seven years after a century of baseball ended at Tiger Stadium, money for its upkeep and hopes it can ever be saved are running dry. Since the Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000, the city has paid the team's owner, Mike Ilitch, an estimated $2.5 million for maintenance and security at the old park. The city received ideas for use including plan by a St. Louis developer to retool the stadium into lofts and rentals, and a separate proposal to use the space for a sports, residential and office complex featuring condos, stores, a scaled-down baseball diamond and volleyball courts were the best received, but both failed in negotiation with the city. Now it looks as if the park that opened in 1912 and has been known as Navin Field & Briggs Stadium has reached the end of the line.
Tiger Stadium's age and unique shape, crooks and crannies make it impractical to renovate. Peter Comstock Riley, a partner in preservationist group Michigan & Trumbull LLC, alleges that city officials long ago made up their minds to raze the park.
Photos courtesy Library of Congress: Briggs Stadium, Kids at a ball game at Briggs Stadium and Raising the flag at the start of the ball game at Briggs Stadium by John Vachon (1942?, LC-USW3-007071-D, LC-USW3-007089-D , LC-USW3-007093-D) |
LCI Web Development Add a Link
|
Arts & Entertainment :: Business :: Community :: Food & Dining :: Homes & Real Estate :: Lodging & Travel :: Media & Internet :: Recreation :: Shopping
Dig Michigan Blog :: Articles :: Michigan by County Map :: Search Michigan :: New Links :: Add a Link! :: About Us :: Michigan Pictures
Absolute Michigan :: Northeast Michigan :: Northwest Michigan :: Southeast Michigan :: Southwest Michigan :: Upper Peninsula
email: absolutemichigan@gmail.com :: webdesign by leelanau.com
© 2006 Leelanau Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.