Who killed Tiger Stadium? (Detroit, Holland: condos, house, YMCA)

[constantly gardening]

Tiger Stadium destroyed. Someone should be held accountable. After some thought I have decided to blame the caesar of Little Caesars. I blame him because he moved from Tiger Stadium to downtown to make himself richer. I thought that was shameless but I understand the temptation of money. Now the billionaire can't spare a measly tax deductible 25 million to save a little bit of Tiger Stadium?

Who do you blame? If there is anyone out there that thinks this was a good idea I would be interested to hear why.

[Wingnatic]

That's a pretty correct statement about Mike Illitch . I saw this video a few years back as part of the Detroit Memories Re-Union at the YMCA downtown . It's a documentary by Gary Glaser and narriated by Detroiter and comedian Thom Sharp . It's called '' Stranded At The Corners '' and available on DVD . To the best of my memory the documentary is about 30-40 minutes long . Here's a few minutes of '' Stranded At The Corner ''

strandedatthecorner

[Northman]

I was never an advocate of keeping the stadium up once they moved to Comerica, but share the opinion that it never should have happened to begin with.

Tiger Stadium was more than a ballpark. It was a way of life for millions of Michiganders, and was a source of pride for the city that spanned generations......even after things started to fall apart in the 60's. It was every bit the iconic treasure that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are to this day, and yet money - as usual - was too big a lure for the Ilitches to remain true to the hearts of Detroit baseball fans. Now the Tigers play in a shiny, sterilized stadium with a view of downtown.....just like 90% of the other teams in MLB. It is a vey nice park, to be sure, but there is nothing that sets it apart. Nothing that sends nearly 100 years of memories in motion as you walk up to it and then take your seat. To this day, I find the vision of the Tigers in their classic home uniforms playing in Comerica to be an odd one. The olde english D was never meant to be worn in any other place than Tiger Stadium.

My family moved south from the Detroit area when I was 12. That was in 1980........and for the next 19 years nothing was more exhilarating for me than making that trip back up I-75 knowing that a ballgame at the Grand ol' House was waiting for me on the other end. After watching so much baseball in the sub par enviornments of the Astrodome and Fulton County Stadium, it made getting back to Detroit just that much more special. Walking out after my last game in 1999 was somewhat surreal.......I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that I'd never see the Tigers play baseball in that stadium again.

It's hard for me to sit here and criticize Mike Ilitch in any way. The guy has done so much for the city of Detroit. He built a business empire there and remained anchored in Detoit when so many others chose to bail. He's spent oceans of cash on both the Tigers and the Red Wings rosters in recent years, and has seen the Wings morph into a dynasty under the brilliant guidance of Ken Holland and his staff. That said, I will never forgive him for allowing the Tigers to move from the Stadium. It never should have happened. Tiger Stadium should have been renovated in whatever method neccessary to keep it viable for these modern times. It should have been recognized as the beloved relic and national treasure that it was, and it should have been treated with the same respect and reverence that Fenway and Wrigley are to this very moment. It should still be there.....it all its glory......awaiting the return of the boys from their current road trip.

When I was in Detoit for a series against the White Sox back in April of this year I took several pics of myself in front of the 1st to 3rd base remnants of the Stadium. I knew that it would be the last time I'd lay eyes on it. Those pictures are obviously forever priceless to me now.

To me, the entire thing should have been demolished the day of the first game at Comerica. To leave that place in rot for 10 years is just another in the seemingly endless examples of Detroit's continued decline, apathy, and incompetence. Make condos out of Tiger Stadium? Make a shopping center out of Tiger Stadium? Make a museum out of a little piece of Tiger Stadium? Are you KIDDING ME? Hell no! It either stands in all its glory or it doesn't stand at all! That was my position from the vey first day I heard about the plans to build Comerica, and that is my position today.

Thank God that in just a matter of days it'll all be over, and I'll never have to look at the discarded shell of such of wonderful place again. Tiger Stadium will finally be restored to its full majesty forever.......in a place no corporation or government can ever get their grubby hands on..........my memory.

[Wingnatic]

I just did some checking on '' Stranded On The Corner'' and I was way off . The documentary is 93 minutes long . There is lots of interviews , history , vintage film clips from way back .

[Wingnatic]

There was some discussion of bringing a minor leauge ball club into Tiger Stadium or even bringing up the Toledo Mudhens our farm team up to play there . What better place to have our farm team , but I believe Mr . I nixed that idea along with all idea's that would involve anything that would take away from the focus ($) from the Tigers .

[Jwo85]

I blame the people who left it up instead of tearing it down the first year it was unoccupied. Yes I remember going to opening days at Tiger Stadium when I was kid and yes I remember watching Cecil Fielder hit home runs over the roof and Yes I also remember the away team hitting tons of home runs out into the stands do to the short distance sending the Tigers back to the locker rooms with a "L."

I don't remember ever hearing on ESPN of huge uproars or riots for Yankee stadium being torn down which serves more history to baseball then Tiger Stadium ever did.

[jmlowman]

Originally Posted by Wingnatic

I just did some checking on '' Stranded On The Corner'' and I was way off . The documentary is 93 minutes long . There is lots of interviews , history , vintage film clips from way back .

Do you happen to know where I can order the DVD? It isn't available on Netflix or Amazon.com

[Wingnatic]

From the '' strandedatthecorner '' link in message #2 or maybe at the Detroit Memories store

everythingDETROITstore DVDs

[jmlowman]

Thanks!

I managed to watch the entire clip and missed the large "Buy Now" button.

[Wingnatic]

The whole documentary is 93 minutes long , there is free shipping right from the guy who made the documentary Gary Glaser

glaserproductions digital documentary video production