Tentative deal saves part of Tiger Stadium

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tentative deal saves part of Tiger Stadium
BY Leonard N. Fleming and CHRISTINE MACDONALD / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- A tentative agreement was reached Tuesday to save a portion of Tiger Stadium that allows the city to receive $369,000 it was owed and gives preservations until next spring to raise an estimated $15 million to redevelop the site.

At the urging of City Council, officials from the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy board and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation sat down for more than an hour to strike a deal after debating in council earlier Tuesday -- at times contentiously -- on what to do with the old stadium that has been partially torn down.

Both sides will meet at City Hall next Monday to work out the details of when exactly the city will receive $300,000 it was promised in the original agreement to keep from tearing the entire site down. Council delayed voting to either save the site or tear it completely down pending discussion between the two sides.

The tentative deal will allow preservationists until March 1 to raise money for the site. If a deal is not struck by then, both sides will split the $300,000 with the city keeping $150,000 and the conservancy taking a $150,000 share.

Conservation members such as state Rep. Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit, appeared before council to implore them to save a portion of the stadium for the wrecking ball and allow more time to raise needed funds.

"A framework was discussed, and we're meeting again next week to try to see if we can put the finishing touches on that," Tobocman said. "We're trying to the best of our ability to try to cover additional costs the city would incur for pausing the demolition on the portion of this stadium."

Longtime Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell and his attorney S. Gary Spicer told council members Monday they have raised $430,000 over the past eight days. At least $300,000 of that money will be used for the city's portion that will be placed in escrow. Another $69,000 will be put in escrow as a security deposit for the site but made available at a later, undetermined date.

Preservationists are optimistic they will get the money despite tough economic times because they are lobbying to secure federal cash, foundation grants, private donations and an assortment of tax credits. They believe it may cost anywhere from $10 to $15 million.

They are counting on nearly $4 million in federal money that U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., is trying to get through Congress, preservationists say.

What could be saved at Tiger Stadium would be the baseball diamond and 3,000 seats. Preservationists are hopeful that they can raise the funds to construct a museum to house a vast collection of sports memorabilia owned by Harwell, a Hall of Fame broadcaster.

Tiger Stadium, located at Michigan and Trumbull, was closed in 1999 to make way for Comerica Park where the Tigers currently play.

Two Things:

Actually, Three; But I have stated my opinion on Federal Money on this project.


First; I thought the field and flagpole were saved even if demolition is 100 percent


Second; What Diamond? I could see the field [ Last Sunday Evening] didn't look like much of a diamond left; Infield looked very grassy; a thin layer of yellow green grass; where Tram and Lou used to play


Did the temp sod it over to make it easier to move equip around?

Half the stadium is gone

Demolition crews will hard at work tearing down more of Tiger Stadium on Saturday as I drove by on my way to Ford Field for the Lions game.

Tiger Plaza torn down, too

They should have saved the sign at least

Everytime I drive by Tiger Stadium; more of it is demolished

I'm trying to find more pics.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I'm trying to find more pics.

I need to take some pics

Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Detroit council set to vote on fate of Tiger Stadium
Associated Press

DETROIT -- The pitch to save part of Tiger Stadium is once again in the hands of the Detroit City Council.

The council is set to decide at its Tuesday meeting whether to authorize the complete demolition of the old ballpark.

Crews began tearing down the stadium in June. A corner of the ballpark has been left standing while a preservation group tries to raise money to turn it into a sports museum.

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy was told to pay the city $219,000 by Tuesday morning to hold off total demolition. The group says it can pay $69,000 Tuesday and wants until the end of the week to hand over the rest.

The stadium's fate last came before the council in July, when a vote was delayed while preservation advocates and city officials continued to negotiate.

They gonna tear it all down


The City of Detroit wants to piss off Whitey in the Suburbs

And That Greek Idiot Mike Ilitch wants it gone

Sad!

Tiger Stadium Rules

Always had plenty of shade there


Much cooler than Comerica Park

I still agree wit Lap, Move it to Greenfield Village!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I still agree wit Lap, Move it to Greenfield Village!

They should

But probably won't


As soon as the demolition is done; The wrecking crew should go up the street and demolish the train depot

Why that building is allowed to stand is beyond me

Preservation group submits plans for Tiger Stadium

ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 5, 2008

DETROIT— The group trying to preserve Tiger Stadium has submitted plans and budgets for the project to the city of Detroit.

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy met today's deadline to submit the documents. The deadline was extended from Monday.

Conservancy board member Kathy Wendler says the ballpark will be refurbished to include exhibits for baseball memorabilia, offices and other commercial development.

Wendler declined to say how much the project would cost. Previous estimates have been around $15 million.

The Economic Development Corp. will review the plans and decide whether to proceed.

Tiger Stadium opened in 1912 and closed in 1999. Most of the ballpark was demolished earlier this year but a wedge from dugout to dugout has been left standing.

I bet the whole stadium gets torn down


Be a rotten shame if that happens

Save Tiger Stadium