March 19, 2007
Tiger Stadium back in limbo
Score another one for Detroit's unchallenged title as vacant lot supplier to America: Nine months after Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced plans to raze most of the stadium and build condos in its place comes word that not a single developer has come up with a "viable" plan to do so. The city still plans to go ahead and demolish the home of the Tigers from 1912 to 1999 - Detroit wouldn't let a little thing like a lack of a use for the land stand in the way of a good building-wreckin' - but without money from a developer, it's unclear where it will raise the cash to do so.
Detroit News blogger Richard Burr suggests another alternative:
Let's cut through the baloney and try something Detroit businessman Steve Thomas, who owns a sporting apparel and memorabilia store near the old stadium, proposed five months ago: Sell Tiger Stadium and its land to the highest bidder (see the proposal here). That group or individual could then closely assess the stadium's condition and decide how best to use the land.
It's an interesting idea, but it'll happen when Jose Mesa flies for one reason: Someone might try to buy Tiger Stadium to use as a baseball stadium, and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch would not be happy. And we can't have that.
How about converting the stadium for use for a Major League Soccer team?
Posted by eddie on March 21, 2007 06:38 PM
It's a great idea but Eddie you know Tigers owner Mike Ilitch would not allow that.
Posted by Daniel F. on March 23, 2007 06:58 PM