Ballpark Digest

There is stuff to see inside the park as well. Several statues and plaques honoring former Tiger greats abound everywhere. There are two huge cars sitting on the batter’s eye in center field. The city’s skyline looks nice behind the outfield wall. There are a few between-innings promotions and a new, nifty video board in right field to track out-of-town scores and game information.

Tiger Stadium’s main claim to fame was its reputation as a home-run park along with some quirky dimensions. There is no overhang in right field here and the flagpole isn’t in play. The team moved fences in a few years ago – and longball totals have dramatically increased. (This gives you more chances to see one of the park’s most enjoyable features – a huge Tiger whose eyes begin to glow when the home team hits a home run. One wonders if the eyes burned out last October when Magglio Ordonez hit the ninth-inning shot that sent the team to the World Series.)

For years, the Tigers’ marketing techniques were as poor as their on-field play. They have stepped that up regard considerably and it shows. The vendors visited the box seats often. Ushers did a solid job of controlling traffic but allowed youngsters a chance to get close to the field prior to game time. There are a few interesting between-innings diversions and plenty of good customer service.

Comerica Park is never going to be as beloved or as celebrated as Tiger Stadium. It is a ballpark Donald Trump might like because there seems to be an endless font of ways for people to spend money. Ilitch looked at his club’s past and decided it had merit as a first course to the main meal. Traditionalists may not like the place but c’est la vie. The Tigers have learned that you can’t win the pennant every year but you can always find a new revenue source. As long as the person buying it is happy, what’s the problem?