Comerica Park
Being just a mile from one of the most
historical and well known stadiums in sports, it was hard for many
fans to picture the Detroit Tigers playing anywhere else other
than at
Tiger Stadium. But in 2000, that changed when Comerica Park
opened. With Tiger Stadium showing its age, the Tigers began
lobbing for a new ballpark in the mid 1990s. Following other
ballparks that were built in the 1990’s, the Tigers new ballpark
was built of mainly steel and concrete, with a brick exterior.
Constructed in downtown Detroit, construction began on October 29,
1997.
For
the first time in over 100 years, opening day baseball was played
at a different location other than at the corner of Michigan and
Trumbull. Around 40,637 fans filled Comerica Park on opening day,
April 11, 2000. Located in downtown Detroit, Comerica Park is
among several other prominent buildings including Ford Field home
of the Detroit Lions and the Fox Theater. Many parking garages and
parking lots are in the surrounding area and fans can easily get
to Comerica Park. As one approaches the ballpark, fans see the
brick exterior, massive light towers, and defiantly cannot miss
the enormous tigers sculptures at many of the entrances. Once
inside the ballpark, fans are on the main concourse as the field
is 25 feet below street level.
Consisting of three levels, no
seat at Comerica Park is obstructed. Nearly all of the seats have
an excellent view of downtown Detroit. The main part of the three
tier grandstand extends from behind home plate to the left and
right field foul poles. There is a gap in the upper deck along the
first base side. Fans can walk along the main concourse of the
ballpark without losing there view of the playing field. Beyond
the outfield wall are the bullpens that are located behind the
right field wall. In straight away dead centerfield are several
fountains that produce liquid fireworks, when a homerun is hit.
Located along the left-centerfield wall are five statues of Tiger
Hall of Famer's, including Ty Cobb. A huge 202 ft. wide by 147 ft.
high scoreboard sits behind one level of seats in left field.
Besides watching the Tigers game, there are many amenities at
Comerica Park. They include a ferris wheel, a merry-go-round or
just taking some time to stroll around the ballpark to check out
the different view from various sections.
Ground Rules:
-
Foul poles and the screens
attached are outside the playing field.
-
A batted ball striking the facing
or any part of the upper stands in fair territory and bouncing
back onto the field is a home run.
-
Fly balls that strike lights
underneath the upper stands from right field to centerfield in
fair territory and bounce back onto the field are home runs.
-
Balls striking the yellow line of
the flagpole or below it and caroming into stands count for two
bases.
-
Balls striking the yellow line of
the flagpole or below it and bouncing back onto the field are in
play.
-
Balls striking above the yellow
line on the flagpole: home run.
-
A fair bounding ball going onto
the roof of either bullpen dugout counts for two bases.
-
A ball going through or sticking
in the screen on fair ground is two bases.
-
A pitched ball sticking or
remaining on the backstop screen is one base, while a thrown
ball doing the same is two bases.
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