"You have a lot of interesting things and perspectives that have been given about Tiger Stadium, but the only people with money who have approached us want that stadium gone," he said.So because "People with money" want the stadium gone, it should go? Forget the history, and what it means to people in Detroit. Forget about Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer. Never mind Eugene V. Debs Memorial Kazoo night, which I was fortunate enough to attend with Intern Paul, where we played labor songs on the kazoo in the bleachers.
Detroit needs development, but it's not like there's a shortage of lots. There's only one Tiger Stadium, and we'll miss it when it's gone. There's still time to stop the madness, so sign the petition.
6 comments:
What on God's green earth is wrong with this guy???? Give me a break??? TEAR DOWN TIGER STADIUM???? Okay...this guy has to be smokin' crack. That is NOT going to go over well in Detroit or in the suburbs for that matter.
I LOVE Tiger stadium.
Let it stand.
Now, I love Tiger Stadium as much as the next guy. In fact, my first ball game was the night the Tigers won the pennant race that would take them to the 84 World Series. Now there's a memory. Or there is the time I went to see KISS at Tiger Stadium. Detroit Rock City. I'm sure the stadium has a lot of memories for a lot of people.
I was able to visit one last time this past February with the Superbowl activities that took place. What I saw horrified me. The building is falling apart. It has fallen victim to what is known as "Forgotten Detroit" - I'll throw the Michigan Central Station and Book-Cadillac hotel into that same category.
However, in order to make progress, it's sometimes necessary to let go of the past. Tiger Stadium wasn't the first ballpark in Detroit, just like Comerica won't be the last.
If someone is willing to come in and develop, I say go for it, but if they just want to tear it down to tear it down ... well, that won't fly.
Tiger Stadium is prime real estate, and Corktown is a very sucessful part of Detroit and I see that area growing and possibly bringing back some of those people who left for the 'burbs.
So, let's see what direction they go.
P.S.
Despite my own personal opinions, I still think Kwame K. is a crackhead.
Some of my strongest and most evocative memories are of Tiger Stadium from the '80s and '90s. But if nothing is going to be done with the old gem, why leave it up? Baseball stadiums don't seem to be structures easily converted to other uses. I've heard of development proposals in the past, but they've always hit me as a bit looney tunes. Allowing it to sit and decay does no good for the city, and actually hurts it. Every day that the stadium stands rusting way is a day that the city isn't doing something to realize revenue off that land.
Of course, if there is a viable, financible idea out there, I'm all ears. But for lack of that (and as painful as it is for the sensitive kid who nearly cried when the fans started booing Willie Hernandez) I can't see any other option.
Please tell me I'm wrong. Tell me there is some other way. There just doesn't seem to be one.
It really makes me sad to see things of historic importance ignored and "let go" just so they can throw it away later for something "bigger" and "better". New is not always better.
You're not from Detroit, are you?
New is always better than old. Part of the problem in Detroit is all of the abandoned buildings - not only do they pose a safety concern, they are an eyesore on the city.
Frankly, I didn't see everyone getting huffy when they built Ford Field downtown and left the Pontiac Silverdome to rot. As I recall, that's slated to drop this year.
Now, Tiger Stadium, formerly Briggs Stadium and formerly Navin Field before that, has been around since 1911. It's a historic landmark, and I'm sure that people won't let it go without a fight.
And sometimes saving older buildings IS better for the character of a city. But that's when there's a viable plan in place. I love Tiger Stadium so damn much that it kills me to hear it's in such bad condition. So there's obviously a sentimental part of me that wants to see it stay up forever. But if the only real alternative to tearing it down is letting it sit and rot, then that's not a real alternative.
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