Comerica Park facts for kids
 
Comerica Park in 2007
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 Comerica Park
Location in Wayne County, Michigan
Comerica Park
Location in Michigan
Comerica Park
Location in the United States
Comerica Park
Location in North America
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| Address | 2100 Woodward Avenue |
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| Location | Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°20′21″N 83°2′55″W / 42.33917°N 83.04861°W |
| Public transit |   Grand Circus Park Montcalm Street |
| Owner | Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority |
| Operator | 313 Presents |
| Capacity | 40,120 (2000–2002) 41,070 (2003–2007) 41,000 (2008) 41,255 (2009–2013) 41,681 (2014) 41,574 (2015) 41,297 (2016) 41,299 (2017) 41,083 (2018–present) |
| Record attendance | 45,280 (July 26, 2008 against Chicago White Sox) |
| Field size | Left field – 345 ft (105 m) Left-center – 370 ft (110 m) Center field – 420 ft (130 m) Right-center – 365 ft (111 m) Right field – 330 ft (100 m)  |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 29, 1997 |
| Opened | April 11, 2000 |
| Construction cost | $300 million ($510 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Populous (then HOK Sport) SHG, Inc. Rockwell Group |
| Project manager | International Facilities Group, LLC. |
| Structural engineer | Bliss & Nyitray, Inc. |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers Inc. |
| General contractor | Hunt-Turner-White |
| Tenants | |
| Detroit Tigers (MLB) (2000–present) | |
Comerica Park is a famous baseball stadium in Downtown Detroit. It has been the home of the Major League Baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, since the year 2000. Before Comerica Park, the Tigers played at Tiger Stadium.
This stadium can hold 41,083 fans, making it a big place for baseball games and other events.
Contents
History of Comerica Park
Building a New Home for the Tigers
The Detroit Tigers have a long history, starting in 1894. For many years, they played at a stadium called Tiger Stadium. By the mid-1990s, the old stadium was getting too old and couldn't be updated anymore.
So, on October 29, 1997, work began on a brand new ballpark. This new stadium was part of a big plan to make downtown Detroit better. It was built next to Ford Field, which is where the Detroit Lions football team plays.
In 1998, Comerica Bank agreed to pay a lot of money to have the stadium named "Comerica Park." The very first game at Comerica Park was on April 11, 2000. The Tigers played against the Seattle Mariners.
First Game at Comerica Park
The first game at Comerica Park was on a cold, snowy day, April 11, 2000. About 39,168 people came to watch. The Detroit Tigers won their first game in their new home, beating the Seattle Mariners 5–2. The winning pitcher was Brian Moehler.
Cool Features of Comerica Park
Comerica Park has many exciting features that make it special. The main entrance is across from the Fox Theatre. Outside, you'll see a huge tiger statue that's 15 feet tall!
Tiger Statues and Growls
There are 8 more large tiger statues around the park. Two of them are on top of the scoreboard. When the Tigers hit a home run or win a game, these tigers' eyes light up, and you can hear a tiger growl! Along the outside walls, there are 33 tiger heads with lighted baseballs in their mouths.
Statues of Baseball Legends
Inside the park, you can find statues of famous Tigers players whose jersey numbers have been retired. This means no other player can wear those numbers. You'll also see a statue of Ty Cobb, a legendary player from long ago. His name, along with other Hall of Fame players and broadcasters, is on a wall in right-center field. Ernie Harwell, a beloved Tigers radio announcer, also has a statue inside the stadium.
Unique Field Design
Comerica Park has a unique dirt strip between home plate and the pitcher's mound. This is called the "keyhole" and was common in older ballparks. Also, the home plate area itself is shaped like a baseball home plate, not a regular circle.
Fun for Everyone
In one corner of the stadium, there's a Ferris wheel with twelve cars shaped like baseballs. In another corner, there's a carousel. These rides are great for families and younger fans.
The flagpole in center field used to be part of the playing field, just like at the old Tiger Stadium. But now, if a ball hits the pole, it's a home run!
Pepsi Porch and Kaline's Corner
In right field, there's a special area called the Pepsi Porch. It's a picnic deck where fans can relax and watch the game. There's also "Kaline's Corner," named after the famous Tigers player Al Kaline.
Scoreboard and Fountain
A large LED scoreboard was added in right-center field. Behind center field, there's a giant fountain. For a while, it showed support for Detroit's car companies, with signs for Chrysler and Ford alongside General Motors. Now, it's known as the Chevrolet Fountain.
In 2012, the main video scoreboard in left field was completely updated. It became much larger and clearer, using HD LED technology. This made it easier for everyone to see replays and game information.
Field Dimensions and Changes
Comerica Park is known for being a "pitcher-friendly" park. This means it's harder for batters to hit home runs because the outfield is very large. Some players even joked about it being a "national park" because of how big it felt.
Before the 2003 season, the team moved the left-center field fence closer to home plate. This made it a bit easier for batters to hit doubles and triples. Later, the bullpens (where pitchers warm up) were moved, and more seats were added in right field.
Getting to Comerica Park
You can easily get to Comerica Park using public transportation. The Detroit People Mover and the QLine both have stations nearby. There are also bus services from the suburbs.
Stadium Use and Events
Comerica Park is not just for baseball! It hosts many other exciting events.
Baseball Highlights
In 2005, Comerica Park hosted the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This was a big event where the best players from all over baseball came to Detroit. The day before, the Home Run Derby was held, where players compete to hit the most home runs.
The first playoff game at Comerica Park was in 2006. Later that year, the stadium hosted its first ever World Series game.
On June 12, 2007, Justin Verlander, a Tigers pitcher, threw a "no-hitter" at Comerica Park. This is a very rare and exciting event where a pitcher doesn't let the other team get any hits during the entire game!
In 2012, Comerica Park hosted the World Series again.
Concerts at the Park
Many famous musicians have performed concerts at Comerica Park. It's a popular place for big outdoor shows.
- Dave Matthews Band was the first group to play there in 2000.
- NSYNC played two shows in 2001.
- Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow performed in 2003.
- Kiss and Aerosmith had a concert in 2003.
- Eminem has played several times, including the "Anger Management Tour" and "The Home & Home Tour" with Jay-Z.
- The Rolling Stones played in 2005 and 2015.
- Kid Rock has also performed multiple times.
- Paul McCartney had a concert in 2011.
- Jimmy Buffett has played several shows.
- Eminem and Rihanna brought their "Monster Tour" to the park in 2014.
- Metallica played in 2017.
- Journey and Def Leppard performed in 2018.
- Recent concerts include Billy Joel, Guns N' Roses, and Green Day (with Weezer and Fall Out Boy) in 2021.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers played in 2022.
Hockeytown Winter Festival
In December 2013, Comerica Park was turned into an outdoor ice rink for the "Hockeytown Winter Festival." This event included public skating and many hockey games, featuring college teams and even alumni from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
Soccer Matches
Comerica Park has even hosted soccer! On July 19, 2017, it held its first soccer game. Two famous international teams, Roma from Italy and Paris Saint-Germain from France, played a match there.
Images for kids
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The center field fountain, now known as the Chevrolet Fountain, was originally called the General Motors Fountain. This picture was taken in 2009, when the Tigers added the logos for Chrysler and Ford as a show of support for the struggling automotive industry. Directly behind the fountain is the Detroit Athletic Club.
In Spanish: Comerica Park para niños
