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Thursday, 24 April, 2008 5:58 PM
The Detroit Tigers Predict Another
Winning Season
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Detroit
Tigers Manager Jim Leyland; Detroit Tigers President, CEO &
GM Dave Dombrowski; Presiding Officer Michael Duggan; Detroit Economic
Club President & CEO Beth Chappell.
DETROIT --
The Detroit Tigers held its annual meeting at the Detroit Economic
Club on Wednesday inside Cobo Center. Nearly 1,000 people were in
attendance. The entire team was there from the players to the coaches
to the manager to the president and general manager. Although the
Tigers started off their season 0-6, they say sports fans will be
happy come September.
Detroit Tigers President,
CEO and General Manager Dave Dombrowski said before the All-Star
Game took place, The Tigers attendance at Comerica Park was about
1.3 million people. In 2008, he projects attendance to jump to 3.1
million fans.
Dombrowski said that
he's seen Tigers merchandise everywhere as he travels. He said that
Tigers merchandise is second in sales behind the New York Yankees.
During Spring Training, the Tigers set attendance records in Lakeland,
Florida and when they played on the road.
"The support that
we have within this community at this point and the tie that is
here is fantastic," he said. "When you look back a few
years ago, we just reflect, we had 7,300 full season tickets. This
year, we have 27,300. The support and the growth has just been unbelieveable.
"One thing I think
you will find with this ballclub...Not only is it a talented group
with a lot of good players and fun to watch. I think you'll enjoy
coming out and watch them play on a daily basis under the leadership
that Jim's coaching staff which I think is outstanding. But they're
a tough bunch."
When speaking about Tigers
Owner Mike Illitch, Dombrowski said: "When it comes down to
trying to win, and do anything a little more to try to win, he will
do it. That is a unique situation in sports."
Tigers Manager Jim Leyland
said that his team is one of the most cooperative he's ever had.
He tells fans: "Don't get too nervous. We're good. This game
is about team. It's about teammates. And we have all that. There's
no doubt in my mind that this team will come around. Like I said,
it's about competing, toughness. I think we have all those ingredients.
We don't always do it right but we try hard. The coaching staff
that works with me is second to none. I don't think you're gonna
be disappointed.
"Before this is
all said and done, I think you'll go away with a smile on your face.
I really believe that. It's not gonna be easy. We're targeted. We
got a big bulls-eye on our back. I kinda like that. I think that's
a compliment for your organization. This is a very excellent team
with an excellent group of players competing. I love Detroit. It's
a great place. There's no question about it."
Sparky Anderson once
said he didn't have a feel for his team until the first 40 games.
Current Tigers Manager Jim Leyland uses a different approach.
"I think I have
a real good feel for this team," Leyland said. "I think
it's an excellent team that's gotten off to a slow start. I think
it's very capable to have an outstanding season. When you make some
changes and you have some different personalities come in, it may
take some time to mesh that all together. No, the talent on this
team. Forty games means nothing to me. I think I know quite about
this club right now."
Michael Duggan, President
and CEO of the Detroit Medical Center, was also the presiding officer
at the meeting. "The offseason before the 2006 championship
season is remembered as a great one for Dave Dombrowski and the
bold moves that he made," Duggan said. "Signing Kenny
Rogers, hiring Jim Leyland."
Tigers broadcasters
Jim Price and Dan Dickerson were masters of cermonies. "I can't
remember a more highly anticipated season than this one," Dickerson
said. "After that trade in December for Dontrelle Willis and
a guy named Miguel Cabrera, it just seemed to put Tiger fans over
the top. As Mike mentioned, the start maybe isn't quite what we
were expecting, Carlos Guillen has reminded us over and over. 'It's
how you finish that really counts.'"
Dombrowski
said: "When you look at sports in this area. I don't think
there's any state in the country that supports their franchises
better than this. It's phenomenal what's taken place at this point.
We have the Red Wings in the playoffs. Pistons in the playoffs.
Lions planning for their draft."
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Nearly
1,000 people were in attendance at this meeting of the Detroit Economic
Club.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Detroit
Tigers Manager Jim Leyland and Detroit Tigers President, CEO &
General Manager Dave Dombrowski.
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