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WATCH: Tiger Stadium Demolition Resumes After Judge Ruling

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Local News / Sports

Wednesday, 10 June, 2009 9:55 PM

Judge OKs Complete Demolition of Tiger Stadium remnants

Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy decides not to appeal decision

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The broadcast booth is destroyed during the razing of Tiger Stadium.

by Jason Rzucidlo
americajr@americajr.com

 

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DETROIT -- The Corner will never be the same. Tiger Stadium, located at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Boulevard in Detroit, is being torn down completely. And there's no stopping it this time. The group that was trying to preserve the remaining portion, The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, has decided not to appeal the decision. Crews resumed dismantling the ballpark on Monday at around 11 a.m., after a restraining order halted demolition over the weekend.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Prentis Edwards denied a request by the conservancy to prevent further demolition of the stadium. The judge also removed a temporary restraining order issued Friday afternoon after initial demolition began hours earlier on the remaining section of Tiger Stadium.

"This is a really sad day when you see everything coming down," said Mike Pilla of Boston. "I've got 30 years of memories here. They're gone now. This is the point of no return. It's too bad. I wish it was preserved. I wish the preservation effort had at least gotten something from the city and be able to hold it up and make it a museum, a ballpark, some good public use out of it. They didn't wait too long to go after it. A very sad day."

Supporters of Tiger Stadium rallied outside the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building in downtown Detroit just before the judge issued the order on Monday morning.

The complete demolition is expected to be done within 30 days. It will take an additional month or two to remove the remains, according to the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. The city of Detroit is paying $400,000 to MCM Management and the Farrow Group to manage the dismantling of the stadium.

"It just brings back memories about good times," said Diane Davis of Pontiac, Mich. "The sadness that we don't preserve history. We tear it down. I was hoping at one point they would renovate it. Update things that needed to but work around it. Leave it at Michigan and Trumbull. It's the passing of an era."

The section of the building from dugout to dugout was saved. Many plans were put on the table to renovate this section and create a museum of Ernie Harwell memorabilia. The redevelopment project had a price tag of $33.4 million. The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy had raised $27 million, according to a February article published in The Detroit News. However, that is still short of the goal.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing released a statement: "“While I remain sensitive to the concerns of those who wish to preserve Tiger Stadium, I also must honor the decision of Judge Prentis Edwards to move forward with the recommendations of the DEGC relative to the demolition of Tiger Stadium.”

Thomas Linn, head of the conservancy said: "We are not going to appeal."

"It's sad to see it go," said Chuck Demske of Dearborn, Mich. "I wish they could have done something with it. But there are no plans on the table that we know to build someone of use for this area. Kind of makes you wonder where they're getting the money if they can't fix Cobo and keep the lights burning. But they find the money to tear this down. It's like alright, so where's the money coming from?"

On June 5, the ballpark was used for shooting scenes of the upcoming film The Irishman. Filmmakers used Tiger Stadium to depict an old Cleveland baseball stadium. Demolition was halted during the day of filming and resumed the very next day.

A poster was seen on the ground along Trumbull Boulevard that read "More Vision! Less Demolition."

"I hate it, I absolutely hate it, " said Bruce Coburn of Dearborn, Mich. about the dismantling of the stadium. "I felt it never should have come down in the first place. Comerica Park has no reason to be built. No reason to play there. I think they jumped to a conclusion. I look across the street and I see Michigan Central, that's been there as long as I've been alive. And they haven't done anything to expedite the demolition of that. I'm just wondering why they jumped on this so quickly."

Initial demolition began on the building last summer. On June 30, 2008, crews punched a small hole along the north side of the facility. The discussion to demolish the building went on for years as several plans were considered for the site. The city of Detroit rejected all those proposals and chose to tear it down.

The very last chapter in Tiger Stadium's history is being written. The Grand Lady. Navin Field. Briggs Stadium. Tiger Stadium. The ballpark has had many names over the years. Now, it is coming down. Soon it will be a piece of rubble. Goodbye old friend...

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Fans and supporters watch as the ballpark is torn down before their own eyes.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The dismantling of Tiger Stadium resumed on Monday, June 8 at 11 a.m.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A CAT waste handler moves remnants into this dumpster as water is sprayed in the background.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A close-up of remains of the old Tiger Stadium.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A waste handler lifts a piece of concrete from the building's structure.

 

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Related Stories: Plans Move Forward to Save Tiger Stadium and Create a Museum for Ernie Harwell
  Fans Watch as Historic Tiger Stadium is Demolished Before Their Very Own Eyes
  'Tiger Stadium Artifacts' are now on display at the Detroit Historical Museum
  Update: Demolition at Tiger Stadium is Nearly Complete

 

 

 

 

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