Comerica Park

Comerica Park is an outdoor baseball stadium in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It has been the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) since its opening in 2000. It was built in the retro-classic style, and currently has a seating capacity of 41,083.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Construction

Entrance to the park

Founded in 1894, the Tigers had played at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood since 1896, when Bennett Park opened. In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered the construction of a new ballpark to be built on the same site. Opening in 1912, the ballpark, which eventually became known as Tiger Stadium, served as the Tigers' home for the next 88 seasons. By the mid-1990s, it had become apparent that the much-beloved ballpark was at the end of its useful life.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Comerica Park sits on the original site of the Detroit College of Law.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Groundbreaking for the new stadium was held on October 29, 1997.<ref name="Ballpark information"/> At the time of construction, the scoreboard in left field was the largest in Major League Baseball.<ref name=Beck>Template:Cite web</ref> It was part of a downtown revitalization plan for the city of Detroit, which included the construction of Ford Field, adjacent to the ballpark.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first game was held on April 11, 2000, against the Seattle Mariners.<ref name="First game"/>

First game

The first game at Comerica Park was held on Tuesday, April 11, 2000, with 39,168 spectators attending, on a cold snowy afternoon.<ref name="First game"/> The temperature that afternoon was Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 5–2. The winning pitcher, as in the final game at Tiger Stadium, was Brian Moehler.<ref name="First game"/>

Naming rights

In December 1998, Comerica Bank agreed to pay $66 million over 30 years for the naming rights for the new ballpark.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, Comerica extended its naming rights agreement with the Tigers through 2034.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Comerica announced plans in October 2025 to merge with Fifth Third Bank, which reportedly will result in the stadium being rebranded before the 2027 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Features

Comerica Park panorama.

Stadium scoreboard in 2008

The main entrance to the ballpark is located across the street from the Fox Theatre and between two historic downtown churches, St. John Episcopal Church and Central United Methodist Church.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Outside the main entrance is a tiger statue that is Template:Convert in height.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There are 8 other heroic-sized tiger statues throughout the park, including two prowling on top of the scoreboard in left field. These tigers' eyes light up after a Tigers home run or a victory and the sound of a growling tiger plays as well.<ref name=Rinehart>Template:Cite web</ref> The tigers were originally created by sculptor Michael Keropian and fabricated by ShowMotion Inc. in Norwalk, Connecticut.<ref name=Shea>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Keropian>Template:Cite web</ref> Along the brick walls outside the park are 33 tiger heads with lighted baseballs in their mouths.<ref name=Keropian/>

At the left-center field concourse there are statues of almost all of the players whose numbers have been retired by the Tigers (with the exception of Jackie Robinson, whose number was retired in every MLB park in 1997 and is located on the wall in right-center field).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A statue of Ty Cobb is also there, but he does not have a number, as he played baseball before players began to wear numbers on their uniforms. These players' names, along with the names of Hall of Fame players and broadcasters who spent a significant part of their career with the Tigers, are also on a wall in right-center field. Ernie Harwell, the team's long time radio announcer and a recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, has a statue just inside the stadium on the first base side.<ref name=Rinehart/><ref name=Schlapp>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Comerica Park was the last ballpark in MLB to feature a distinctive dirt strip between home plate and the pitcher's mound. This strip, sometimes known as the "keyhole", was common in early ballparks, but it was very rare in modern facilities.<ref name=Rinehart/><ref name=Schlapp/> It was removed prior to the 2025 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, the home plate area is in the shape of the home plate itself, and not as a standard circle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the northeastern corner of the stadium behind the stands from the third base line is a Ferris wheel with twelve cars designed like baseballs. In the northwestern corner of the stadium behind the stands from the first base line is a carousel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The flagpole located between center and left fields was originally in play, as was the flagpole in Tiger Stadium.<ref name=Rinehart/> However, the left field wall was moved in front of the pole before the 2003 season.<ref name=Dimensions/> A ball that hits the pole is now ruled a home run.<ref name=Rinehart/> The right field of the stadium features the Comerica Landing, formerly known as the Pepsi Porch, a picnic deck between the 100 and 200 level seating bowls.<ref name=Renovation/><ref name="2023 additions">Template:Cite web</ref> Also in right field, and part of the 100 level seating bowl, is an area of seats known as "Kaline's Corner", an homage to Hall of Fame right fielder Al Kaline, who once played for the Tigers when the team played in Tiger Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An LED scoreboard was added to the right-center field wall, and the upper deck fascia for the 2007 season.<ref name=Beck/>

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.

A giant fountain is located behind center field. General Motors sponsored the fountain from 2000 to 2008, and used the area to showcase GM manufactured vehicles as well. While GM dropped its sponsorship for the 2009 season due to financial issues, the GM branding was not removed from the fountain. Instead, signs for Chrysler and Ford were also added to the display, along with the message "The Detroit Tigers support our automakers."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2010, GM returned to sponsoring the display, now known as the Chevrolet Fountain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A completely redesigned and upgraded left field video display debuted for the 2012 season.<ref name=Shea/> The serif "TIGERS" wordmark was removed and replaced by cursive lettering that can also display graphics and video.<ref name=Shea/> An analog clock below the Tigers wordmark and above the Comerica Park logo was also removed. An HD LED display was installed, which was much larger than the three displays that had been there for years.<ref name=Shea/>

The previous scoreboard used light bulbs – still a popular scoreboard technology around the time the park opened, though they were quickly aging as LED displays became available and were installed around other Major League ballparks.<ref name=Shea/> The scoreboard was also raised Template:Convert in an effort to address complaints that the scoreboard was too far left and thus obstructed by the left field upper deck.<ref name=Shea/> Along with the replacement scoreboard, all remaining bulb fascia scoreboards were also upgraded to LED.<ref name=Shea/> A new videoboard was installed for the 2024 season. Measuring at Template:Convert, it is the second largest in MLB.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The script Tigers wordmark on top of the videoboard was replaced with the Comerica Park signage in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, the Tigers announced a $4 million renovation to the Comerica Landing. This renovation included the removal of the bleachers that once occupied the space and the addition of new stadium seats. The plan also included new high top tables, a new bar in the middle of the porch, couches and lounge chairs, as well as a fire pit. The bleachers that once occupied the area were moved to the space above The Jungle restaurant and bar.<ref name=Renovation/><ref name="2023 additions"/>

There is a fireworks show after Friday evening games usually starting after Memorial Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dimensions

In contrast to Tiger Stadium, which had long been considered one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball, Comerica Park is considered to be extremely friendly to pitchers. Except for dead center field, the outfield dimensions were more expansive than those at Tiger Stadium. This led to complaints from players and fans alike. Most famously, Bobby Higginson sarcastically referred to the venue as "Comerica National Park".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Before the start of the 2003 MLB season, the club moved the distance from left-center field from Template:Convert.<ref name=Dimensions/> This also removed the flagpole from the field of play, originally incorporated as an homage to Tiger Stadium.<ref name=Dimensions/><ref name=Rinehart/> Two years later, the bullpens were moved from right field to an empty area in left field created when the fence was moved in. In place of the old bullpens in right field, about 950 seats were added.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This made one of the most pitcher-friendly ballparks transform into the third most batter-friendly (with extra bases also taken into account).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Prior to the 2023 MLB season, the club announced that the center field fence would be moved in 10 feet, measuring at Template:Convert, while left field would be relabeled at Template:Convert.<ref name="2023 dimensions"/> This was due to the actual distances from home plate being revealed via laser measurements.<ref name="Woodbery">Template:Cite web</ref> The club also announced that the center field, right-center field, and right field fences would be lowered to 7 feet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the layout of the playing field at Comerica Park, when a player is at bat, the direction he is facing looks farther to the south than at any other ballpark.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Public transportation for the park is available via the Detroit People Mover station at Grand Circus Park and the QLine at Montcalm Street, in addition to SMART, which runs regional routes from the suburbs, and DDOT.

Stadium use

Downtown Detroit skyline as seen from upper deck in 2009.

Baseball

In 2005, Comerica Park hosted the 76th MLB All-Star Game, the first to be played in Detroit since 1971. In the Home Run Derby, held the day before, Bobby Abreu hit 24 home runs in the first round, breaking the previous record of 15. Abreu won the Derby over Tigers catcher Iván Rodríguez, hitting a then record 41 homers during the event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the All-Star Game, the American League won 7–5 with Miguel Tejada winning the game's MVP Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The first playoff game at Comerica Park was played on October 6, 2006, against the New York Yankees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On October 21, 2006, Comerica Park hosted the first World Series game in the history of the ballpark (Game 1 of the 2006 World Series).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2008, the Tiger statue at the main entrance of the ballpark was dressed with a Detroit Red Wings jersey as the Red Wings were playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The jersey is usually worn by the Spirit of Detroit, but it was undergoing restoration during that time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On August 15, 2011, Minnesota Twins slugger Jim Thome became the eighth player in baseball history to hit 600 career home runs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Comerica Park hosted its second World Series in 2012, with the Tigers getting swept by the San Francisco Giants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On April 23, 2022, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera became the 33rd player in Major League history to get his 3,000th hit with a single in the first inning off of Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Only two no-hitters have been thrown at Comerica Park, both by the Tigers. On June 12, 2007, the first no-hitter was thrown at Comerica Park by Justin Verlander. The Tigers won the game 4–0 against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was also the first no-hitter thrown by a Tiger in the city of Detroit since Virgil Trucks accomplished the feat in 1952.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Then on July 8, 2023, Matt Manning, Jason Foley and Alex Lange threw a combined no-hitter in a 2–0 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Comerica Park also played host to a near-perfect game by Armando Galarraga against the Cleveland Indians on June 2, 2010. Galarraga retired the first 26 batters he faced, but was denied both a perfect game and no-hitter when umpire Jim Joyce erroneously awarded Indians batter Jason Donald an infield single with two outs in the ninth inning.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Concerts

width=12% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Date	width=10% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Artist	width=10% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Opening act(s)	width=16% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Tour/concert name	width=10% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Attendance	width=10% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Revenue	width=20% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Note(s)	width=20% style="text-align:center;Template:Baseball primary style;"| Reference(s)
July 5, 2000	Dave Matthews Band	Ben Harper Ozomatli		43,822	$2,037,723	The first act to play at the ballpark.	<ref name=Matthews>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 3, 2001		Macy Gray					<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 4, 2001
June 29, 2001	NSYNC		PopOdyssey			Moved from the Pontiac Silverdome. A second show was later added.	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
June 30, 2001
September 1, 2001	Luther Vandross Missy Elliott Frankie Beverly Maze Ginuwine Tank Erick Sermon The Isley Brothers		Ford Detroit Music Festival				<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
July 19, 2003	Bon Jovi	Goo Goo Dolls Sheryl Crow	Bounce Tour	32,507 / 40,330	$1,969,069		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 7, 2003	Kiss Aerosmith	Ted Nugent Saliva	Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour	41,000		Postponed from August 15, due to the blackout that occurred the day before.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 21, 2003	Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band		The Rising Tour	27,728 / 37,437	$2,048,816		<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
August 12, 2005	Eminem 50 Cent G-Unit Lil' Jon Lil' Scrappy Limp Bizkit Papa Roach		Anger Management Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 13, 2005
August 31, 2005	The Rolling Stones	Maroon 5	A Bigger Bang				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 17, 2009	Kid Rock	Lynyrd Skynyrd Robert Randolph and the Family Band	Rock N' Rebels Tour 2009			A second show was added. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Robert Randolph and the Family Band opened the first show, while Alice in Chains and Cypress Hill opened the second show.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 18, 2009		Alice in Chains Cypress Hill
July 30, 2010	Sum 41		Screaming Bloody Murder Tour			This concert was part of the Vans Warped Tour 2010.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 2, 2010	Eminem Jay-Z	B.o.B	The Home & Home Tour			Special guests with Eminem: 50 Cent, D12, The Alchemist, Trick Trick, G-Unit, Drake, and Dr. Dre. Special guests with Jay-Z: Memphis Bleek, Bridget Kelly, and Young Jeezy.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 3, 2010
July 24, 2011	Paul McCartney	DJ Chris Holmes	On the Run Tour	37,854 / 37,854	$3,470,134		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 12, 2011	Kid Rock	Sammy Hagar	Born Free Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 13, 2011
July 28, 2012	Jimmy Buffett	Lionel Richie	Lounging at the Lagoon Tour			This concert was one of the first times Jimmy Buffett and his band had played in such a large venue, and outdoors.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
July 20, 2013	Jimmy Buffett	Jackson Browne	Songs from St. Somewhere Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
May 30, 2014	Dierks Bentley	Chris Young Chase Rice Jon Pardi	Riser Tour			This concert was a part of the WYCD Hoedown.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 26, 2014	Jimmy Buffett	John Fogerty	This One's For You Tour			James Taylor was a special guest on "Mexico".	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 22, 2014	Eminem Rihanna		Monster Tour	105,092 / 105,092	$10,598,888	Rihanna became the first female headliner.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 23, 2014
July 8, 2015	The Rolling Stones	Walk the Moon	Zip Code Tour	36,712 / 36,712	$6,282,151		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 12, 2015	Zac Brown Band	Drake White	Jekyll and Hyde Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 12, 2017	Metallica	Volbeat Avenged Sevenfold Mix Master Mike	WorldWired Tour	40,573 / 43,159	$4,501,650		<ref name=Metallica>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 13, 2018	Journey Def Leppard	The Pretenders	Def Leppard & Journey 2018 Tour	31,383 / 31,383	$2,521,174		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 14, 2018	Zac Brown Band	OneRepublic Nahko and Medicine for the People	Down the Rabbit Hole Live				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 8, 2021	Guns N' Roses	Mammoth WVH	We're F'N' Back! Tour	19,105 / 21,000	$1,824,930	This concert was originally scheduled to take place on July 11, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 10, 2021	Green Day Weezer Fall Out Boy	The Interrupters	Hella Mega Tour	32,552 / 32,552	$2,920,060	This concert was originally scheduled to take place on August 19, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 8, 2022	Chris Stapleton	Nathaniel Rateliff Marthy Stuart Madeline Edwards	Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 9, 2022	Billy Joel		Billy Joel in Concert			This concert was originally scheduled to take place on July 10, 2020, and July 9, 2021, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 10, 2022	Def Leppard Mötley Crüe Poison Joan Jett & The Blackhearts	Classless Act	The Stadium Tour	35,097 / 35,097		This concert was originally scheduled to take place on August 20, 2020, and July 10, 2021, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 18, 2022	Elton John		Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour	33,838 / 33,838	$4,267,268		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 14, 2022	Red Hot Chili Peppers	The Strokes Thundercat	2022 Global Stadium Tour	30,112 / 30,112	$4,048,198		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
August 16, 2023	P!nk	Grouplove KidCutUp Brandi Carlile	Summer Carnival	45,000 / 45,000		Largest concert attendance	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 18, 2024	Def Leppard Journey	Steve Miller Band	The Summer Stadium Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 4, 2024	Green Day	The Smashing Pumpkins Rancid The Linda Lindas	The Saviors Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 13, 2025	The Lumineers	The Backseat Lovers Chance Peña	Automatic World Tour				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hockeytown Winter Festival

Template:See also On February 9, 2012, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Comerica Park would host the Hockeytown Winter Festival in concert with the 2013 NHL Winter Classic held at Michigan Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The festival was to include events such as games between teams in the Ontario Hockey League, the American Hockey League, the Great Lakes Invitational, youth hockey games, and the NHL alumni game. Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, the festival was cancelled.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref> The festival was rescheduled for December 2013. An outdoor rink was set up on the infield of the ballpark for public skating and hockey games.<ref>Template:Multiref2</ref>

Soccer

On July 19, 2017, Comerica Park hosted its first ever soccer game between Roma of the Italian Serie A League against Paris Saint-Germain of France's Ligue 1 in the 2017 International Champions Cup tournament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 30, 2023, Crystal Palace of the English Premier League and Sevilla of Spain's La Liga played against each other at Comerica Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Date	style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Winning team	style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Result	style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Losing team	style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Tournament	style="text-align:center; Template:Baseball primary style;"|Attendance
July 19, 2017	Template:Flagicon Paris Saint-Germain	1–1 5–3 (pens.)	Template:Flagicon Roma	Friendly (2017 International Champions Cup)	36,289
July 30, 2023	Template:Flagicon Sevilla	1–1 1–0 (pens.)	Template:Flagicon Crystal Palace	Friendly (2023 Motor City Cup)	21,000+

See also

• Tourism in metropolitan Detroit
• Heather Nabozny
• List of ballparks by capacity
• List of current Major League Baseball stadiums
• Lists of stadiums

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Stadium site on MLB.com
• Video review of Comerica Park with on-site footage
• Comerica Park Tiger Sculptures