by Some stadiums are overlooked due to the team that plays in it or the city that it is in. Sadly, this is the case for Detroit’s stadium Comerica Park. I visited this stadium in the summer of 2018 on back-to-back days. With the MLB lockout delaying the season for two long weeks, hopefully a stadium review will tie over the hunger of the fans until opening day. This will be review number four and stadium number five in my journey to visit and review all 30 MLB stadiums.
Each stadium will get a letter grade depending on five distinct categories, Location, aesthetics, atmosphere, food, and bells and whistles. These rankings come from my experiences at the ballpark. With, your experience may differ from mine. From now on these stadiums and cities are places I have only visited twice or less so I may not have gotten the full experience a diehard fan would get.
Park info: Comerica Park has been home of the Detroit Tigers since 2000. The project started in the fall of 1997 to replace the old Tiger stadium that was a multi-use facility. Tiger stadium was the home for the Tigers from 1911 until Comerica Park was built. Comerica is known for its bells and whistles as it looks to provide a unique experience compared to other Ball Parks.
Location: Comerica Park is in the center of downtown Detroit right across the street from Ford field and little Caesar’s arena. It is an area that is easy to reach in the city with various parking all over the area. There are many places to eat outside the stadium as the town seems to open after games. A quick walk down the road after a game and it is a party at every corner. If you are not into party’s that is no problem, there are places to eat around every corner, from Louisiana themed restaurants playing jazz music to pizzerias with Detroit style pizza. Sadly, I only know this one part of the city, anything outside of this area I have not been to yet.
Location is a B+ due to being downtown
Aesthetics: Aesthetics will be based on how the stadium looks inside and out, grass and field dimensions will be in play as well as the background of the city.
Comerica Park is a pretty ballpark that looks like it comes out of the Jewel box era of ball parks. The dimensions are unique to the stadium, it is straight along the left field wall but then becomes jagged as the wall goes from center to right field. The brick wall in right center field that has the retired numbers is a nice touch that separates itself from other stadiums. The center field batters eye is a large fountain that goes off during runs scored and at the end of the game. The field diamond at Comerica even looks different compared to other fields due to the sharper corners that divide the dirt and the grass. Comerica does an impressive job on making this stadium and field different than any other stadium.
Aesthetics is an easy A+
Atmosphere: Detroit has an interesting atmosphere to say the least, at the time I attended back-to-back nights the Tigers were struggling to stay in contention for the wild card race. The tiger fans still did a respectable job on packing the stadium and making the city feel alive before and after the game. The sport’s culture in Detroit is a little different compared to Cleveland or Pittsburgh, I can only speak about the Tigers games I attended so this does not apply to the other teams that call Detroit home. Tiger games almost feel like a social event rather than a sporting event. Most fans were more interested in talking to each other rather than watching the game. Fans standing and walking around mid-pitch was also strange to me and became annoying at the time. This ballpark attracts a lot of casual fans, which is not a terrible thing but could bother those that enjoy going to traditional ball parks with traditional atmospheres. The Atmosphere seems like a bigger scale Tropicana field. The difference here is there are more fans that show up and seem to care about the outcome of the game, that casual atmosphere remains similar even that being said. The casual atmosphere most likely comes from how the team markets itself, creating this atmosphere may be the best way for the team to put fans in the seats.
The atmosphere is a B- the mix between casual and hardcore fans is a comfortable mix for anyone visiting the park.
Food: Comerica Park has some of the best and unique food options that you will see. It is like Progressive Park on how they have food options unique to the ballpark (Yes, I know I gave it a low score, but I have been to Progressive park more since my review). A standout for me was the Shawarma, it is a food item that I never had until I was in the ballpark. Looking at the food items that will be at the park this season Shawarma may have been removed. Food items that you will find are Craft Beer flights, Chimichanga’s, loaded nacho fries, French onion fries, and so much more. No need to worry about the food options when you head over to Comerica Park for a ball game.
Food is a solid A
Bells and Whistles: Comerica Park might just be the kings of Bells and whistles, one quick walk around the concourse and you will find things in a ballpark you never knew could fit in a ballpark. A Ferris wheel and a merry-go-round. The fountain in center field and the hall of fame are pleasing to look at and add an extra flair to the stadium. My favorite thing about the ballpark is the flagpole in center field. Old Tigers stadium had the flagpole in the middle of center field. To honor the history of the Tigers they put the flagpole in the middle of the bullpen, it is hard to notice if you are not looking for it, but it is there for baseball historians to look for.
Bells and Whistles is a clear-cut A+ best in the league
Comerica Park is a fun ballpark that is pretty to look at. A fresh new stadium with a classic look is the way to go and this ballpark just knocks it out the park. I recommend that baseball fans check this park out, they will no regret visiting one of the prettiest modern parks in America.
Final review for Comerica Park in Detroit Michigan is an A- it is a fun ballpark that old and new fans of baseball can find something that they enjoy in every part of the stadium.
