$583k for an 80,000-seat stadium

[Bobby]

Of course, it's the Silverdome. But still, that's some deal.

Though I'm a bit miffed that the Detroit stadium that got saved was this one and not Tiger Stadium.

[pstall]

Strange indeed on Tiger.

Detroit's "leaders" should be ashamed for not thinking forward. Cut too many deals with the Big Three and Unions at the same time and look where it got them.

[Bobby]

Tiger Stadium is an odd one. City of Detroit owned it, and some soccer people approached the city wishing to convert it to a soccer venue. Even though it was a baseball stadium, it had a look that soccer fans tend to like. The Friends of Tiger Stadium, simply hoping to save part of the stadium, were thrilled that someone wanted to keep it in tact and got behind the soccer group.

The Tigers owner got involved, even though his team had departed the stadium and he hadn't done any upkeep on it since the early 90's -- the deal was Detroit would pay the running costs while he managed the venue -- and threw a huge fit. He didn't want Tiger Stadium competing with Comerica Park for money, in fact, he's so jealous of other teams that he intentionally angled the new park so that Ford Field isn't visible -- and you KNOW you have personal issues if you're jealous of the Lions. I think it's the only MLB stadium that faces south.