Comerica Park is owned by Ilitch Holdings, Inc. It is a privately held company owned by Marian and Mike Illitch. The company was founded in 1999 to oversee the business interests of the family that includes Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Olympia Entertainment and Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club.
Ilitch Holdings also owns the rights to Comerica Park as well as other venues in Detroit including Fox Theatre and City Theatre. In addition, it has a 50% interest in MotorCity Casino Hotel and its related entertainment venues.
Comerica Park is the home of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team, located in downtown Detroit. The ballpark was opened in 2000 and is owned by the city of Detroit. Comerica Park features a seating capacity of 41,083 and includes many unique features such as an aquarium behind home plate, ferris wheel, carousel and tiger fountain.
It has served as host to many special events including concerts, college football games and international soccer matches.
The History of Comerica Park
Comerica Park Changes
Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, recently underwent some changes due to COVID-19 safety measures. Seating capacity was reduced by 50%, and the seating bowl was reconfigured with social distancing in mind. Additional hand sanitizing stations have been added throughout the ballpark and at each entrance gate, while food options are now available through mobile ordering apps or cashless transactions at concession stands.
Additionally, all guests must wear face masks upon entry and will be subject to temperature checks prior to entering Comerica Park.
Who is the Current Owner of the Detroit Tigers?
The current owner of the Detroit Tigers is Michael Ilitch, who purchased the team in 1992. Ilitch, a Michigan native and founder of Little Caesars Pizza, has been instrumental in building up the city’s sports teams over the years. He was previously part-owner of the Detroit Red Wings and is also a member of Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
His commitment to his hometown has seen him invest heavily into baseball parks and other projects around Detroit which have enriched both sporting culture as well as local economy. Under Ilitch’s ownership, the Tigers have had considerable success including four division championships (2007, 2011–2013), two American League Pennants (2006 & 2012) and an appearance at the 2006 World Series where they were defeated by St Louis Cardinals 4-1. Ilitch’s tenure with The Tigers has given them stability on and off field; he recently passed away February 2017 leaving control of The Tigers to his family members: sons Christopher Ilitch (President & CEO) & Ronny Illich (Vice Chairman).
Who Financed Comerica Park?
Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan is home to the Major League Baseball (MLB) team the Detroit Tigers. It has been their home since 2000 and was built as a replacement for Tiger Stadium. The construction of Comerica Park cost $300 million and was financed by many different sources.
Funds were provided by public sector sources such as Wayne County, City of Detroit, State of Michigan, Federal Government and private sector contributions from local businesses. In addition to these entities providing funding there were several corporate sponsors who also contributed funds towards its completion including Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo., Compuware Corporation and Olympia Entertainment Inc.
Each source offered a unique contribution in order to ensure that this project came together successfully but ultimately it was due largely to the dedication of all parties involved that made it possible for Comerica Park to exist today!
Does Comerica Bank Own Comerica Park?
Comerica Bank and Comerica Park have a unique relationship. Comerica Bank is the official bank of the Detroit Tigers, but the two entities are not related in any ownership capacity. The ballpark itself was privately funded by Mike Ilitch, owner of Little Caesars Pizza and founder of Ilitch Holdings.
It opened in 2000 as part of a larger development project that included several restaurants, retail shops, office buildings and residential space surrounding the park. The name “Comerica” comes from Mr. Ilitch’s desire to pay homage to his hometown of Detroit—it is derived from the phrase “Commerce + America.” While it may appear that Comerica Bank owns Comerica Park due to its presence within the stadium (the bank has had exclusive naming rights since 1998), this could not be further from reality; Comerica Bank only provides financial services for fans at ballgames and other events hosted at the facility.
How Much Does It Cost to Build Comerica Park?
Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team, was built in 2000 and has a capacity of 41,083. The total cost to build Comerica Park was approximately $300 million. This included costs associated with design and construction of the ballpark as well as infrastructure improvements to downtown Detroit around the area including new roads, sidewalks and lighting.
It also included money for land acquisition ($55 million) and demolition of a portion of Tiger Stadium ($14 million). In addition, there were costs associated with acquiring naming rights from Comerica Bank which added another $66 million to the overall cost. All told, it took 7 years from conception to completion before Detroiters could enjoy America’s pastime at one of its most beautiful ballparks!
Conclusion
This article has provided a comprehensive overview of Comerica Park and its ownership. We have learned that the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority owns the ballpark, which is owned by Ilitch Holdings, Inc., an entity controlled by the late Mike Ilitch and his family. Additionally, we discovered that since it opened in April 2000, Comerica Park has been host to many MLB games as well as other events such as concerts and festivals.
As one of Detroit’s premier sporting venues, it continues to draw fans from across Michigan and beyond year after year. With its beautiful design and exciting atmosphere, Comerica Park is sure to remain an important part of Motor City culture for years to come.
