Group fails to save Detroit's Tiger Stadium

What remains of Tiger Stadium in Detroit will meet the wrecking ball, much to the chagrin of a local non-profit group.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Prentis Edwards rejected a request Monday morning by the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy to issue an injunction preventing further demolition of the historic ballpark.

Edwards agreed with lawyers for the city that the group has little chance of raising enough money for a proposed $33.4 million US redevelopment project.

The prospects for success in the future, Edwards said, are "very, very dim."

After the hearing, conservancy leaders appealed to Mayor Dave Bing to intervene to save the ballpark. Bing said in a statement that while he remained "sensitive to the concerns of those who wish to preserve Tiger Stadium," he would "honour" the judge's decision.

Conservancy president Thomas Linn said the group would not appeal Edwards' decision.

Detroit Economic Growth Corp. executive vice-president Waymon Guillebeaux said demolition would resume immediately.

Crews used a backhoe to tear away chunks of the upper deck along the third base line as dozens of onlookers gathered outside the old ballpark around 1:50 p.m. ET on Monday.

Tiger Stadium opened in 1912 as Navin Field and served as the American League team's home until the 2000 season.

"It's a cherished site. We're big fans," Joy Gargano of Hamtramck, who attended a vigil at the stadium, told the Detroit News.

Most of stadium was leveled last year, but a section extending from dugout to dugout was remained while the conservancy sought to raise money to transform it into a commercial building with a working ball field.

Michael Myckowiak, attorney for the conservancy, asked for more time to raise money, saying security at the site had already been paid through June.

Frederick Berg, attorney for the city's Economic Development Corp., said the conservancy had sufficient time to produce the tax credits, loans and other financing necessary for the redevelopment project.

Halting demolition now would cost Detroit $150,000, said Berg, in addition to the $400,000 already owed the demolition company to carry out the work.