3 changes to Comerica Park we’d love to see Detroit Tigers make in 2022

3. Make Comerica Park retractable

Imagine having two professional sports stadiums right next door to each other. One has 81 home games where the weather can cause a game to stop or get canceled completely. The other stadium hosts 8-9 home games a year and weather is a non-factor in determining if a game gets played. Now imagine that both stadiums were constructed within three years of each other. Somehow, the one that gets a dozen uses out of the year total is the one that got the dome. Nonsensical.

I’ve heard wild rumors about the Lions and Tigers sharing a lid when these projects were in the planning stages; obviously, that never came to fruition. But given the unexpected weather patterns every Michigander has come to know and love, not having a retractable stadium for the Detroit Tigers is borderline inexcusable.

I highly doubt that any change of this magnitude is being discussed, but the Detroit Tigers had eight postponements in 2021; six of them home games–and this doesn’t even factor in delays. Weather delays and postponements are a debacle from every angle. It hurts TV ratings, causes frustration for attendees, and makes for a busy ticketing department to try to accommodate fans for a different day. Not to mention, ratings are likely lower for doubleheader days, too, as I can’t imagine the average person has five hours to dedicate out of their day.

If we take it a step further, though, even consider the uncomfortable days. A good portion of April is frigid, and even if it isn’t pouring rain, it can still be miserable to attend a baseball game. Getting fans to a game is simpler than getting them to go back. Freezing for three hours may leave a sour enough disposition in the casual fan that it halts the possibility for future attendance.

Again, I’m fully aware this is the Hail Mary of improvement proposals. I also am aware of the enhancements it would bring to the experience and overall product, and that shouldn’t be ignored.