<P> A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977 . In 1977, the Tigers sold the stadium to the city of Detroit, which then leased it back to the Tigers . As part of this transfer, the green wooden seats were replaced with blue and orange plastic ones and the stadium's interior, which was green, was painted blue to match . </P> <P> In 1992, new owner Mike Ilitch began many cosmetic improvements to the ballpark, primarily with the addition of the Tiger Den and Tiger Plaza . The Tiger Den was an area in the lower deck between first and third base that had padded seats and section waiters . The Tiger Plaza was constructed in the old players parking lot and consisted of many concessionaires and a gift shop . </P> <P> After the 1994 strike, plans were made to construct a new park, but many campaigned to save the old stadium . Plans to modify and maintain Tiger Stadium as the home of the Tigers, known as the Cochrane Plan, were supported by many in the community, but were never seriously considered by the Tigers . Ground was broken for the new Comerica Park during the 1997 season . </P> <P> Tiger Stadium had a 125 - foot (38 m) tall flagpole in fair play, to the left of dead center field near the 440 foot (134 m) mark . The same flag pole was originally to be brought to Comerica Park, but this never took place . A new flagpole in the spirit of Tiger Stadium's pole was positioned in fair play at Comerica Park until the left field fence was moved in closer prior to the 2003 season . The original Tiger Stadium flagpole, designed by Rudolph V. Herman at the request of W.O. "Spike" Briggs, is still in its original position on the now vacant site . </P>

Where did the detroit tigers play before comerica park