In the 2012 Fall Classic, there are two ballparks that opened the same year. One is hosting its second World Series, and the other its third. Both are exceptionally pretty parks in their city’s downtown, and their views are spectacular. Let’s compare Comerica Park with AT&T Park.
As we’ve been doing since 2003, here is our “tale of the tape” of the two parks in this year’s Fall Classic. As always, some of the items are a little tongue-in-cheek!
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Inside |  |
Comerica Park |
AT&T Park |
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| It opened about a mile from Tiger Stadium in 2000. | Year opened | In 2000, Pac Bell Park (as it was called then) opened |
| Downtown Detroit between the famous Fox Theater and the NFL’s Ford Field | Site | Like Candlestick, on the water, but much closer to downtown |
| Statues of legenday Tiger players in left-center field; a tiger-themed merry-go-round and a Ferris Wheel | Special features | Stunning exterior, huge glove and Coke bottle in outfield, batters try for “splash hits” into McCovey Cove |
| HOK (now called Populous) | Designed by | HOK (now called Populous) |
| $300 million | Cost to build | $357 million |
| 345′-370′-420′-365′-330′ | Outfield dimensions | 339′-404′-399′-421′-309′ The RF wall is 24′ tall, in honor of Willie Mays’ #24. |
| 41,255. 45,027 including standing-room | Seating capacity | 41,915. 43,415 including standing room |
| Natural grass | Playing surface | Natural grass |
| 2006 was the first, so this is the second | World Series hosted | 2002, when the Giants lost to the Angels, was the first. 2010 was the second, so this is the third |
| Never while in Comerica Park. The Tigers’ last WS win was in 1984 when they still played at Tiger Stadium. | Last World Series won by home team | 2010, when they beat the Rangers in five games. The clincher came in Arlington, though. |
| 2005, won by the American League 7-5 | All Star Games hosted | 2007, when the American League prevailed 5-4 |
| Spectacular view of Detroit skyline | Landmark | Immense four-fingered baseball glove |
| Fairly neutral. Yields 2.6% more HRs than MLB average, and 7.1% more runs. 53% more triples are hit here than average, though. | Park factors (2012) source: ESPN.com |
Very significantly a pitcher’s park. Only one park in the Majors gave up fewer runs, and none gave up fewer HRs — 48% fewer than an average MLB park. |
| Tiger fans love their triple-crown winner and their stout starting pitching. Hungry to win first WS since 1984. | Filled with | Very loud fans who badly want a second title to go with the 2010 championship. |
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Outside |  |