Governor Backs Stadium

Gov. John Engler has agreed to back a plan to build a stadium for the Detroit Tigers at a downtown site rather than at the State Fairgrounds, Mayor Dennis Archer said.

Engler spokesman John Truscott said the governor had wanted the fairgrounds considered as an option, but it was never the only option he wanted considered.

“If development downtown can occur, we want to help that happen,” he said.

Archer, Tigers owner Mike Ilitch and downtown business leaders balked at the idea of building a stadium at the fairgrounds because it wouldn’t help spur development downtown.

Archer said the city probably won’t begin pushing for the stadium until February. He said Engler suggested that the plan be unveiled then.