SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

The wrecking ball began swinging Monday on the north side of the vacant stadium, The Detroit News reported. The conservancy wants to preserve part of the south side, including the diamond, dugouts and 3,000 seats along with an area that would become a museum for the sports memorabilia collected by announcer Ernie Harwell.

The Tigers began playing on the site of the stadium in 1895. A new stadium opened in 1912 and remained the team's home until 1999 with extensive additions and overhauls.

Since the Tigers moved to Comerica Park, a number of redevelopment plans have been put forward -- including a minor-league ball park, a luxury hotel and even a bull ring. So far, none has caught on.

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has given the conservancy an Aug. 1 deadline to present a workable plan for preservation of part of the stadium. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., has introduced legislation to provide $15 million in federal funding.

If the group fails, the entire stadium will be leveled, with most of it sold for scrap.

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