Taxpayers picked up $400k bill for Tigers new seats; next day Ilitch paid $525 million for casino

from the March 19-25, 2005 archives of BallPark Digest:

Taxpayers foot bill for Tiger seats

Posted March 20, 2005
Financially strapped Wayne County is picking up $400,000 of the total $1.2 million needed to add 900 seats to the right-field bleachers at Comerica Field, the home of the Detroit Tigers. The team will pick up the rest of the cost; the project is expected to be completed by Opening Day. The deal irritates some fans and taxpayers, especially since it came one day after Marian Ilitch, the wife of Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, bid $525 million to become the sole owner of MotorCity Casino.

A Detroit News reader survey at the time indicated:

The Wayne County Commission has decided to pay $400,000 toward the cost of adding 950 seats to Comerica Park. Do you support this expenditure?

Yes 14.55%
No 85.45%