History
The Tigers opened Bennett Park on April 28, 1896 with a 17–2 win over Columbus, while still in the minor Western League. That September, owner George Arthur Vanderbeck strung lights for an exhibition doubleheader against Cincinnati. Capacity grew from 5,000 to 14,000 by 1911.
With Ty Cobb, the Tigers won pennants in 1907, 1908 and 1909 there. The park was torn down after the 1911 season and Navin Field, later Tiger Stadium, was built on the site.
Why it matters: It was the Detroit Tigers' first home in the American League, on the corner the club then used until 1999.
Timeline
- April 28, 1896First game[1]
The Tigers beat the Columbus Senators 17–2 in the park's first game.
- September 24, 1896Night exhibition[1]
The Tigers played an exhibition doubleheader against Cincinnati under lights strung by owner George Arthur Vanderbeck.
- 1907First of three straight pennants[1]
The Tigers, with a young Ty Cobb, won the first of three straight AL pennants (1907–1909), losing each World Series.
- 1911Razed for Navin Field[1]
The park was demolished between the 1911 and 1912 seasons to build Navin Field on the same site.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
We have not verified what occupies the site today. Know? Tell us, with a source.
Teams & events
| Detroit Tigers | American League · 1896–1911 |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Bennett Field |
|---|---|
| Location | Michigan and Trumbull Avenues, Detroit, Michigan |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | MLB, Minor league |
| Opened | April 28, 1896[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1911[1] |
| Demolished | 1911[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 5,000[1,2] |
| Final capacity | 14,000[1,2] |
| Capacity notes | 5,000 at opening in 1896; 14,000 by 1911. |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Closure | Demolished to build the larger Navin Field on the same site. |
Documented details
Connected venues
Sources
- Bennett Park (Detroit), Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, demolished, events, opened, teams
- Bennett Park (park DET02), Baseball Data Hub. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, coordinates
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Wikipedia's infobox gives demolition as 1911; its text says between the 1911 and 1912 seasons.
- Baseball Data Hub lists major-league use from 1901 (the AL's first major-league season); Wikipedia gives the park's opening as April 28, 1896, when the Tigers were in the minor Western League.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.