Blade brigade: Field of green laid for Tigers' Opening Day

Anjana Schroeder / Crain's Detroit Business

The crew putting in new sod works Thursday at Comerica Park less than two weeks before opening day.

Workers began installing 103,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass at Comerica Park today, the first full re-sod of the Detroit Tigers ballpark since 2007.

After scraping away snow and ice from the barren playing surface the old grass was removed late last year so a temporary ice rink could be built on the infield the ground was prepped to receive the grass from Fort Morgan, Colo.-based Graff's Turf Farm. The turf was shipped in several trucks, and is expected to be ready for Opening Day on March 31, when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals.

New natural grass fields at major league ballparks range in price from $100,000 to $250,000. The National Hockey League agreed to pick up replacement grass costs at Comerica Park as part of the deal it swung with Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch to host its Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium instead of Comerica Park.

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Blade brigade: Field of green laid for Tigers' Opening Day