DETROIT – While the Detroit Tigers are counting down the days until their home opener, Chevrolet is taking their vehicles off the streets of the Motor City and hoisting them up at Comerica Park.
With its 3,500 pounds dangling in the air, the Chevy Silverado is doing a different kind of "off-roading" at Comerica Park. The 2014 Silverado and Impala both took their places Monday atop the Chevrolet Fountain in the outfield for the Tigers' upcoming season.
It has become a yearly tradition for Chevy who has been sponsoring Major League Baseball since 2005. Cristi Vasquez, of Chevrolet, doesn't recall a homerun ball ever hitting one of the cars. In fact, she thinks the display is a homerun for advertising.
"Especially with new vehicles it's very important to get people to see them. What better place than every shot from inside the baseball stadium," said Vasquez.
The vehicles will be on display until the end of the season, but Vasquez explains that these are pre-production vehicles, so after they come down they actually get recycled because they're not built to production standards.
The light wind and sunshine Monday made conditions just right to strap the vehicles to stationary platforms before placing them on top of the fountain with a large crane. A sight you will have to check out the next time you go to a game.
Not only can you admire one of these from your seat at Comerica Park, you even have the chance to take one home. That's right, you can win a 2014 Impala and a trip to the All-Star Game.