Michigan.

A decision on whether to build a new stadium for the Detroit Tigers baseball team or to renovate the existing facility will not be made until after the 1993 baseball season, a team spokesman said last week.

Earlier this year, Mike Ilitch, the team's new owner, said he would make a decision on the stadium issue by yearend. However, Greg Shea, a team spokesman, said Ilitch first wants to go through one season at the 80-year-old ballpark.

In terms of renovation or building a new stadium, Shea said, "All doors are still open."

In the meantime, team officials have released some conceptual ideas to give the ballpark a facelift before the 1993 season begins, Shea said.

He added that the cost of the makeover is estimated at $1 million or more and that the team would probably pay for the renovation even though the stadium is owned by Detroit.

Ilitch, the owner of Little Caesars Pizza, bought the team from rival pizza maven Tom Monaghan, owner of Domino's Pizza, in August. At that time, Wayne County officials shared their plan to build and finance a new stadium in Detroit with Ilitch.

Under the county's plan, a combination of tax-exempt debt, backed by special county tax revenues, and taxable debt, backed by team revenues, would be used to build a $200 million stadium. Voter approval of the special county taxes would be needed.

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