DETROIT — Comerica Park has been home to the Detroit Tigers for 26 years. Soon, it could have a new name.
Fifth Third Bancorp announced Monday it will acquire Comerica Inc. in an all-stock deal valued at $10.9 billion, merging two major regional banks into what will become the nation’s ninth-largest bank, with roughly $288 billion in assets.
The merger, expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2026 pending shareholder approval, will expand Fifth Third’s presence nationwide while strengthening its position in the Midwest.
The Tigers’ naming-rights agreement with Comerica runs through 2034, but a rebranding now appears likely. Comerica CEO Curt Farmer told the Detroit Free Press that a name change is likely, but not in 2026.
“I’ve spent time with Chris Ilitch already, and we are going to work through what that transition looks like,” Farmer said. “We will remain as eventually Fifth Third as a sponsor of various sports properties, and we will work collaboratively with the Ilitch family on what that transition looks like.”
As Comerica is phased out as a brand, the ballpark’s longtime name appears unlikely to survive.
Fifth Third is already a familiar name in sports sponsorships, including Fifth Third Field in Toledo (home of the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate), Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati (home of the University of Cincinnati basketball teams), Fifth Third Stadium near Atlanta (home of Kennesaw State athletics), and Fifth Third Arena in Chicago (the Chicago Blackhawks’ practice facility).
The Tigers had no immediate comment on Monday.