Seven demolition firms submitted bids Friday for the job of razing most of Tiger Stadium.

The staff of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. will review the bids and make a recommendation to the city's Economic Development Corp., a quasi-public entity that controls the baseball stadium.

If the development group, which next meets on Dec. 11, votes to award a contract to one of the bidders, demolition work could begin in early 2008.

Whichever firm wins the contract would have to comply with the City of Detroit's plans to preserve a corner of the old ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull as a community center, memorial or museum.

The playing field and dugouts also would be saved. The bulk of the ballpark would be redeveloped for retail and residential use.

Work to tear down the old stadium could begin early next year if the city awards a contract at its meeting next week.