Detroit celebrates Tigers home opener on Friday
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Comerica Park during last season's home opener. Photo: Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tigers fans finally get to celebrate Opening Day downtown on Friday after the team started the season last week with a six-game road trip.
Why it matters: The Tigers' home opener is an unofficial Detroit holiday when thousands of fans flock downtown to celebrate the return of warm weather and baseball.
For casuals looking to show some spirit, here's a cheat sheet to get ready for the season's first home game.
⚾ State of play: Detroit (1-3) won its first game last night, beating the Seattle Mariners 9-6.
- The season started with a three-game sweep in Los Angeles at the hands of the defending champion Dodgers.
- The Tigers play the Mariners today at 9:40pm and Wednesday at 4:10pm before returning home for Friday's opener against the Chicago White Sox at 1:10pm.
- Michigan native and actor Keegan-Michael Key will throw the first pitch.
⏪ Catch up quick: The Tigers went 31-11 in their last 42 games last season to finish 86-76 and make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
- They swept the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series, then fell to the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
🎟️ Ticket situation: MLB.com had outfield box tickets ($154 plus fees) and standing room only ($94 plus fees) tickets available yesterday.
- Prices on the secondary market started around $100.
📺 How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, previously known as Bally Sports Detroit, will broadcast games this season. The network is available through TV providers, MLB.tv and as an Amazon Prime add-on subscription.
🏟️ Stadium changes: Comerica Park got a facelift in the offseason, and fans don't like all the changes.
- The cursive Tigers sign atop the outfield scoreboard has been replaced by a Comerica Park sign in white letters.
- The field's "keyhole" path, a strip of dirt running from the pitching mound to home plate that was unique to Comerica, has been filled in with grass.
🌭 Food and drink: There's no better way to celebrate Opening Day than by eating and drinking your way around the city. We've got some options:
- The free tailgate party at Grand Circus Park returns with DJs, food trucks, beer tents, games and giveaways, 9am–5pm.
- Another tailgate event at 440 Madison Ave. costs $23. It has heated tents, DJs and bands, a full bar, food vendors and games.
- For restaurants and bars, The Book Tower's Japanese pub, Sakazuki, opens at 11am for its tailgate event, with TVs playing the game, food and beer specials and a hot dog cart serving both Japanese and French food.
- Also in the Book Tower, Bar Rotunda opens at 7am with beer specials, free popcorn, a new menu and a $6 Tigers shot special; and Kamper's Rooftop Lounge starts its party at 11am with beer, Spanish-style hot dogs and projectors showing the game.
- Fishbones in Greektown has a special game day breakfast, 9–11am.
- Frita Batidos opens at 9am with Frita breakfast burritos and tropical mimosas.
- The Hush Block Party at Fixins Soul Kitchen is $18, 11am–7pm, with DJs, plus food and drink specials.
- Sandbox Outdoor Bar and Lounge's party ($28) is 17 hours long with music, games, blue tea specials and food.
- Get tickets to a block party across three venues for $34 (The Annex, Brass Rail and Love and Tequila).