Detroit Tigers Opening Day 2023: Your guide to weather, parking, things to do, more
Play ball!
While the Detroit Tigers' regular season got underway last week, Thursday marks Opening Day at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit, and it's quite the celebration for Michiganders every year. Whether you're attending the game or celebrating elsewhere, there are plenty of game day festivities taking place around the ballpark.
Here's what to know, including game day information, parking, travel, weather, restrictions, things to do and more.
When is Tigers Opening Day?
Opening Day begins at 1:10 p.m. on April 6 as the Detroit Tigers (2-4) host the Boston Red Sox (2-4) at Comerica Park.
TV and radio: Bally Sports, ESPN+, WXYT-FM (97.1; other radio affiliates).
Starting pitchers: Tigers RHP Spencer Turnbull (0-1, 27.00 ERA) vs. Red Sox LHP Chris Sale (0-0, 21.00 ERA)
More: Detroit Tigers Opening Day: Parties, festivities near Comerica Park
Opening Day weather forecast
Detroit will have partly sunny skies Thursday with a high near 55 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. If you're getting to downtown Detroit early, expect 40-degree temperatures that will heat up as game time gets closer. Winds from the west are expected to range from 13 to 17 mph, with high gusts reaching 26 mph.
In the evening, skies will be partly cloudy with a low temperature of 36 degrees.
How can I buy Opening Day tickets?
Tickets for Opening Day are still available for purchase, though they're going fast. Ticket prices start at $65 for standing-room only on the Tigers.com website.
On the secondary market, other vendors including Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats have plenty of tickets available, with some costing as little as $80 a pop, and some as much as $1,000. Here's how to find them.
2023 Detroit Tigers news
Go to freep.com/sports/tigers for the latest on the guys wearing the Old English D this season. They're out to a 2-4 start, but the two wins came against last year's World Series champion, the Houston Astros.
Here's more on what you need to know about the Tigers, who had a new off-field boss, a few new players and the same ol' Miggy for one last time:
CHECK YOUR PROGRAM: Tigers 2023 Opening Day roster; Scott Harris explains decisions
THE SKIPPER: A.J. Hinch learned to be 'a players' manager.' Tigers are relying on that in 2023
JEFF SEIDEL: Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson give world glimpse of future in middle of lineup
THE MEMORIES: Kirk Gibson changed baseball 35 years ago in LA. But he never wanted to leave Tigers
WHAT'S TODAY? What makes Opening Day so special at Comerica Park?
Where should I park on Opening Day?
Several parking options are available around Comerica Park on a first-come, first-serve basis, including parking garages located near the ballpark and Little Caesars Arena, plus parking lots, street parking and public transportation. The closer you are to the park, the more expensive it'll be; some surface lots will cost as high as $40, but prices decrease farther away if you're willing to walk a little bit.
Reserve a parking spot: The Tigers have partnered with ParkWhiz to allow fans to reserve parking spaces near the ballpark. Spots as of Wednesday afternoon range from $22-52, depending where you park.
More parking information can be found here.
Detroit traffic information
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Plan to get to downtown Detroit early. In addition to Opening Day, Thursday is part of the regular workweek, meaning the roads won't be packed just with fans but with daily commuters as well.
The park's surrounding streets — including Brush, Montcalm, Witherell and Adams — will be closed off for pedestrian use only.
Looking to avoid driving altogether? Information about other transportation options, including the QLINE and Detroit's SMART and DDOT bus systems, can be found here.
When does Comerica Park open?
Comerica Park gates open at 10:30 a.m. Early birds are encouraged to partake in various activities, including the Miller Lite Home Run Happy Hour, which runs from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on the rebranded Comerica Landing (formerly Pepsi Porch); select items such as beer, hard seltzers, and hot dogs will cost $5 each.
The stadium will also have live music and photo opportunities, and an exhibit celebrating Miguel Cabrera’s career.
Comerica Park policies to know
Bag policy: With exceptions for diaper and medical bags, Comerica Park prohibits visitors from bringing bags, purses and clutches into the park. Each attendee may bring a single-compartment wallet no larger than 5 inches-by-7 inches-by-1½ inches.
No coolers or outside food/drink: The park prohibits guests from bringing coolers as well as outside food or drinks, with the exception of one factory-sealed water bottle per person, and sealed drink boxes for children.
COVID-19: While Comerica Park does not currently employ any masking or vaccination requirements, the venue asks fans to stay home if they feel sick, seek a COVID-19 test prior to attendance, and to respect distancing within the stadium.
Cashless payment only: Comerica Park is a cashless venue, meaning food, drinks, merchandise and other on-site amenities can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. For those who arrive without cashless payment methods, Comerica park has installed three Cash2Card kiosks, which instantly transfer cash currency onto a temporary Visa card. The kiosks are located in concourse sections 121, 138 and 328.
Here is a list of permitted items inside Comerica Park.
Who is singing the national anthem?
Laith Al-Saadi, a Michigan native and finalist on the 2016 season of “The Voice,” will perform the national anthem for Opening Day at Comerica Park. He has been an important figure to the state’s music scene for over 25 years and often performs blues, soul, and classic rock.
His performance will be followed by a flyover at the park featuring four A-10 Thunderbolt “Warthog” aircraft from the 107th Fighter Squadron.
Who is throwing the first pitch?
The names for this year’s ceremonial first pitch haven’t been released. However, a news release from MLB stated that Detroit legends representing the professional sports landscape will be in attendance and help start the game the right way.
New food at Comerica Park
For the 2023 Detroit Tigers season, the emphasis at Comerica Park is on local food offerings from new and longtime Detroit-based restaurants.
Here are the restaurants you can expect slinging food at the ballpark, with a taste of what they'll offer:
Green Dot Stables (Section 143): Sliders, regular fries, truffle fries, kale salad.
Taqueria El Rey (Section 149): Classic street tacos, Sonoran hot dog, charcoal grilled chicken.
Bert's Marketplace (Section 133): Spicy red hot, barbecue nachos, Bert's ribs with coleslaw and mac-and-cheese.
National Coney Island (Big Cat Court): "Snap Dog" coney and grilled chicken Hani.
Detroit 75 Kitchen (Big Cat Court): Cheesesteak eggrolls and shawarma eggrolls.
Rotating pop-up series (Section 116): The Lobster Food Truck, Breadless and Yum Village will rotate with their offerings throughout the season.
For more on Comerica Park's new food offerings, here's Susan Selasky's review.
More: Detroit Tigers have grand slam with this new item among Comerica Park’s new foods
Things to do in Detroit
If you're not going to the game, there are plenty of things to do around downtown Detroit and surrounding areas.
The 2023 Tigers Opening Day Tailgate Party, hosted by Miller Lite and Bally Sports Detroit, will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Grand Circus Park, just outside the ballpark. Beer, DJs, food trucks, photo opportunities, giveaways and more are planned. Dave Rozema, a former Tiger, will be on-site to sign autographs from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
Restaurants open near the ballpark include Tin Roof Detroit, located directly across the street from Comerica Park, as well as Hockeytown Cafe, Mike's Pizza Bar, PointsBet Sports Bar, The Mixing Board, Frita Batidos Detroit, JoJo's ShakeBAR, Mom's Spaghetti and Union Assembly.
Here's a list of parties and festivities happing around Comerica Park for Opening Day. And here's where to find good food and drink deals downtown Thursday.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers Opening Day 2023: Everything you need to know
