The Detroit Tigers are hosting Opening Day on Friday, April 4, and the city is preparing for all of the fans that will be downtown to celebrate.
Here’s everything to know about parking, street closures, game information and more, before heading to Comerica Park.
Game details
The Tigers will take on the Chicago White Sox on Friday, April 4.
Gates at Comerica Park open at 10:30 a.m., with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
The Tigers return home with a 2-4 record after getting swept by the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners.
The White Sox are also 2-4. They started both home series against the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins with a victory but ultimately lost two out of three both times.
Jack Flaherty, who is back in the Old English D after getting traded to the Dodgers at the deadline last season, will get the start for Detroit. He held the Dodgers to two runs over 5.2 innings in his first start.
Chicago is countering with Jonathan Cannon, a 24-year-old righty who debuted last season with a 4.49 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 124.1 innings. Cannon tossed five shutout innings in his first start against the Angels.
Actor Keegan-Michael Key, who is from Southfield, will throw the ceremonial first pitch before the game begins, and Brian d’Arcy James, a Saginaw native, Grammy winner, and five-time Tony nominee, will perform the national anthem.
Click here for more of our Detroit Tigers coverage.
Parking
The city of Detroit said the following parking garages will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight on Opening Day.
- Ford Underground Garage at 30 E. Jefferson Avenue
- Eastern Market Garage at 2727 Riopelle
The rate for both of these garages is $10.
The Park Detroit App allows people to pay for parking in lots and garages in advance.
In addition, drivers can use the parking app or the municipal parking kiosks to pay for street parking. Up to four hours can be purchased, but people can extend the time using the app and get alerts 10 minutes before their parking time expires.
The city is also reminding motorists that illegally parked vehicles, including ones that are left in no parking or standing areas, blocking driveways and fire hydrants, will be ticketed and towed.
Drivers are advised not to leave valuables visible in their cars, or park in vacant lots, and not to pay individuals who aren’t authorized to collect the payment.
Street closures
The following streets near Comerica Park will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 4:
- Montcalm from Brush to Woodward
- Brush from Beacon to Montcalm
- Adams from Witherell to Brush
Witherall from Adams to the Fisher Freeway Service Drive will be closed beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 3.
Other transportation options
If you want to avoid having to find parking on Friday amid the influx of fans, you can utilize the other transportation options, like DDOT buses, the QLine, and the Detroit People Mover.
DDOT
The city says several major bus routes, including Woodward, Gratiot, Grand River, and Michigan Avenue, lead downtown, just a short walk from Comerica Park. Bus fares are $2 and can be purchased through the Token Transit App.
QLine
Fans can also park in the city’s Midtown or New Center neighborhoods and take the QLine to the Grand Circus Park stop. It is free to ride.
Detroit People Mover
Another free option to get around downtown on Opening Day is hopping on the Detroit People Mover. Fans can catch a ride from 6:30 a.m. to midnight on Opening Day. The band Saxappeal and The Cru will perform at the Broadway Station from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to partake in the Opening Day festivities. For more information, visit here.
Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
If you’re coming from Ann Arbor, you can take D2A2 from the Blake Center to Grand Circus Park for as low as $6. Purchase tickets at D2A2.com.
Items you can & can’t bring into Comerica Park
Fans heading to Comerica Park on Friday should be aware of the ballpark’s policies on what they can bring with them.
According to the ballpark, single-compartment bags, wallets, and clutches smaller than 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ with or without a handle or strap are permitted.
Bags, purses, and clutches larger than 4” x 6” x 1.5” are prohibited, but there are exceptions if they are needed for medical reasons. In this case, medical necessity includes diaper bags, breast pumps, oxygen, insulin, epi-pens, and other medical devices. These bags must be 16″ x 16″ x 8″ or smaller.
Here’s a list of other items that fans can bring into Comerica Park with them:
- Binoculars
- Blankets
- Point and shoot camera (Professional &/or commercial cameras with interchangeable or detachable lenses are not allowed)
- Juice boxes, only if you have children in your party or for medical needs
- Headphones
- Laptops/Tablets. Laptops are allowed; however, laptop bags must meet current bag size requirements to be permitted. See bag policy.
- Knitting needles
- Only medical bags and diaper bags. All bags, purses, backpacks, (except medical or diaper bags) are prohibited.
- Only plastic baby bottles if you have a child in your party
- Seat cushions
- Signs and banners (any wave flags, banners, signs, or other items that are affixed to any pole or stick made of wood, metal, plastic, or any other hard material and that is more than 11” x 17”in length are prohibited)
- Single compartment bags, wallets and clutches smaller than 4” x 6” x 1.5”, with or without a handle or strap, are permitted.
- Small radios
- Battery operated/ rechargeable, handheld fans
- Battery operated coats, gloves, and vests
- Baseball mitts/gloves
- Bottled water in a single, clear factory sealed crushable, disposable, plastic container that is 20 ounces or less. A single empty plastic water bottle is also permitted. Glass, aluminum, and metal containers or bottles are prohibited.
- Strollers (umbrella-type that folds up and will fit underneath the seat, large strollers may be checked at Guest Services)
- Only small collapsible umbrellas (Umbrellas with metal tips and large golf umbrellas are prohibited)
Here’s a list of items that cannot be brought into the ballpark:
- Aerosol cans (hairspray, mace, pepper spray, etc.)
- Marijuana or illegal narcotics, including accessories or paraphernalia associated with marijuana or illegal narcotics use.
- Animals (except approved service animals or service animals in training)
- All bags, purses, backpacks, (except medical or diaper bags). Single compartment wallets smaller than 4” x 6” x 1.5”, with or without a handle or strap are permitted.
- Noisemaking devices: air horns, fog horns, bullhorns, thunder sticks, cowbells, bells, horns, kazoos, whistles, vuvuzelas, didgeridoos and other noisemakers
- Beach balls or other inflatable items
- Beverages (except juice boxes with children in your party or for medical needs)
- Bottles and liquid containers (glass, plastic, and aluminum)
- Coolers
- Smoking of any kind (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping, etc.)
- Fireworks or any types of explosives
- Laser pointers, any device that could create an optical illusion, or any similar devices
- Professional &/or commercial cameras with interchangeable or detachable lenses
- Baseball bats, hockey sticks, clubs, poles, brooms, selfie-sticks, fishing nets or poles, signs attached to signs, missile-like objects that can be thrown
- Video and/or sound recording devices including laptops, tablets, iPads and/or Go Pros
- Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, hoverboards or any personalized recreational vehicles
- Weapons of any kind (including firearms, pocketknives, pepper spray, mace), toy or fake weapons (including squirt guns or super soakers)
- Frisbees
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones): Use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (collectively, “Aircraft Systems”) at the venue, including the surrounding parking areas, is strictly prohibited at all times without prior written approval from Ilitch Sports + Entertainment/313 Presents. Violations of this policy will result in possible arrest and/or confiscation of the Unmanned Aircraft System
- Large Banners and Flags: Guests are not permitted to use or wave flags, banners, signs, or other items that are affixed to any pole or stick made of wood, metal, plastic, or any other hard material and that is more than 11” x 17”in length.
- Outside food
- Umbrellas with metal tips and large golf umbrellas
For more information about the ballpark’s policies, visit here.
Safety protocols
Dennis Hunter, chief of the Detroit Fire Marshal Division, Franklin Hayes, assistant Detroit police chief and Eric Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, shared details about safety measures that will be in place during Opening Day.
They said fire inspectors will be checking to make sure fire safety protocols are being followed, including capacity. The police department will also be present throughout the Opening Day festivities to ensure safety.
Hayes reminded fans that outside of metered parking, drivers will never be charged for parking on public streets. In addition, Hayes said they will be monitoring for parking lots that try to charge fans outrageous rates.
Larson spoke on the economic impact of Opening Day for small businesses and the community, and said that the city usually sees about a 4-5% increase in attendance on Opening Day each year, but that is expected to be higher this year.
For more information about what they talked about during this news conference, you can watch the video at the top of this article.
Opening Day block parties
Detroit Tigers fans can also celebrate Opening Day with free block parties near Comerica Park throughout the weekend.
The block parties will be held at the following times:
- April 4: 9 a.m. through end of game
- April 5: 10:30 a.m. through first pitch
- April 6: 11 a.m. through first pitch
Fans can expect the following during the block parties:
- Local food trucks including Little Caesars Pizza, Bert’s BBQ and more
- Drinks from the Molson Coors Draft Trailer and Happy Thursday Bar (Fans ages 21+)
- 97.1 The Ticket pregame show
- Performances from local DJs and artists
- Merchandise retail kiosk
- Photo and video opportunities at Built Different stations and slow motion GlamBot
- Interactive games including cornhole, giant Jenga, Plinko and speed pitching stations
