Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox

For the first time, I attend an Opening Day and it only happens because my son wants to watch live professional football.

Michigan Spring Break (or the last family vacation)

My oldest is graduating from high school and, to be honest, I don’t know if there will ever be another family vacation. I love taking my kids out on vacation but, at some point, they become adults and will want to be taking their own vacations. Take advantage of the time you have with your kids while you can.

Back to professional football, the UFL Michigan Panthers has a game scheduled in early April at Ford Field. It is scheduled on the same day at the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day. The trip also give me an opportunity to check out Jackson, Michigan, which is about an hour west of Detroit and one of those small cities that has been recommended for me to explore.

Opening Day Festivities

It’s no doubt that every baseball fan should experience Opening Day. The City of Detroit, in particular, has a lot going on with music and game outside the ballpark and in neighboring Grand Circus Park.

Festivities for Opening Day also means extra traffic and congestion in downtown. Detroit offers lots of parking garages nearby and about all of them allow you to pre-purchase parking.

The gates open two hours before first pitch (they usually open 60-90 minutes before) and offers plenty of time to walk the park, browse the team store, check out ballpark foods, and just hang out.

Unique to Comerica Park are the massive tiger statues that mark the entrances to the ballpark.

Pre-game activities on the field make the first game of the season stand out from any other regular season game.

Seat Selection

Section 139A Row B

We have mezzanine seats on the lower level along the 3rd base side. One distinct trait about this section is that there are only three seats so it was perfect for myself and the two teenagers. Each row has a couple of small tables in front so it’s a great space for our food and drinks and other goodies. Fortunately located just under the overhang, we have plenty of shade during the game and it’s a great view of the game with no obstructions.

Ballpark Food of Choice

The last time at Comerica Park, I got Little Caesar’s. Little Caesar’s is about everywhere at Comerica from the signage in the outfield and the concessions at every turn.

This time, however, is about the coney hot dog. A coney is a hot dog topped with ground beef and onion and, from what I am learning during my time in Michigan, it is a Michigan favorite with about every hot dog place all taking claim as the originator of the coney.

Ballpark Pass-Port Stamp

By this time, I have gotten the pass-port stamp for the past two years. One of the cool opportunities the pass-port program has offered is that I’ve been able to meet other Stampeders in person at many of the games I’ve attended.

Opening Day gives me this opportunity again to meet other Stampeders, share my custom stamp, and talk baseball.

Game Highlights

Jack Flaherty started the game pitching 5.2 innings but two home runs from Kerry Carpenter and one home runs from Riley Greene cemented a 7-2 Tigers win over the White Sox to kick off baseball at Comerica Park.