New food items at Comerica Park
The 2026 Detroit Tigers home season opens at Comerica Park on Friday, April 3, and plenty of new food items await fans.
The Detroit Tigers’ home opener is almost here, and the city is gearing up as Detroit hosts the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park on Friday, April 3.
The game launches a full weekend of baseball-themed fun, with festivities that extend beyond the ballpark.
Whether you’re heading downtown for the action, watching from a block party, or tuning in from home, here’s what fans need to know — from tickets and weather to parking, food, transit, block parties and ballpark highlights.
The Detroit Tigers’ home opener is Friday, April 3, when they host the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:10 p.m. at Comerica Park.
- What: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Detroit Tigers.
- When: First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
- Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.
- Doors open: Comerica Park’s gates will open at 11:30 a.m.
- TV channel: Detroit SportsNet, the team’s new broadcast home for 2026, and FOX 2 Detroit. All Tigers games can be streamed with an MLB.TV subscription.
- Radio: Coverage can be heard on 97.1 FM or at any of these Detroit Tigers radio affiliates.
Friday is expected to be unseasonably warm across metro Detroit, with highs in the mid-70s — about 20 degrees above normal for early April, said National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Kacan. Skies will be mostly cloudy after a possible brief morning shower, and winds may gust up to 25 mph.
There is a 30% chance of showers in the afternoon or early evening, though much of the day could remain dry. Rain and possible thunderstorms become more likely Friday night. The exact timing of any showers or storms could shift as the forecast becomes clearer within 24 to 48 hours of the event, Kacan said.
A limited number of Opening Day tickets in Detroit are still available through the MLB website. Other seats can be found on secondary markets like SeatGeek, Ticketmaster, StubHub and Vivid Seats.
Tickets for opening weekend and other 2026 home games can also be purchased at Tigers.com/Tickets and through secondary ticket marketplaces.
Fans at Comerica Park for the Tigers’ 2026 home opener can expect new twists on ballpark favorites, local eats and value options. Highlights include the Tiger Tail footlong corn dog, pierogi nachos, a smoked short rib sandwich and offerings from Detroit-area restaurants like Breadless, Slows Bar-BQ, Fairway Packing Co., Bert’s Marketplace and Taqueria El Rey.
Value deals return, including $9.42 hot dog meals, $12.50 pizza meals, $5 beers and more.
As part of a $200 million upgrade, two new premium spaces have been added to Comerica Park this year.
The new Press Club is an all-inclusive area for 24 guests per game beside the press box, with “elevated cuisine and unparalleled comfort,” according to Illitch Companies. The MotorCity Casino Hotel Tiger Club now offers season memberships starting at $99 per seat, per game, with 88 new indoor seats along floor-to-ceiling windows for premium views in any weather and all-inclusive food and beverages.
Road closures
All streets around Comerica Park will be restricted from vehicle traffic during home games, with road closures in effect approximately 3 hours before each game time, according to the Tigers.
The map below shows routes to Comerica Park parking areas during restricted traffic for the Tigers’ home opener (tap here for larger size).
Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Diane Cross said no construction will take place on routes leading into downtown Detroit to avoid deterring drivers heading to the game. She noted that crashes or other emergencies could still affect traffic.
Fans heading to Comerica Park can reserve parking in advance through ParkWhiz.com, the Tigers’ parking partner, or The District Detroit website.
Parking is also available in city-owned garages, metered street spaces and private lots.
Drivers can pay for up to four hours of metered parking using the Park Detroit app or kiosks and may extend time through the app with mobile alerts. The app also allows advance payment for some garages and lots. More information is available at parkdetroit.us.
Only park in lots with clearly posted rates, avoiding vacant lots or unauthorized attendants. Some nearby bars offer shuttle service to the ballpark.
Illegally parked vehicles risk tickets and towing.
At Comerica Park, all food, beverages, merchandise and other on-site amenities must be purchased with a credit or debit card. The stadium does not accept cash for transactions.
Fans who arrive without a cashless payment method can use one of five Cash2Card kiosks, which instantly load cash onto a temporary Visa card. The kiosks are located at sections 121, 138 and 328, in the Tiger Club lobby at section 110 and at the D Shop near Big Cat Court in section 119.
All tickets at Comerica Park are digital. Fans are advised to download them to their digital wallet via the MLB Ballpark app before arriving to ensure a smooth entry.
At Comerica Park, only single-compartment bags, wallets or clutches measuring 4 inches by 6 inches by 1.5 inches or smaller are permitted. Larger bags, purses and clutches are not allowed.
Exceptions are made for medically necessary and diaper bags, which must be no larger than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches.
For more information on what is and isn’t permitted inside the ballpark, along with other security details, visit the Tigers’ website.
To avoid traffic and parking challenges, fans are encouraged to take public transit.
- DDOT Buses: Fare is $2. Major routes, including Woodward, Gratiot, Grand River, and Michigan Avenue, lead downtown. Passes can be purchased in advance on the Token Transit app.
- SMART buses: Fixed-route service links the suburbs to downtown Detroit. SMART is offering free service on all routes for Opening Day.
- QLINE: Visitors can park in Midtown or New Center and take the QLINE downtown for free.
- Park-and-ride: Fans from outside Detroit can park at Lot 14 near TechTown or Wayne State Lot 12 for $5, then take the QLINE to Montcalm Station, a short walk from Comerica Park, according to the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan. Staff and signage will guide riders.
- Detroit People Mover: Free rides available from 6:30 a.m. to midnight.
The free Transit app allows riders to plan and pay for trips across all major transit providers in Southeast Michigan, with real-time departure times and step-by-step navigation, according to the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.
Tigers’ Opening Day and weekend block party
The official Tigers Opening Day Block Party kicks off at 9 a.m. Friday, April 3, on Witherell Street outside Comerica Park and runs throughout the weekend. Presented by Miller Lite, the free event will feature live entertainment, celebrity appearances, alumni interviews, giveaways, fan activations and appearances by team mascots PAWS and Rally Cats, according to the Tigers and Illitch Companies.
Fans without game tickets can watch the matchup in the block party space while enjoying food, drinks and the Opening Day festivities, making it a full weekend celebration of Tigers baseball in downtown Detroit.
Downtown Detroit Partnership’s block party
The Opening Day Tailgate Party at Grand Circus Park runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, offering a free, public place to celebrate just steps from Comerica Park. The event is presented by Miller Lite and produced by the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
Fans can expect live music from DJs, food trucks, a beer tent, interactive sponsor activations, merchandise vendors, giveaways and large video walls showing the game, creating a lively alternative for those without tickets or looking to join the Opening Day crowd outside the ballpark, according to the Downtown Detroit Partnership.
Tailgating is prohibited on public property.
Fans without tickets who don’t want to watch from home or at a block party can catch the game at many downtown Detroit bars. Here’s a map of what’s nearby.
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
Previous reporting by Free Press journalists Susan Selaskey and Jalen Williams contributed to this story.
