DETROIT – For the first time since September 26, 2019, Detroit Tigers fans will root on their favorite ball club from the stands of Comerica Park when the Tigers host the Cleveland Indians for Opening Day, presented by Ball Park, on Thursday, April 1, kicking off a six-game homestand for Opening Week.
The Tigers will begin the season by hosting fans at 20 percent capacity. Comerica Park gates will open at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, and pre-game festivities will include a virtual ceremonial first pitch thrown by local frontline hero Joshua Bradley and his son Jaxon. Detroit native and Grammy Award winning vocalist Pastor Marvin Winans will perform the National Anthem.
Shortly before the 1:10 p.m. first pitch, a flyover featuring four A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" will provide an emotional start to the Tigers' 2021 campaign. Angela Davis, a teacher in the Wayne Westland Community Schools district and a frontline worker, will performer "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch.
The Tigers' three-game series against Cleveland will continue on Saturday and Sunday with a pair of afternoon starts. The Minnesota Twins will visit Detroit next Monday thru Wednesday to complete Opening Week at Comerica Park.
Sunday's series finale against the Indians will serve as the first "Sunday Kids Day" game of the season, and the Easter Bunny and PAWS will be in attendance at Comerica Park. Limited tickets for the month of April remain available for purchase at tigers.com/tickets.
Tigers Partner with Kroger, Bally Sports Detroit to Introduce New Meaningful Community Impact Initiatives
The Tigers and Kroger have teamed up to donate 41,083 nutritious meals to Forgotten Harvest on Opening Day – one for every seat in Comerica Park. The meals will support more than 1,000 children in Forgotten Harvest's Detroit summer lunch program this year as part of the Tigers commitment to supporting youth wellness through the power of baseball. To join the Tigers in giving, visit www.ForgottenHarvest.org/Tigers.
Bally Sports Detroit, the Tigers and USA Baseball have partnered to launch a new, free virtual program, the Detroit Tigers Fun At Bat At Home Series. The program introduces children in grades K-5 to the fundamentals of baseball and critical character development principles through a series of interactive videos aimed at growing sport participation. It will be hosted by former Tigers outfielder and current Bally Sports Detroit studio analyst Craig Monroe.
In addition to public availability, the Fun At Bat At Home Series aims to level the playing field for children in underserved communities. To complement the virtual elements, and aid in eliminating barriers to play, 500 preselected young Detroiters will receive free equipment and special experiences from the Tigers.
Beginning April 1, parents can learn more about the free program and register their child at tigers.com/FunAtBat.
To show appreciation for community heroes and MVPs, Chevrolet has teamed up with Major League Baseball and its clubs to give five hometown heroes from across America the chance to attend MLB Opening Day in their home ballpark. The Tigers' five honorees will officially open the gates at Comerica Park on Opening Day and be recognized on the scoreboard, along with the other frontline and community heroes in attendance. They also received a surprise visit from PAWS leading up to Thursday's Opening Day.
Detroit Tigers Foundation Announces 50/50 Raffle and Home Game Ticket Auction
The Tigers Foundation will host a 50/50 Raffle on Opening Day, and each subsequent weekend home game, at select kiosk locations throughout Comerica Park. Net proceeds support the Tigers work in youth education, youth wellness, and sport participation and growth programming. To learn more about the 50/50 Raffle program, visit www.Tigers.com/Raffle.
Beginning with Opening Day, the Tigers Foundation is also hosting a Home Game Ticket Auction for fans to bid on an opportunity to secure tickets to key games throughout the season. Proceeds from each auction benefit the Detroit Tigers Foundation. To bid, visit www.Tigers.com/TicketAuction.
Enhanced health & safety protocols
The Tigers have coordinated with public health and medical experts, government officials and Major League Baseball to develop a comprehensive plan that will allow fans to safely and confidently return to Comerica Park. If capacity guidelines are expanded at any point during the 2021 season, the Tigers will be prepared to host additional fans, and increased single-game tickets will be made available.
For a summary of health and safety measures have been incorporated or enhanced at Comerica Park, visit tigers.com/healthandsafety.
