The coldest Tigers Opening Day in over three decades could not cool Tigers fever in Detroit. Limited fans returned to Comerica Park for the first time since 2019.
“Opening Day is the biggest day in Detroit. As an organization, we are so excited to be able to bring back great Tigers baseball and bring back a sense of joy,” said Detroit Tigers Vice President of Marketing, Ellen Hill Zeringue. “Frequently people think of Opening Day as the start of spring. It’s a little chilly but today, this opening day in particular after last year, really means something. We’re bringing hope and joy to the citizens of Detroit.”
Zeringue was thrilled to continue the Tigers Opening Day tradition and see children, parents, and everyone from all walks of life excited about baseball returning to the Motor City. “There’s a sense of excitement and euphoria across the city. It’s like a holiday.”
For the 2021 season, Comerica Park will operate at 20 percent capacity which equates to just over 8,000 fans being present in the stands for each home game. While Tigers infielder Niko Goodrum would love to play in front of a sold-out crowd, he is grateful the ballpark is not empty again this year.
“It’s a big thing to have the fans back in,” said Goodrum. “Last year was tough without them. Opening Day is something that never gets old. I still get goosebumps. I still get chills running out there and the fans are there. I wish it could be a packed-out stadium, but we will make do with what we have.”
If game one is any indication, Goodrum was correct in emphasizing the importance of fans’ presence. The Tigers rewarded those who braved the 30-degree-cold with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians to begin the season.
Zeringue says there was a lot of preparation that went into Detroiters safely seeing Tigers baseball live.
“We worked very closely with state and local health officials to ensure that the ballpark is safe. The good news is that we are able to safely physically distance fans.”
For those looking forward to attending a game this year, there are some major updates to note:
- Fans must take a gameday health and wellness survey at tigers.com/wellness.
- All bags/purses are prohibited (exceptions: medical bags, diaper bags, or very small wallets).
- Everyone must wear a mask at all times (unless seated in a designated eating location).
- All points of sale at Comerica Park require cashless payment methods.
For more information on health and safety protocols this season visit https://www.mlb.com/tigers/ballpark/health-and-safety
“There’s a comprehensive list of things you can and cannot do, but the most important thing you can do is have fun at a Tigers game,” said Zeringue.
About Post Author
