Downtown Detroit is alive with excitement Friday as fans gather to watch the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day at Comerica Park matchup against the Chicago White Sox.
While the game kicks off at 1:10 p.m., people from all over Michigan and beyond arrived early for pregame festivities in and around Comerica Park, decked out in Tigers gear.
"Go Tigers!" shouted Jerry Taylor, 38, a Detroit sports fan and father of three.
The Taylor family of St. Clair Shores has been attending the game and tailgating at a parking lot on Elizabeth and Witherell streets, just outside the ballpark, for years.
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"We've been coming down with the kids since 2021," said Jerry's wife, 36-year-old Megan Taylor. "Our son was born on April 4, 2019, at 9:44 p.m., in room 744. So as we were relaxing with our newborn baby, watching the Tigers opening game rerun, we decided maybe we should look and see if the Tigers have a player who's number 44, and they did. Daniel Norris was the pitcher at the time, so we decided to name him Sullivan Norris Taylor."
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Megan says they have since created fond memories with family and friends during this ongoing tradition.
"The Tigers have always been fun to watch, even in the years that weren't as exciting," she said, adding that one of her favorite memories was when Miguel Cabrera hit a home run during a snowstorm in 2021.
Mark Metzger, 64, of Franklin, has been a Detroit Tigers fan and season ticket holder for 42 years, he said. Each year, he tailgates at the same lot as the Taylor family.
"We have a whole set up — everything from sea bass to lobster to lamb chops to ribs to sushi to mac and cheese, you name it. We have the food," Marc said. "Opening Day is a tradition in the City of Detroit. It represents true 313 pride."
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