Sports

Tigers Opening Day for a lucky 1,000? Michigan's loosened rules make it possible

March 03, 2021, 8:56 AM

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Comerica Park can open at just over 2-percent capacity.

The first game of this year's Tigers season is expected to look a lot more like Opening Day than it did last year.

The team can host up to 1,000 fans at the 42,000-seat Comerica Park for its April 1 opener under loosened Covid-19 restrictions announced by the state Tuesday.

The Tigers have not yet revealed plans for the game against the Cleveland Indians, but Crain's Detroit Business reports they've been testing limited seating at their spring training facility in Florida, which is open at 20-percent capacity for about 2,000 fans.

Last month, Tigers Vice President of Ballpark Operations Chris Lawrence told reporters how the team was planning to welcome back fans to spring training games at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., and indicated how the process would inform the return to Comerica Park.

"We're ready, and we're confident in what we're doing in Lakeland, and when the time comes, and hopefully that day is right away, at Comerica Park, we're confident we'll be able to welcome fans back safely."

Seating in (Lakeland) is set up in "pods" of up to six people per party, with each pod spaced 6 feet from the other. Fans are required to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking in a designated seating area. All merchandise and concession sales are cashless. Additionally, there is no player-fan interaction.

Last year, Tigers Opening Day was bumped to July. The team played in an empty stadium, devoid of even cardboard cutouts.

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Read more:  Crain's Detroit Business


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