DETROIT — Even if weather doesn’t cooperate, Michiganders can agree that opening day for the Detroit Tigers is the benchmark for the beginning of spring. Well, that and road construction.
The first regular season opponent will be the Minnesota Twins. Game time is 1:08 p.m. Tigers officials urge fans to get to Comerica Park early.
While Justin Verlander is officially on the roster, don’t expect to see him on the mound yet. He is still recovering from an injury, though he said over the weekend that he is throwing again and feeling good.
At game time, vendors will be ready for you with the usual baseball fare and some off-the-wall stadium food. The Tigers have made it to a list on Buzzfeed: 14 Gloriously Disgusting Stadium Foods You Deserve To Eat. The Comerica Park entry: Pork Rinds with Queso Dip, a derivative of the usual nacho chips and cheese.
By the way, only two minor league teams made the list, and the West Michigan Whitecaps was one of the teams with their Nutella Poppers: deep fried dough filled with Nutella.
As for getting to Comerica Park from West Michigan:
- I-96: Lane closures eastbound and westbound between Hagadorn Road to the Elm Road overpass in Webberville
- I-96: Intermittent lane closures eastbound and westbound between Telegraph Road and the Lodge Freeway M-10
- I-75: Lane closures on ramp to Madison Street, downtown Detroit, next to Ford Field
- I-75/I-94: Eastbound ramp to Woodward Avenue closed
- I-75/I-94: Westbound ramp from John R Street to I-75/I-94 closed
