While MLB’s 2025 season technically began about 3 1/2 weeks ago in Japan (the rest of the league opened 8 days ago) Friday makes the home opener for the Detroit Tigers. Today that I’m excited would be an understatement.
Anyone who has read this blog more than a few times knows that MLB is my favorite of the 4 major North American pro sports leagues and the Detroit Tigers are, by far, my favorite pro sports team.
We’re very lucky in Detroit in we are one of 12 cities that have teams in all 4 major North American sports leagues. Admittedly, half of those cities are recent additions, thanks to expansion in each of the leagues.
Although (American) football is the most popular sport in the United States, people here in Detroit get MUCH more excited about Opening Day (the home opener) in baseball than they do in other sports. Veronica was telling me the other day “none of the games really count until the Tigers’ home opener”. While the statistics don’t support her opinion, Opening Day truly is like a holiday in Metro Detroit.
On Friday, all of the local TV morning new shows were broadcasting from Comerica Park. Then, as it got closer to game time, the local pregame show moved to a bar across the street. Most of the bars in the downtown area near the stadium were open early this morning for people wishing to celebrate. While the home openers for the Lions, Pistons, and Red Wings do get a little bit of attention in the media, it is nothing compared to opening day for the Tigers.
This might be in part because the tigers are the oldest professional sports team in town. And while baseball is popularity, might be on the decline, it is interwoven into tradition for many Americans. In fact, I consider myself a third generation tigers fan. My father was a tigers fan. My grandfather was something of a casual tigers fan himself. And as I said before, with any luck, Kid 2 will be a fourth generation Tigers fan. 
I’ve been to several home openers myself over the years and while the day excites me like few other things in life, but I really don’t like the crowds. The vast majority of people downtown won’t be at the game. Instead, they’ll be hanging out at the different parties and bars downtown, so the alcohol will be flowing. I’ve had a prude or anything, and I do object to people having a good time. My big problem is the fact that people will treat downtown Detroit like it’s literally, their toilet. I’ve seen people go downtown from the suburbs who acted in desecrated things in manners which they wouldn’t even consider doing in their suburban hometown.
My problem is when I’m at opening day, I want to actually watch the game. I want to see the first home game of the year for the Tigers. Going was a little bit easier when my family had a partial season ticket package. and I must admit that I have been toying with the idea of getting selfie partial season ticket package again.
But I will be at a game this coming Wednesday. So I’m excited about that. Best of all, a friend of mine offered me the tickets for free. It’s funny because I post so much stuff to social media about baseball – and the Tigers in particular – that I think a lot of my friends immediately think of me when something like free tickets become available. It’s like I’m their token baseball friend.
Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, 👍 comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related posts:
- Teacher Armor and the Saturday Clearing
- The Extra Day: A Ten-Year Memory
- Of Training Wheels and Christmas Lights
- Charity Starts at Home (And I’m Back in My Childhood One)
- The Muscle of Empathy
The article “Nothing Beats Opening Day!” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.
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