If you’re going to Comerica Park to see a Detroit Tigers game (or any event), there’s great ways to get there without driving and parking. Not that there’s anything wrong with driving; I offer some useful parking tips here, and here’s a few sports bar locations that will offer you a ride. (Also, definitely use my friends at SpotHero to book your parking in advance!)

However, this post will cover plenty of options for you…mostly public transportation in downtown Detroit, but also some unusual methods for getting to the home of the Tigers.

There’s a lot here, so I’ve broken it down for you:

The QLine Streetcar
The Detroit People Mover
Detroit Bus: DDOT Bus
From Suburbs: SMART Bus (including the FAST Bus)
From Canada: Transit Windsor
Detroit Party Bus
Party Bus Detroit (yes, it’s different)
From Other Cities: Amtrak
Also From Other Cities: Megabus
For Exercise: By Bicycle
Bikeshare to Comerica: MoGo
Taxicab/Rideshare

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The “Q” stands for Rocket Mortgage. True.

QLine Streetcar. The “QLine” streetcar is a light rail route that runs along Woodward Avenue through the business districts and downtown, with dedicated lanes and traffic signals in spots to speed up the ride. The Montcalm station is right there at Comerica Park main entrance. Best of all, it’s free! The QLine stops running at midnight weeknights and at 9:00 Sunday nights; if it’s not running you should be able to take a DDOT bus back.

The QLine is great for making a day of Detroit without getting shafted on parking; you can park at the Fox Theatre garage across the street from Comerica and pay the early bird rate, and use the QLine to visit other Motor City attractions before a game. There are also numerous parking lots along the route. (Remember, book your parking spot in advance with SpotHero!)

The QLine is also a convenient option if you’re coming from the Amtrak station…and makes Amtrak a much easier option to get to games from out of town, say if you’re using that ultra-fast Wolverine from Chicago.

Remember though, free attracts everyone, so cars can be crowded and you may be standing for much of the ride.

Because people like to move in Detroit.

People Mover. The Detroit People Mover is an elevated monorail system that carries folks to the main downtown attractions in a compact area. The monorail runs counterclockwise around the area, costs just 75 cents a ride as of this writing and moves from stop to stop quickly. The Broadway and Grand Circus Park stations are a short walk through a small park to Comerica.

The People Mover, like the QLine, is good for folks making a day of visiting Detroit attractions like Greektown (there’s a lot of great eateries near the People Mover); again, try the Fox Theatre garage or another lot with an early bird rate close to Comerica.

There are parking locations near stops, but you’re not likely to find a bargain that makes the hassle worth it except for the easy out. You should be able to find baseball parking cheaper and closer to Comerica than the People Mover.

The DPM runs till 10:30 on weekdays, so it might not be a good idea for weeknight games. It does run until midnight Fridays and Saturdays. It is generally safe during the day and before and after games, but at other times you should be reasonably careful.

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Strategically placing the sign in front of gas prices!

By Bus. There are plenty of buses operated by DDOT (Detroit Department of Transportation) and SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) that get you to the front door of Comerica or somewhere nearby.

Both DDOT and SMART have “Trip Planners” on their websites; or you can use Google Maps from your destination to find the route to Comerica and back. Fares are inexpensive as big city transit goes.

So convenient you won’t tell the authorities about their parking in front of a fire hydrant!

DDOT. The DDOT system is for people within the city limits. These buses are white with green and yellow and have two-digit numbers.

The 4 DDOT bus stops at the front door of Comerica on Woodward Avenue (as does the QLine, which you’d probably prefer). Multiple other routes come within a block or two; Google Maps can help you find one. There are numerous other buses that have stops near People Mover and QLine stops, which, while inexpensive, is a convoluted way to get to a ballgame.

Bus service on busier routes like those on Woodward is usually 24 hours a day; with other routes you should check the schedule first.

Not a lot of baseball fans use DDOT to get to Tigers games, especially now with the QLine being a better option. If the QLine and People Mover aren’t convenient, it might be a way to have a look around the city on the way, but otherwise you usually have better options.

Once you see the flags with the Tigers D logo, pull the emergency stop cord.

SMART. SMART buses are generally for people coming from the suburbs from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. SMART’s downtown buses all stop either at Comerica, or a People Mover/QLine station. Can save you quite a few bucks over driving and parking at the ballpark.

Most buses run throughout most of the night, and the routes that go directly to the ballpark run more frequently than others. Not all of their buses run late enough to take you back after a night game, so be sure to check the schedule.

SMART buses are a bit better maintained than DDOT, but like DDOT buses, they take time getting through Detroit.

SMART also operates FAST buses, with several routes that stop at or near Comerica. FAST routes arrive more frequently than others and are designed for going to events. SMART even lists park-and-ride locations for you, and there’s Wi-Fi on the buses. If I were doing a bus to Comerica, I’d probably use a FAST bus.

From reviews I’ve read, neither SMART nor DDOT are held in very high regard by locals. There are complaints about unreliability with SMART and sharing the bus with strange characters on DDOT. Nothing out of the ordinary for big city public transit, I suppose. But some people are happy with being able to get to the ballpark more cheaply than if they had driven.

$$$ Tightwad Tip! $$$

$ – Both SMART and DDOT have discounts for students, seniors, disabled riders, and young children. Kids under 44” can ride DDOT for free with a paying adult. With the discount the ride is darn near free, so if you have a Medicare card there’s no need to drive to the game.

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Lots of cool stuff to your left here.

Transit Windsor. From Windsor, Ontario, the Transit Windsor Special Events buses run every game day starting at the Windsor Transit Terminal, 75 minutes and 45 minutes before the game. The buses go through the Windsor-Detroit tunnel and drop riders off near the Broadway-Grand Circus Park garage, near the Detroit Opera House. Nicely walking distance to the right field entrance.

After the game (or fireworks), the buses return to Windsor until 30 minutes afterward, so don’t dawdle getting out. You can pay with American or Canadian money.

There are several parking garages at the transit center in Windsor, and lots of metered parking as well. Garages charge an hourly rate until 6:00 PM and then a small flat fee for the rest of the evening, while most metered parking is free after 6:00 PM.

This is a fairly convenient and inexpensive way for Canadians or those staying in Windsor to get to the game, but remember that it will cross a border and thusly have to pass through customs, so you’ll need proof of citizenship. If there’s a problem at customs it could delay the trip a while.

There are Tunnel bus services to Detroit throughout the day, so you can get there earlier if you like, and doing so to avoid rush hour is a good idea. You can take any bus to downtown and get on the People Mover, but be sure it will be available for the way back.

I don’t know if they have a “postseason” bus, but this’ll do. (logo courtesy of Social Connection)

Detroit Party Bus. The Detroit Tigers Party Bus is a popular way to both enjoy a ride to the game with other Tigers fans and not have to worry about driving at least until you’re back in Royal Oak, Novi, or Partridge Creek.

Two buses depart from each location, one and two hours before game time, and include Labatt’s beer and Tito’s vodka cocktails. You can BYOB. They only serve water on the return trip.

The Tigers Party Bus includes packages that include a game ticket to the Kaline’s Corner section for an extra few bucks, so you can sit with the people you’ve met on the bus…great for mingling or perhaps even meeting a Tigers fan mate. You can get the cheaper bus ride without the ticket too. It’s a great deal if you like to socialize with fellow fans, and avoid the traffic and parking hassle too.

I don’t see anything from Social Connection about 2024 party buses, but I don’t see that they’ve cancelled them either. You can contact them here.

$$$ Tightwad Tip! $$$

$ – If you help the Tigers Party Bus people, they’ll help you…they offer free rides (drinks included) to folks who are willing to volunteer their efforts to help seat people and make sure they have drinks. Kind of like being a bartender and getting to go to the party for free. They will also reward people who bring a group with free ride tickets.

The Tigers love designated drivers almost as much as you do!

Party Bus Detroit (not to be confused with the Detroit Party Bus…the two are different entities). The folks at Party Bus Detroit has a fleet of high end limo buses that carry groups ranging from 16-22 passengers; buses feature a cooler and a bar and some crazy neon lighting inside for that dizzy feeling. Obviously you’re allowed to have a drink on the bus. The driver is a professional chauffeur, so he probably knows how to avoid the bumps that spill drinks.

The buses are not cheap, but this is a limo service after all, and if everyone chips in it could be a great deal and a blast of fun. They do have a separate website just for Tigers game goers, so I expect it’s a popular thing for them.

Renting a limo to get to a Tigers baseball game is a popular thing…Epic Party Bus, Varsity Limousine and several others offer luxury buses to events. There’s even a party bus outfit coming from Lansing. Someday I’ll do a separate post on that.

Not a lot of details from this sign, but you should know you’re in Detroit at this point.

Amtrak. The Amtrak station in Detroit is located on the corner of Baltimore and Woodward Avenue, north of I-94. Should you be using the Wolverine train from Pontiac or Kalamazoo (or Chicago, but that’s a long ride), the station is about two miles from Comerica, and can be reached using the QLine or a DDOT bus. (It’s also not far from Z’s Villa, if you’d like to try their excellent pizza.)

The Wolverine coming from Chicago passes through a high-speed corridor and reaches 90 MPH in spots, which is pretty cool and would make the ride from Chicago much quicker than the five hour drive that it normally is. It doesn’t run very frequently, however, so a game would probably require an overnight stay.

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When they’re in service, they’re pretty good. Just saying.

Megabus. Megabus is a bus service that brings people to Detroit from Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti, Elkhart, Indianapolis and other metropolises in the region. Google Maps currently lists the Megabus stop at West Forest Avenue, near Woodward Avenue. You can use a 4 bus or take a short walk to the QLine stop at Canfield Street.

Megabuses are relatively comfortable as buses go, with air conditioning, wireless Internet and whatnot. Prices can be as low as a dollar, although it’s tricky pulling that one off (in fact prices seem a bit high to ride a bus to Detroit). You may want to grab an earlier bus, because all bus services get behind schedule.

Yep, there’s your bike rack…

Bicycle. The Tigers say nothing about bicycle racks, so you’d have to find some place to park it…and I can tell you that it’s not easy. The team did offer a bicycle valet for games in the past; we’ll see if that gets offered again in the future. (It should be in the Tigers ticket alert newsletter if so.)

In my searches I did see a small rack on Montcalm Avenue, where the Tigers’ McLaren garage is. This is right at the home plate gate, so finding your way back to your bicycle is easy. It doesn’t open until the lot does though.

Here’s a useful map for bicycling downtown, if that helps. There are also bicycle racks on DDOT and SMART buses, and bikes are allowed on the QLine streetcars. You cannot take your bike onto a Transit Windsor bus unless you can put it in a bag, which is a bit of a challenge.

In other words, you might as well use a bikeshare service…

Now, this is more like it!

MoGo. Detroit has a bicycle-sharing system called MoGo; you can buy a pass at any station or with the app, and they have several options for your needs.

MoGo isn’t generally cheap enough to make this a money-saving alternative to parking. A one hour pass is $10 as I write this. This is mostly for cycling enthusiasts or people who don’t want to ride their own bike in Detroit. They have monthly and yearly passes too.

Most of the 75-plus stations where you can borrow or return bikes are downtown, including two stations near Comerica. A few stretch into neighborhoods like Mexicantown or along Woodward Avenue. MoGo plus the Q-Line could make for an economical ride that includes exercise and an easy exit after the game.

This is your drop off point. Tell your driver not to park at the hydrant.

Taxicab/Rideshare. There is a taxi stand just outside of Gate B on Witherell Street, past right field. Generally you should have no problem finding one in this area after the game. The problem is there will be post-game traffic that you’ll be sitting in with the meter running. The taxi fares in Detroit are state regulated, but that still won’t be cheap.

According to the Lyft people, Comerica is the top event space destination for riders. It wouldn’t hurt to see if they run any specials from time to time. The Tigers recommend Metrocars as a ride service; they offer some really nice vehicles.

I think you can take it from here.

So, does all that help? Hopefully I’ve offered some of the best ways for you to get to the home of the Detroit Tigers without using your car. But just remember, I’ve included parking tips and sports bar shuttles on this blog as well. Oh, and here’s how to pick a great seat!

Incidentally, Comerica Park is part of District Detroit. These tips can help you with getting to Little Caesars Arena and Ford Field too. So bookmark away.

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So you’re planning a baseball game to the home of the Detroit Tigers? I’m here to help…below is your complete and detailed Comerica Park seating guide! I’ve thoroughly researched the place for you, and listed my best tips for every seating area in the place below.

There’s a lot to cover here Tigers fans and Comerica visitors, so I’ve broken it down for you…feel free to skip the suite parts.

Comerica Park Luxury Suites
Comerica Park Party Suites + Group Areas
Tiger Den Seats
Terrace Seats
Lower Level Seating
Upper Level + Club Seating
Mezzanine Seating
Outfield Seating (+ Kaline’s Corner)
Right Field Balcony
Standing Room
Shade Spots and Other Comerica Seating Tips

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So, now, here is the lowdown on different seating areas for Detroit Tigers games, from most to least expensive. If you need to see where these spots are on the Comerica Park seating chart, here’s the official layout. Comerica Park’s seating capacity is 41,083 for Tigers home games.

They wouldn’t let me in, even on the tour, but I hear they’re nice.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #1) Suites. Suites at Comerica are mostly located on two levels behind home plate and on the third base side. Nothing unique compared to most ballparks but it’s a nice spot: there is indoor and outdoor seating, a comfortable leather couch, TVs and private restrooms inside, and a food credit is included.

The Comerica Park suite menu is quite extensive; you might find some nice items like Polish sausages, Italian subs, lobster mac and cheese etc. The Tigers boast about a “decadent dessert cart” too.

Parking passes are included for the Tigers garage next to the ballpark, which shaves a few bucks from the total cost (it’s also the best parking spot, no small thing here). The suites, as with the Champions Club, Tiger Club and Tiger Den, have their own private entrance. The suite entrance is through the walkway on the third floor of the Tigers garage on Montcalm Street.

Detroit weather can definitely make you want to be indoors.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #2) Party Suites + Group Areas. The Tigers have climate-controlled indoor party suites for small to large groups with extra cash, or a group can be mostly outdoors in one of the party deck areas on the mezzanine concourse. The suites are about twice the cost as the decks per person.

Most all of them include buffets—the party suite buffet includes dogs, burgers, chicken tenders and a few other ballpark favorites until the 7th inning. Party suites are down the left field line and behind home plate.

The price is more per person than seats behind home plate, but for food and heat in April, it’s still pretty reasonable.

Sure, it’s half a mile from home plate. But there’s potato chips!

If you’re planning a big get together at Comerica, they have an impressive menu of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners and desserts. You can rent a chef to serve from a carvery or pasta or seafood and other stations, and get well or top-shelf liquor. They do tack on the Michigan sales tax and an 18% gratuity to the price, because they can.

The Tigers offer nice deals on party suites and decks for low demand April games (and there’s a fire pit, I’ll get to that); if you can get a group together it includes some nice bonuses, like parking passes and Tiger Club access for the entire season.

If you really want to be high up and far away, you can have your get together at the Vizzy Hard Seltzer View…this is above the Pitcher’s Pub in right center field, and trust me, it’s up there and out there. They do have gazebos for shade, drink rails and counters, and a menu of food included, so it’s not all bad, but for a decent view of the game I’d pick a better spot.

Even though they’re made of wood and would float anyway, they’re covered from the rain.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #3) Tiger Den Seats. The Tiger Den seats are located behind the lower level sections in the infield. They are luxury boxes of sorts; wide, cushioned, wooden chairs with tables in front of them and lots of leg room.

These seats include wait service and access to exclusive clubs, like the Tiger Den Club and Lounge (including the private entrance), in case you’d like to duck out of the heat or use a less crowded restroom. Tiger Den seats are slightly less in price than the “On Deck Circle” seats behind home plate, so it’s a pretty good value for everything thrown in.

They’re good for people wanting to relax and have a good time (not that they don’t enthusiastically cheer on the Tigers, of course), but they aren’t quite the best seats view-wise. Not only are they 35-plus rows from home plate, the higher rows are covered and the overhang can block the view of the impressive video board (henceforth called the Big Board here) on the third base side especially. I love the Big Board here, it’s definitely a distinguishing feature, so I’d want a view of it.

That said, Tiger Den seats are great in the rain or a hot day, and for mobility in your seat. A padded seat with ample space in the shade isn’t a bad fan experience. Occasionally there is a complaint about the proximity to the speakers, but it’s nice to be able to hear all of the announcements, like if your car has its lights on.

Never drive to Comerica Park without a plan…

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Just put a lid on your drink in case the person in front of you has a pony tail.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #4) Terrace Seats. Past the bases the seating at the Tiger Den level become the Terrace seats. They are much cheaper than the Tiger Den seats and do not feature wait service, but they are still larger and comfortable and include little tables, and they’re also protected from the elements. That’s a lot of bonuses, especially since you’ll probably be eating and drinking something.

The same view rules for the Tiger Den seats generally apply to Terrace seats, so you should avoid third base side seating if you like looking at the Big Board.

No, you can’t actually go out onto the field, but you can talk with people who can!

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #5) Lower Level. The first 13 rows of the lower deck behind home plate and the dugouts are called the “On Deck Circle” seats and are the most expensive in the ballpark aside of the suites.

They aren’t padded like the second mortgage price seats in many ballparks these days, but they are a bit wider, and they include in-seat wait service and access to the Tiger Den Lounge and Tiger Club restaurant. That might be worth a few extra bucks on cold April days.

The rest of the lower level seating does not include any such access to clubs. Just behind the On Deck Circle is now called the “Lower Infield Box”, which are more pricey.

It’s much cheaper to make fun of the right fielder.

The lower level seats decrease in price significantly as they move toward the outfield, with Outfield and then Baseline Box near the foul lines being the cheapest. Like in most ballparks, as the seats get past the bases they are angled more towards home plate (actually more towards second base, but you get the idea).

The seats in the outermost sections may lose a bit of the outfield, but probably not enough to make you unhappy about it. The first row behind the dugouts is Row 7, and the Tigers dugout is on the third base side.

Since the Tiger Den and Terrace sections are under the overhang of the second level, you shouldn’t have any overhang view problems in lower level sections, but you also won’t likely have much protection from the elements in a day game.

Unfortunately the seats aren’t color-coded, but they are numbered for your convenience.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #6) Upper Level. The upper deck (300 level) at Comerica Park doesn’t have the steep slope that some of the newer ballparks do; so the angle is less frightening, but you will be a bit further from the action. Still, there’s nothing wrong with an upper deck seat here…sweet view of the Detroit skyline anyway.

If the steps and ramps are too much to handle, there is an escalator to get to them near the Big Cat Court on the first base side, and elevators behind Section 109 and 130. Rows 17 and up are covered by the small roof.

The upper deck is divided into two tiers, with the upper tier raised over foot traffic. When you enter the upper level from the concourse, you’ll be moving downstairs to get to the “Club” rows.

This wouldn’t be a good spot to say, “I worked my tail off to get where I am today!”

Sections 344 and 345…called the “Skyline” seats…used to be the cheapest seats in Comerica Park; not sure if standing room is cheaper nowadays. It’s still budget-friendly, but nowadays it’s worth a few extra bucks to get a better ticket, since the left field foul pole will be in your view. You might be able to move to a better seat at least in the upper level; the Tigers’ ushers patrol the lower level more strongly.

Given the choice, if I were looking for cheap seats at Comerica Park, I’d go with Kaline’s Corner or the bleachers over the skyline seats. Remember the Big Board!

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These folks are Ballpark E-Guides certified Smart Fans!

The first 3-5 rows of the upper level sections between the bases are the Club seats, a misnomer since they don’t include any club access. Still, these seats are padded and a bit wider, and the view is certainly nice for the price. In fact Club seats be the best overall value seats in Comerica Park…I recommend the first base side for the view of the Big Board.

Past first base (and a few sections past third base), club level seats become Upper Box, which cost about the same as the Upper Reserved seats behind home plate.

Club and upper box rows start with the letter A. In front of Row A (and Row 6 of Upper Box) there is a slightly annoying railing obstruction. I would avoid that if you can. As with the lower level, the seats in the outermost sections are angled towards home.

On the upper level concourse is the Blue Moon Brewhouse/Upper Deck Lounge, which is open to all ticket holders. The Lounge is climate-controlled, with a bar and restrooms for a place to wait out a rain delay or escape the heat.

This section has been specially built to reduce nosebleeds at the game!

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #7) Mezzanine. On the first base side of the upper level, there is a gap just past first, created to lower the seating of outer sections. After the first few upper box sections is the Tiger Club restaurant, and some more box seating.

The upper section past the gap is called the Mezzanine; tickets here are among the cheapest and the view is a bit better here than in the left field upper level (now called “Upper Grandstand”), with a much better view of the Big Board and downtown Detroit. (I know I keep harping on the Big Board, but trust me, it’s great here.) These are the only 200-level seats in Comerica.

The mezzanine concourse area leads to the party areas in the outfield, and there are three separate areas with picnic tables that can be rented depending on the size of your party. The picnic deck parties include a buffet and mezzanine seats; the price isn’t high at all, if you don’t mind the distance from home plate.

It’s like they’re still wondering what number to give Cobb.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #8) Outfield Seats. There are four types of outfield seating in Comerica: Pavilion in left field under the big scoreboard, Bleachers in right field; the Right Field Grandstand below the bleachers, and Kaline’s Corner near the right field foul pole.

Like in most sections in the lower level, there can be 35-40 rows in each. Those back rows are really far away, but one nice thing about it is the proximity to the picnic areas, fountains and statues of Tigers greats, and also to the covered walkway in right center lest you need to duck out of the rain. (Nothing to see there though.)

The Pavilion seats are behind both teams’ bullpens, which were placed there to move the once ridiculously far left field fences in to encourage home runs. This makes for a fine view of pitchers warming up for the people in lower seats, but the Big Board is directly behind you and requires a painful neck twist to see, and these seats are far from home plate.

Because there’s never too much sunlight to keep score.

The Bleacher seats in right field are benches with no armrests, but they do have backs and are numbered for less of that uncomfortable cheek-sharing. The lower bleachers in right center field can be right up on the action with no bullpens in the way. Keep in mind that in Section 101 you can lose a portion of the outfield.

The Right Field Grandstand seats are closer to the foul pole and are actual seats. For some reason, perhaps the chance of catching a home run ball, Right Field Grandstand is somewhat pricier than the rest of the outfield seats.

If you want to impress your date, tell her the whole story about where alkaline batteries got their name.

Kaline’s Corner, named for Tigers great Al Kaline of course, is located behind the foul pole down the right field line. The seats directly face home plate unlike the lower level section next to it, making them a much better value. They are priced about the same as Bleacher and Pavilion seats.

You may have the foul pole in your way, which isn’t usually a big deal, but avoid the first few rows. Kaline’s Corner is a bargain section, and is far from the ferris wheel and all that, so it might not be the best place to bring the kids.

Most outfield sections start with Row A, with Row AA being the 26th row. There is no Row I.

Enjoy Tigers baseball AND play cards between innings!

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #9) Right Field Balcony. The Right Field Balcony is located directly beneath the “Pepsi Porch” sign in right field. There’s 426 seats, a 50-foot long stone fire pit (!), and a bar with a full selection of beers and spirits that’s better than at most spots at the ballpark.

The seats with counters require tickets, but anyone with a ticket to the ballpark can hang out in the area. You can’t see the game from behind the bar, but they have TVs. There are even tables with four seats facing the field.

The balcony is very popular and the Tigers actually sell a lot of season tickets here, so if you want to experience it your best bet is to look for a low-demand game on TickPick.

It won’t keep your beer cold, but it’s relaxing.

The area may be great for parties and the fire pit is great on cold nights, but it’s not the greatest place to watch a game (keep in mind the outfield fence distances), and it takes some walking up stairways to get to it if you’re not using an elevator.

There is a great view of the fountains in center field from here, and people-watching from above the center field walkway. There is also often entertainment here before the game. It can be an enjoyable experience.

There’s a nice view of the scoreboard and Ford Field here. Plus you can lock your bicycle up.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #10) Standing Room. The Tigers will make some standing room available for sold out games, but ticket prices are higher than standing room should be. They have designated areas for standing room ticket holders, behind the handicapped seating or in the outfield. Obviously for a sold out game, you won’t likely be able to move to a seat in the early innings.

People seem to prefer the right field area and aforementioned balcony for standing room; it’s got an unblocked view and is near several concessions. The left field standing area is closer to the statues if you’d like to stand next to Hank Greenberg’s likeness, and the view is about equally good. If you like a bird’s eye view, head up to the balcony where there are drink rails to lean on.

There is a pavilion in left field with a bar and some seats with tables and drink rails; it’s not a bad place to stand and watch, but I presume if you were sitting the view would be blocked by people standing at the drink rails.

In July and August, you want to sit on the “cool” side.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #11) Other Notes. Get all that? It’s a lot, I know. Hang with me though, we’re almost done. Here are a few general notes about Comerica Park seating:

Seat 1 is always on the right end of a row when facing the playing field, a key thing to remember in certain sections, like in Kaline’s Corner where the foul pole can get in your way.

Comerica’s home plate is located in the northeast corner, so unlike in most parks, the sun sets on the first base side and the left field area gets the most sun; people sitting there often complain about the sun being directly in their eyes early in a night game. It’s a good idea to bring sunscreen and sunglasses for a day game if you’re sitting in the left field area or in the upper deck.

Comerica’s seating slopes are lesser than in most ballparks, so if you’re not a particularly tall person you may have trouble seeing over the person in front of you.

If you like having a varied food selection, the Big Cat food court is on the first base side in the lower level, and it’s where you’ll usually find most any kind of cuisine you’re looking for.

Even the really cheap seats have a nice view of downtown Detroit. The tiger on the scoreboard might make you nervous though.

The excellent view of the Detroit skyline is visible from just about all locations except for the right field and Kaline’s Corner seats. The Big Board can be seen from just about anywhere that isn’t covered, but the first base side definitely has a better view.

Season ticket holders can use a private entrance, something to keep in mind should someone sell you or give you their extras. This can save you a lot of time.

Finally, if you completely strike out getting tickets, you can see much of the game from behind the fence on Adams Street. You may have to climb up onto a ledge, but it’s free and you can stay provided you don’t cause any trouble.

You’re not so intimidated in choosing a seat now, are you? Glad to help.

There you go my friends, all of the knowledge you need to choose a great seat at your next game at Comerica Park, the beautiful home of the Detroit Tigers. Be sure to check out some more great Comerica tips here, like how to get cheap Tigers tickets and choose a great parking spot, and how to get there without paying parking prices. Thanks for reading!

Note: This article contains affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides receives a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Planning a trip to Detroit? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

Click here to start booking your trip to Detroit and Comerica Park today!

If you’re planning a trip to District Detroit for a Tigers game, and need help picking out the best Comerica Park parking spot for your budget and taste, I’m here to help. There is ample parking in the area for baseball games, including official parking areas, off-site garages, and even street parking, but you should have a plan.

So then, as your unofficial Comerica Park parking guide, I’m offering five useful suggestions for parking at Detroit Tigers games. But first, a quick bit of advice from our sponsor…if you’d like to look further beyond my suggestions here, see below to order a parking pass with my friends at SpotHero!

Never drive to Comerica Park without a plan…

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Comerica Park Parking Lots + Garages – 5 Suggestions:

It’s not the D Garage as in a letter grade. It’s actually a good spot.

Comerica Park Parking, Tip #1) Tigers Garage (250 Fisher Road). The Tigers garages are located north of the ballpark, and are among the most expensive parking facilities. These lots fill up quickly on game days, with folks who are uncomfortable leaving their car in downtown Detroit or don’t want to walk much. There is a pedestrian bridge to the suite entrances here.

The team has built the five-story McLaren Garage (90 E. Fisher Service Drive) next the Tiger Garage, replacing Lot 3; it has 900 parking spaces on several levels, with indoor stairways and an elevator. There are also outdoor lots both on Montcalm and right in front of the main entrance with a few spaces; the Tigers charge the same for these lots.

The nice thing about the Tigers / Olympia Development lots is that if you need your car jump started after the game or you locked your keys in it, the attendant will either help you or contact AAA. No tailgating though.

Even indoors, the Lions still play in any weather.

Comerica Park Parking, Tip #2) Ford Field. There is premium parking in Lots 4 and 5 on the I-75 side of Ford Field, with tailgating allowed even, which isn’t found in many local lots. These lots are the same high price as the Tigers Garage next door and offers an easy out back onto I-75.

But there is also the cheaper and lesser known Ford Field parking deck (1902 St. Antoine) located on the west side of the stadium—that for some reason the Tigers do not point out on their parking page. This isn’t a bad deal at all; it’s cheaper than prime lots that are just as close to the ballpark.

Another nice thing about it is that you can actually walk through the impressive football stadium on the inside to get to the ballpark, and there are even some food stands there. You can’t walk through the stadium to get back, but you’ll pass by some cool bucket drummers after the game.

Lions with Wings…get it?

Comerica Park Parking, Tip #3) Fox Theatre Garage (50 W. Montcalm Street). The garage next door to the Fox Theatre is a short walk to the main entrance. It is slightly less than the Tigers lots, but there are better deals just west of (behind) it—the Tigers run lots for half the price are only a couple of blocks away. The Fox garage can be slow to exit; you may want to have a bite at nearby Hockeytown Café first.

Years ago I parked in the Fox garage before 3:00 PM on a game night and paid just $2 for the whole day; in my last visit the early bird price was $5 and the nice lady said yes, you can leave your car there through the game. I love that trick: you can park early in the morning or afternoon, jump on the People Mover or the QLine along Woodward Avenue, and visit some Detroit attractions during the day (like Z’s Villa for pizza). And after the game your car is right there.

If there’s something happening at the Fox, they will occasionally hold the spots only for Fox customers, which I assume means you have to show your ticket to the event. Probably a good idea to check beforehand.

One more cool thing about the Fox…it’s close to the right field entrance of Comerica, which is the main gate and features all of the cool tigers statues.

My friends at TickPick have Tigers tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!

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A hidden gem for Tigers game day parking. Just don’t stand there!

Comerica Park Parking, Tip #4) Gem Theater Garage (1910 Brush Street). The Gem garage is located off of Brush Street southeast of the ballpark, next to the Elwood Bar & Grill. It’s a hidden gem, pun intended. This is kind of tucked into the area, so if you’re using it, get here well before the first pitch.

The price for this lot varies, but it’s usually less than the Tigers lots or Fox lot and is a pretty good deal for its proximity to the park (Elwood brags that they are 56 steps away from Comerica, and the Gem is right next door). Great if you like a post-game party at Elwood’s, which a lot of Tigers fans do, and that’s a good idea since with its location it can take longer to exit.

You can’t miss the sign with it being all neon-y and all.

Comerica Park Parking, Tip #5) Greektown Casino Garage (1001 Brush Street). Greektown is accessible from the E. Lafayette St. exit off of I-375. The Greektown Casino used to offer free parking if you had your ticket validated; from there you could walk about three blocks to the ballpark or use the People Mover to and from Grand Circus Park station. If you exit on Brush Street, you can see the ballpark from the street.

The official policy for Tigers parking is that it’s free if you get your card validated and accumulate a certain number of points (which means losing some money in the casino), but if you get there early enough you might slide for free as I did twice in my last visit, especially on a weekday. At worst you’ll pay a small fee to park in an attended garage. If you’re concerned, you can book this on SpotHero ahead of time.

Greektown has some great restaurants and the casino itself, so it’s not short on entertainment before or after the game. There are also a couple of nearby taverns that will shuttle you to the game. I recommend having a plan for passing some time if there’s a big crowd at the game though, there have been numerous complaints about the wait getting out.

I have heard stories that Greektown isn’t the safest place at night, and it is a bit of a walk that might make you uncomfortable. But for day games, I think this may be the best deal.

There’s five suggestions for choosing a parking spot at your next Detroit Tigers game…but there are plenty more official parking lots, where you can reserve parking with SpotHero.

These are parking options I’ve used or seen in my past trips to Detroit, but again, my best advice is this: book your spot in advance, and have a backup plan. (You can also use another method of transit, or try one of the numerous Comerica Park shuttles!)

Interested in finding out more about visiting the beautiful home of the Detroit Tigers? Check out my Comerica Park page here! (And thanks for supporting Ballpark E-Guides sponsors!)

Planning a trip to Detroit? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)

Click here to start booking your trip to Detroit and Comerica Park today!

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Like all ballparks, the one in Detroit has seating choices for every budget. I go into much more detail about Comerica Park seating here, but here’s some things you should know about the cheap seats at Comerica Park:

Plenty of fans are willing to shout encouragement to opposing relief pitchers.

Cheap Seats at Comerica Park, Tip #1) Outfield Seating. The Pavilion seats are behind both teams’ bullpens in left field. The bullpens were placed there to move the ridiculously far fences in to appease grumpy power hitters after the departure of Juan Gonzalez. This makes for a fine view of pitchers warming up for the people in lower seats, but the Big Board is directly behind you and requires a painful neck twist to see, and these seats are very far from home plate.

The Bleachers in right field are benches with no armrests, but they do have backs and are numbered for less of that uncomfortable cheek-sharing. The lower bleachers in right center field can be right up on the action with no bullpens in the way. Keep in mind that in Section 101 you can lose a portion of the outfield.

And then there’s the affordable Kaline’s Corner seats; I’ve talked about those here.

Detroit folks aren’t big on shade in April.

Cheap Seats at Comerica Park, Tip #2) The Mezzanine. On the first base side of the upper level, there is a gap just past first base, created to lower the seating of outer sections. The upper section past the gap is called the Mezzanine; tickets here are among the cheapest and the view is a bit better here than in the left field upper level (now called “Upper Grandstand”). The view of the Big Board and downtown Detroit is much better on the right field side.

The mezzanine concourse area also leads to the party areas in the outfield, and there are three separate areas with picnic tables that can be rented depending on the size of your party. The picnic deck parties include a buffet and mezzanine seats; the price isn’t high at all, if you don’t mind the distance from home plate.

But you did save $6!

Cheap Seats at Comerica Park, Tip #3) Upper Grandstand/Skyline Seats. The upper level seats down the left field line are called the Upper Grandstand seats; they’re obviously elevated and far from home plate. They’re only a few bucks less than the mezzanine seats; I would far prefer the mezzanine and its view of the impressive Big Board. To see that here requires a neck twist. Nice view of the skyline from here though.

Sections 344 and 345 are called the Skyline seats; they are the cheapest tickets in the ballpark. But it’s probably worth a few extra bucks to get a better ticket, since the left field foul pole will be in your view especially in 345. You might be able to move to a better seat; the Tigers patrol the lower level more strongly.

There’s three tips on cheap seats at Comerica Park for you…go here for much more useful advice for your next Tigers game at Comerica, including how to get there without paying for parking!

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I’ve talked a little bit about the Detroit establishments that offer Comerica Park shuttles here, but there’s enough such places to include in another post, so here’s a few more suggestions…

Nothing like a Nutty Irishman burger to get you in the mood for some baseball.

Comerica Park Shuttles, #1) Harry’s Bar & Grill. The newly remodeled Harry’s is located across I-75 from the ballpark on Clifford Street; you could probably walk it, but it’s a long walk, and they’ll make it easier for you with a ride.

Harry’s is nicely accessible from all of the nearby major highways. Parking at their lot is free, but it is small and fills up early. If you’re using a shuttle from any tavern you should arrive early anyway, but this doubly applies to Harry’s. Their lot is fenced in and attended like the Tigers’ lots.

Harry’s has some high end items on its menu like creole shrimp pasta and salmon salad, but it is mostly known for its varieties of burgers and a full bar. Harry’s is a popular pre- and post-game spot, and gets crowded on game days.

Don’t worry, they have seats inside too.

Comerica Park Shuttles, #2) Tommy’s Detroit Bar & Grill. Tommy’s is located on Third Street, very close to the Joe Louis Arena. It’s in a small building built in 1840, so it survived Prohibition…hmmm. Parking in the adjacent lot is free for Tigers games most nights and the shuttle to games is also free, but there might be a parking charge if something is going on at the arena or the Cobo Center. You can call and ask first.

Tommy’s is cramped in a good way, and there’s actually some history here…the building was actually an outlet for the Underground Railroad. Bartenders are friendly and the burgers and corned beef are very good by most accounts. Fresh hand dipped chicken wings too.

Tommy’s will occasionally have specials that include a meal, game ticket and a ride to the game for a very nice price. Well worth checking out.

You can use the People Mover to get back if you don’t want to wait for the shuttle, but be sure to use the Cobo Center or the Fort/Cass stations.

Their bus is more colorful than Nemo’s down the street. Which makes McShane’s better.

Comerica Park Shuttles, #3) McShane’s Irish Pub. People talk about Nemo’s being the classic pub where Tiger Stadium sat, but since their bartender was such a jerk to me in my visit, I’m not bothering with them. McShane’s is actually on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull (the old Tiger Stadium site), and it’s an eatery with an outdoor patio, live entertainment and decent drink and appetizer specials. The beer selection, so I’ve read, is a bit better than Nemo’s with some craft brews on tap.

The menu is Irish pub style fare with burgers as the mainstay; I’ve read a lot of good reviews about the food. The grub here is a bit pricier than at Nemo’s, but there’s a better selection too.

At McShane’s there is a charge for their parking lot, but they refund that amount to you in a coupon you can use inside, so it’s essentially free and there’s no cost other than the tip to ride the bus. The bus is also said to be less crowded than Nemo’s.

There’s three more Comerica Park shuttles…if you’re looking for an affordable spot at the game, have a look at this post. Or read this to find some other ways to get to Comerica Park!

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It would be difficult to name a more kid-friendly ballpark than Comerica. Visiting Comerica Park with kids is easier here, what with the extra stuff for them to do.

So here’s a few tips…

Hopefully they won’t think it’s cool to try and ride a real tiger.

Comerica Park With Kids, Tip #1) Rides! In addition to the carousel in the Big Cat Court and the ferris wheel near the Brushfire Grill, both of which cost a small fee, there are interactive pitching and batting cages under the Pepsi Porch, and near the Big Cat Court are free video game kiosks.

Lines get long for the rides, but if you’re early the kid should be able to go on a couple of times. If you want seats near this stuff, it’s on the first base side.

Waived on Sundays.

Comerica Park With Kids, Tip #2) Go on Sunday. Sunday is by far the best day to bring the kids. Kids 14 and under ride the ferris wheel and carousel for free, they’ll get promotional items and face painting, they can register for giveaways and run the bases after the game.

As with the rides, running the bases is very popular, so you’d do well to line them up behind the scoreboard early.

“Should we tell them how long the lines are for rides?”

Comerica Park With Kids, Tip #3) Join The Club. The Tigers Kids Club isn’t expensive at all, and the young fan does get a magnet schedule, issues of the Kids Club magazine, and best of all a separate line for running the bases on Sundays (trust me, that alone is worth the price of membership). The Kids Club includes some ticket discounts too.

I’m not sure why there’s a takeout window, but I hear the lounge is nice.

Comerica Park With Kids, Bonus Tip!) Nursing Moms Welcome. Kids 3 and under get into Comerica free, and the Tigers are one of the few teams that offer a nursing lounge with a TV in the upper level.

Incidentally, by law in Michigan mothers can breastfeed anywhere, and that includes from the seats at Comerica Park.

There’s a few tips for bringing kids to a Tigers game…stay tuned, I’ve got more, like your cheapest ways to get to the ballpark!

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The Detroit Tigers are a pretty wallet and family friendly team by baseball standards. There are quite a few ways to score cheap Tigers tickets and enjoy an affordable game at Comerica Park.

Here are just three recommendations courtesy of Ballpark E-Guides. By the way, if you’re going cheap, check out how to avoid driving there and parking here!

There will be someone here. Honest.

Cheap Tigers Tickets, Tip #1) Join The Club. The Tigers have a fan club for kids, but I only see team newsletters for adults…but those newsletters often feature some great deals, so that’s well worth signing up for.

Membership in the fan club includes some gear, a newsletter with discounted ticket offers, and some buy-one-get-one vouchers. If you’re flexible about which games you can attend, the discounts will probably be worth the cost of membership, and you get some cool stuff too.

Just in case you didn’t know, Comerica Bank is a fairly big sponsor.

Cheap Tigers Tickets, Tip #2) Use Your Comerica Card. If you have an account with Comerica Bank, you can use it to get discounts on tickets. It’s only a few bucks, but customers get some other perks too (it used to include discounts at Cheli’s Bar, but since Cheli’s is no more maybe there’s something else). The Tigers will even let you use a separate, line-free entrance. Check with your bank and see if they have other offers…

And no, no one tosses their extras into the bucket. I checked.

Cheap Tigers Tickets, Tip #3) Get Your Monthly Pass. If you can make it to six or seven games in a month’s time…even in July…the Tigers offer a monthly pass for your smartphone that allows you to go to every game that month. Great for savings, say, when the Yankees or another divisional rival is in town…see the whole series at an affordable price. The Tigers will let you upgrade your seats on occasion too.

There’s three helpful tips for landing some cheap tickets for a game at beautiful Comerica Park in Detroit. Stay tuned, I’ll be posting more ways to save money here…

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

There are four bona fide Comerica Park restaurants, as in conveniently located, inside the ballpark sit-down eateries. Before (and sometimes after) the game, fans can enjoy a meal and a drink or two with a view, or at least with TVs to watch.

Here are four places to get your sit down grub on at Comerica:

No, you can’t leave your peanut shells on the floor.

Comerica Park Restaurants, #1) The Beer Hall. The Beer Hall is on the corner of Montcalm and Brush Street, and it was something of a tucked away secret entrance in the past to avoid main entrance lines (you might still be able to try it). It has a 70-foot bar and wooden picnic tables, for that baseball festive atmosphere.

The menu features grilled Angus burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, and pulled pork sandwiches, and there are lots of local and domestic beers on tap, hence the name.

It’s not actually Tiger Stadium.

Comerica Park Restaurants, #2) The Corner Tap Room. The Corner is located near the main entrance with the big tiger statue. It’s dedicated to the memory of Tiger Stadium, with pictures and memorabilia and such. They have indoor and outdoor dining here, but the outdoor option is on a sidewalk in a parking lot, so the indoor option with the cool décor is better.

At the Corner you can choose from an “urban bistro” style menu; last I checked they had a grilled PB&J (!) and a footlong bacon-wrapped dog. Could be different by the time you visit, but I can tell you it’s fancier stuff than most ballpark food.

Because when you think BBQ, you think Fox Sports Detroit.

Comerica Park Restaurants, #3) The Brushfire Grill. The Brushfire is sponsored by Fox Sports as I write this, but it changes a lot. I think it might be called the 313 BBQ by now. It’s mostly just a food court with a big food stand on the side, but that counts.

At the Brushfire there is a pork and beef brisket smoker for above-average BBQ sandwiches, along with burgers and dogs. Get a basket value meal with slaw, chips and a pickle.

They’ve got black bean veggie burgers too, so you can sell it to your vegetarian friends.

Featuring three TVs to distract you from the absence of bartenders!

Comerica Park Restaurants, #4) The Miller Lite Pitcher’s Pub. You have to go upstairs and in the outfield for this one, so you can work up an appetite just getting there.

The Miller Lite Pitcher’s Pub is a larger sit-down eatery with a full bar; the menu is mostly fancy appetizers named for pitching phrases…the “Intentional Walk” is sloppy Joe stuffed potato skins with queso and scallions, for example.

The Pub is good for just getting a snack on, and you can hang out outside at the nearby Pepsi Porch afterward. And still have an appetite left over for this stuff.

There you go; four restaurants at Comerica Park with something to offer for everyone. If you want to know about what to eat inside the ballpark, check out this post. And read this for how to get to the ballpark without paying for parking!

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If you’re a newbie visiting Comerica Park in Detroit for the first time, there are a few things you should know. It’s a great ballpark fielding a team with a lot of history, and it’s got lots to offer for a great ballgame experience.

Use the third window, the generous guy always hides.

Visiting Comerica Park, Tip #1: Buy tickets at the box office (or nearby StubHub). The Tigers box office is very easy to get to on non-game days, and if you’re not too far away the small parking fee is well worth what you’ll save in online fees buying at the website. The Tigers draw well in good seasons, but they don’t often sell out, so you should even be able to go on game days.

If there’s nothing at the counter, you can try the StubHub office just a short walk away from the ballpark. Try to avoid the scalpers…Detroit is tough on that.

My friends at TickPick have Tigers tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!

Get $10 off your first purchase with email sign-up!

With no one walking in front of you.

Visiting Comerica Park, Tip #2: Try the Club seats. The name is a misnomer since they don’t actually offer access to clubs…they should be called the “No Club” seats…but they’re fairly affordable as such seats go, and they’re wider and offer a nice view of the action. You won’t have too many people walking in front of you here either.

Comerica has some cool seating areas like the Tiger Den seats and the affordable Kaline’s Corner, but in my opinion the club sections offer the best bang for the buck.

If you want more seating options, check out this much more detailed post!

Because let’s face it; it’s much more fun to arrive at a game in a shuttle bus with a cool paint job.

Visiting Comerica Park, Tip #3: Use a shuttle from McShane’s, Harry’s or Z’s Villa. Those are just three good ones. There’s also the Hard Rock Café, Fishbone’s, Bookie’s, etc. Quite a few establishments will give you a ride to the game, and there’s something for every taste.

I like McShane’s because it’s across the street from where Tiger Stadium once stood (it’s literally at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, which is cool and historic), Harry’s is good because it’s close and parking is free, and Z’s Villa is well known for some of the best pizza in Detroit.

If you’re looking for other ways to avoid paying for parking, check out this post.

Never drive to Comerica Park without a plan…

Book your Tigers game parking spot now with SpotHero!

Click here to book parking for your next Tigers game now!

If you plan on having a separate meal or to pre-game a little bit, look into one of these places. Could save you a few bucks on food and parking. But if you’re eating at the ballpark…

Picnic tables for that outdoors-y feel.

Visiting Comerica Park, Tip #4: Have a sit down meal. There are plenty of great food choices at Comerica, like the Late Night Dog, the potachos, or the street tacos, but Comerica also has several sit down eateries, and the selection is much better.

The Corner Tap Room is probably the most popular; there is Tiger memorabilia and a lot of memories of Tiger Stadium to go with your Detroit Coney dog. The Beer Hall is a dark restaurant with wooden picnic tables and a party atmosphere, and the Brushfire Grill is an outdoor area with burgers, dogs and BBQ grilled pulled chicken and pork, and more picnic tables to sit and enjoy your meal.

Incidentally, vegetarian and gluten-free choices are also more plentiful at the sit down joints.

Hey kids, want to ride a tiger?

Visiting Comerica Park, Tip #5: Take the kids. Sundays are great because the rides are free and there’s face painting and other delights, but other days are less crowded, and it’s not a big deal to pay a few bucks to get the kid on a less crowded merry-go-round or Ferris wheel.

It will probably be the first time your kid has ever gotten on a carousel with tigers instead of horses, and they’ll love the Ferris wheel with the baseball-shaped cars. If need be, you can get a frozen daiquiri nearby.

Don’t wait till you get to the ballpark to get your Detroit Tigers gear…
Order your caps, jerseys, and more now at MLBShop.com and save!

Click here to order your Tigers gear today!

There you go; five tips for newbies visiting Comerica Park for the first time. Don’t forget the great photo-ops too, like the big Tiger statue at the impressive front gate.

And if you’re into that post game party, be sure to stop at Elwood’s or Hockeytown.

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Most people use their car to get to Comerica Park. There is a decent amount of parking (I cover three good options here). But there are also quite a few establishments that will give customers a ride to the game in their “Tigers Shuttles”…and some fun party buses too.

I’ve listed three unorthodox ways to get to a Tigers game below…they can help you save some money and include a meal or a drink with your trip to the game.

I don’t know what team those faces represent.

Tigers Shuttles, #1: The Z’s Villa Shuttle. I like the idea of using Z’s Villa’s shuttle to get to Comerica Park from their restaurant on Piquette Street as opposed to some of the others, for several reasons.

First, the shuttle and parking at Z’s are both free for restaurant patrons. Many of the taverns that will give you a ride to Comerica might offer one or the other, but not many offer both. Hey, the whole point of this shuttle thing is to appeal to the tightwads among us, isn’t it? OK, maybe not if the bar is great, but just saying.

Anyway, you’re saved the parking charge, and because Z’s is further than most places you’ll save the traffic headaches too. And now with the QLine, you don’t need to worry about missing the shuttle afterwards.

As far as grub, Z’s is known for their pizza. I love pizza as much as any American, and Z’s makes a pretty decent one. Not that their other food is second fiddle; I’ve read the nachos are pretty good too. But you’ll want to go to Z’s especially if you’re in the mood for pizza, with Comerica peddling Little Caesar’s at a big price.

Z’s Villa Website: www.zsvilladet.com

Painted in a color that would never be mistaken for a school bus.

Tigers Shuttles, #2:The Old Shillelagh. The Old Shillelagh is located on Monroe Street in Greektown. They have a big green bus to take patrons to events, but you may have a tough time finding free parking nearby (the casino might work). It isn’t far from the People Mover Greektown station, should you miss the bus or not want to wait for it. No real raves about the food that is also typical tavern burger/Irish pub fare; there are unusual beers like Boddington’s and Magic Hat #9 on tap.

The Old Shillelagh boasts “drunken singalong” music geared to a younger crowd. According to reviews, whether you enjoy this place depends on how loud you like things, especially on weekends when a band is playing. That’s not to say it isn’t popular of course; if you enjoy a good dance party, Old Shillelagh may be the place for you after the game.

I don’t know if they have a “postseason” bus, but this’ll do.

Tigers Shuttles #3: The Detroit Tigers Party Bus. The Party Bus is a great option if you’re coming from the Royal Oak area; they pick up fans from the Blackfinn Ameripub and give them a ride to the game. You can get an all-inclusive ticket that includes a seat in Kaline’s Corner, and Labatt’s beer and drinks with Tito’s vodka are complimentary for the ride. Much better deal than if you pay for drinks in the ballpark.

They only serve water on the ride back, so by the time you get back to Royal Oak you should be okay to drive home. Nice and convenient and saves you traffic and parking hassles, and you can mingle with fellow fans before a game.

And here’s the best part for you tightwads…if you help the Party Bus people, they’ll help you. You can volunteer to seat people and serve drinks on the bus, or get a group together to go, and your ride and drinks are free…which is something like a $30 value. Get to the ballpark for free with a beer just for social skills!

Detroit Party Bus website: http://tigerspartybus.thesocialconnectionevents.com/

Incidentally, there are quite few more establishments with Tigers shuttles that will give you a ride to the ballpark, like Harry’s, McShane’s in Midtown, and quite a few others. Here’s three more of my favorites.

(Detroit Party Bus logo courtesy of Detroit Party Bus.)

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When it comes to what to eat at Comerica Park, there isn’t a go-to food item that draws lines long enough to miss an inning; whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on your perspective. Still, there is certainly a wide selection of food and drink items available…and Comerica also has four bona fide restaurants. We’ll start with them.

“I don’t know Mrs. Cleaver, he just somehow got this crazy idea that there was beer in there.”

The Beer Hall is located in the left field corner, near the Ferris wheel. Outside it’s on the corner of Montcalm and Brush Street. It’s open to all ticket holders.

The Beer Hall has a very large bar with a nice selection of brews, and the menu is pub fare, mostly burgers and other sandwiches. Even though it’s a bar of sorts, it’s still fairly family-friendly and people do bring their kids for a meal.

If you want shade, you’re going to have to get a job at the counter.

The Brushfire Grill is an outdoor picnic area on the third base side of the ballpark. This is where the Ferris wheel is, so it’s a popular place for families, especially on Sundays.

The menu at the Brushfire is what you’d expect at a Fourth of July cookout: burgers, dogs, and BBQ pork sandwiches from the new smoker.

Leo’s Coney Island is unfortunately gone; it’s been replaced with the Corner Tap Room, which is dedicated to memorializing Tiger Stadium. It’s small, but it does have some nice outdoor dining and there are some cool dedications to the old ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull. They have fried bologna sandwiches and footlong bacon-wrapped dogs, and a great selection of local brews that you can bring into the ballpark with you.

No actual sitting at the bar, please.

Finally, the Miller Lite Pitcher’s Pub is located on the upper level in right field, in the party area that includes the Pepsi Porch. The menu is a list of baseball-themed selections, such as the “Curve Ball” (portobella mushroom fries with sriracha aioli) or the “Intentional Walk” (potato skins stuffed with sloppy Joe, queso and scallions). But this being in the party area it tends to draw a more adult crowd.

OK, now on with the rest of the ballpark.

Most of the unusual food items at Comerica are found in the Big Cat Court, the huge picnic area with the merry-go-round located on the first base side of the ballpark. In the Big Cat Court you can get gourmet hot dogs or burgers, nachos, taco salads, and great sweet tooth items like elephant ears or Hudsonville ice cream.

There is still a decent selection of food around the rest of the ballpark, but the Court is a good place to go when you want a good variety to choose from without having to look around.

I’ll take seven please.

Around the rest of the ballpark there are many Big League Grills; these stands sell the standard ballpark dogs, brats or kielbasa if that’s more your thing.

Some Big League Grills have extra unusual items, so if you look around a bit you might find something interesting. There are mobile carts selling tacos, nachos and cheesesteaks.

No, the Hot-N-Ready is not $5.

The pizza at Comerica is, of course, Little Caesar’s, a chain owned by late Tigers owner Mike Ilitch. You’re probably familiar with Little Caesar’s—the only difference is the price, which is jacked up to help pay those player salaries. The Hot-N-Ready already baked pizza is available, but it’s much more than five bucks.

Finally, in addition to the Miller, Labatt’s and other beers available, there are mixed drink carts, and several stands that sell daiquiris…which here are like adult slurpees. Expensive but tasty.

That’s just a small overview of what to eat at Comerica Park…if you want to see some unusual items click here.

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The Tigers have been stepping up and improving the Comerica Park food menu, not just with restaurants but with more unique food stands and kiosks. I used to think the food selection at Comerica was unremarkable, but that has definitely changed. Here are three suggestions if you’re planning a visit…

Who knew a fried egg would make the ideal great condiment?

Comerica Park Food Tip #1: The Late Night Burger. The 313 Burger Company in the Big Cat Court has a burger that does it all…it’s breakfast and dinner, it’s steak and eggs, it’s a meal in a sandwich. It’s that Late Night Burger…so named for those visits to restaurants whose best selling point is being open all night.

The Late Night Burger is a burger with bacon, cheese and a fried egg, with some fries in your basket for that true diner feel. I kind of think there are no condiments necessary on this one, but I’m sure some would pour on the ketchup.

The Late Night carries a price tag, but at least you don’t have to find a local Denny’s to enjoy one.

Juuuust making sure there are jalapenos…check!

Comerica Park Food Tip #2: Beef Brisket Nachos. Comerica has quite a few types of nachos; you can find them at the Mexican stand in the Big Cat Court obviously, and they’ve got some good stuff piled on, and there are even Shawarma nachos with pita chips in the lower concourse. But Ballpark E-Guides Nachos of Choice at Comerica from the Barbecue stands in the concourse, and at the 313 BBQ picnic area.

I mean, look at this thing. Certainly enough for two and if you want to convince yourself it’s healthy you’re getting all  fifteen food groups in here. The best part is that if you miss the Potachos from Michigan Craft Beer, the nice folks at the Tigers organization made these with kettle chips as well.

If only they made Pop-Tarts in this flavor.

Comerica Park Food Tip #3: The Coney Dog Pizza. I won’t lie to you and tell you this is the greatest slice of pizza I’ve ever had, or that it’s even the best slice I’ve ever had in a ballpark or in Detroit. Little Caesar’s is one of those chains known more for quick and inexpensive pizza, which has worked out pretty well for them.

But it’s one of those things that 1) you have to try just for the novelty of it and b) offers something different from the usual slice of pizza. The Coney Dog pizza is made with beanless chili sauce and includes hot dog bites on it. A great idea, combining two of America’s favorite foods.

There’s three food items to try at the ballpark in Detroit, but there are many more…like the aforementioned shawarma nachos, the fried bologna sandwich at Michigan craft beer, and of course the crazy dogs. Stay tuned, I’ll have more to say on this subject…

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I love Comerica Park, but I’ve always had to tell people that with a qualifier: “But I never got to see Tiger Stadium.”

Which isn’t entirely true; I had driven by Tiger Stadium on both of my first two visits to Detroit, in 2001 and 2002, while it was still standing. So at least I saw the outside of it.

An historic corner of Detroit, even if there is just a small field there now.

As I pointed out elsewhere, the reason Comerica is not ranked among the best ballparks, despite my opinion that it should be, is the emotional cost of its construction…the demise of Tiger Stadium, first as the home of the Tigers, then literally, finally being reduced to a neglected and fenced-in field at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.

Were it not for the memories of folks like Tom Stanton, nowadays you would never know how special that corner was to so many people.

Named from the greatest Tiger not named Cobb.

The Final Season: Fathers, Sons, and One Last Season in a Classic American Ballpark (Honoring a Detroit Legend) isn’t so much about Tiger Stadium and its history—though Stanton does talk about its greatest moments and great players from Cobb to Kaline—as it is Stanton’s own personal reminiscence of his family’s history; to him Tiger Stadium was a constant in the past of a family and neighborhood that went through more than its share of turbulent times.

Stanton sees the classic ballpark as a part of the memories of family members, especially those that had passed on. He tells the stories of grandparents, uncles, and his mother, and how the ballpark was an integral part of his memories of them.

For the book, Stanton, a Tigers fan from birth who was highly upset at his team’s home being replaced, attended all 81 games in the last season of the ballpark.

Better now that there’s more to eat than hot dogs.

Throughout the book he tells stories about members of his family mixed in with stories of Tiger greatness, touching on the game’s results only as an afterthought in each daily entry. He interviews many people employed at the stadium, from announcer Ernie Harwell to Al Kaline to a longtime outside peanut vendor who tragically dies just days after Stanton speaks to him.

The Tigers go through a bad season, but Stanton seems to register more disgust at those who bleat about the so-called “economic realities” that are bringing about the demise of a place he dearly loved.

At one point he takes issue with the idea, which comes across with a Red Sox fan that he meets, that somehow Fenway Park and Wrigley Field were more special and worth preserving than Tiger Stadium was.

Yes, most beloved now…

Tiger Stadium opened the same day Fenway Park did—an hour later, as the Red Sox fan points out to him—and Stanton doesn’t mince words at the thought that Fenway’s history is any better. He uses the words of a fan to dispute the idea that an open air ballpark with a view of the city is somehow superior: “I like being able to forget about the problems outside.” Well put.

Stanton is probably right. It is the sheer amount of passing years that sanctifies Wrigley Field and Fenway Park more than anything else…the idea that so little about going to a ballgame has changed in a century. A game at Tiger Stadium must have been just as reassuring, regardless of whether the ballpark had a big green wall or a hand-operated scoreboard.

A ballpark that has simply aged gives a sense that the rest of the world may be falling apart, but baseball still and always will remain. No matter how bad a team is, a ballpark can’t be around for 80-plus years without amassing indelible memories. Tiger Stadium was no different from Fenway in that regard.

Missed terribly by Orioles fans, even though it stood only 37 years.

One local writer assumed—as many did in Baltimore when the last games were played at Memorial Stadium—that once people saw the new place, they would forget about the old one. That wasn’t really the case in Baltimore, and it certainly didn’t happen in Detroit.

In a reminiscing moment Stanton shares the story of meeting pitcher John Hiller as a kid, who had miraculously moved into his neighborhood. He managed to carry his grocery bags into his apartment for him, meeting Hiller’s wife and children and remembering that he fantasized that they would be friends for life, shortly before he reveals the glum reality that he would not speak with Hiller again until the last game celebration.

Stanton does a masterful job of slowly building up the emotional sentiment to the final game at The Corner. The stories of family become closer to home throughout the book, from the departure of his uncle Herb without a trace to the passing of his mother.

As he and his father are at the final game together in Tiger Stadium and the classic living Tigers take the field one last time, he notices that it’s not the 70 or 80-year olds wiping their eyes, but the generation that followed them.

I won’t give away any more of the last two pages of the chapter, but he beautifully sums up all of his feelings about losing Tiger Stadium, a ballpark that represented his loved ones and kept their memories alive. Throughout Stanton’s description of the final game at Tiger Stadium, one feels his sense of loss, whether one has lost a parent or a cat recently.

Welcome to the suite-filled new Tigers ballpark!

In a bit of an epilogue, Stanton describes attending a few games at Comerica Park, and like many fans, he can’t bring himself to hate it. The end of the epilogue is wistfully touching.

Until reading “The Final Season”, I hadn’t given much thought to the sign that reads “Ernie Harwell Park” on the fence at the untended field where Tiger Stadium once stood.

But Stanton connected the dots for me sharing sentiment from Harwell, saying that Harwell “says it would be best for the neighborhood if the city demolished Tiger Stadium after the team leaves. He fears, otherwise, that the park will sit empty and fall into disrepair, a bulky reminder of better days, and an impediment to the people who live around here in the present, not the past.”

Better than seeing an unused classic ballpark.

Someone may have thought he was right.