Detroit Tigers Opening Day Question

**JROLLA** · March-20-09, 07:54 AM

Hello everyone. I have been browsing the boards for a while and love what a read. Now I have a question and figured this may be a great place to get an answer.

I am attending my first Tigers opening day this year. I'm geeked but just have a few questions.

What time should I get down there and grab a spot in the bar? I just don't know when it really starts to get busy and don't want to be really early, or really late.

Also, What is the best bar for opening day pregame? I go downtown all the time but as mentioned before, never for opening day. Is there anywhere in particular I should hit up [[Corktown,Chelis,Beer co., etc...)

Also, a Buddy and I got a room at the Doubletree Fort/Shelby to avoid any drinking and driving. Has anyone ever been there? How far is it from the people mover?

Thanks a lot everyone for your help. GO TIGERS!

cheddar bob · March-21-09, 10:55 PM

The earlier you get there the better, but 7am may be a bit early for you and you would probably be passed out by 4pm. If you park the car by 9am, you 'll be fine. Assuming you're parking near where you're staying, just walk over to woodward and start making your way up. It doesn't matter what bar you go to, they all serve beer/alcohol. Bars I've been known to stop at before the game include, the Park Bar, Town Pump, State, The Well, Baltimore Lunch, Old Sheleighly, Hard Rock [[they used to have the best price for Cabo Wabo), Foran's, Proof, Beubian Street, Cliff Bells, Detroit Beer Co., and The Detroiter.

The last couple of years we've made our way around the block with The State, Park, Cliff Bells and Proof. This will be my 10th consecutive Opening Day and the first time I've seen it on a Friday, so I'm eager to see what it will be like. I don't think I'll be able to keep my normal routine of starting to drink at 2am the morning of the game and continuing drinking until Midnight. Even a professional such as myself has limits.

You will have a blast for Opening Day, I know I have every year.

**JROLLA** · March-22-09, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by cheddar bob

The earlier you get there the better, but 7am may be a bit early for you and you would probably be passed out by 4pm. If you park the car by 9am, you 'll be fine. Assuming you're parking near where you're staying, just walk over to woodward and start making your way up. It doesn't matter what bar you go to, they all serve beer/alcohol. Bars I've been known to stop at before the game include, the Park Bar, Town Pump, State, The Well, Baltimore Lunch, Old Sheleighly, Hard Rock [[they used to have the best price for Cabo Wabo), Foran's, Proof, Beubian Street, Cliff Bells, Detroit Beer Co., and The Detroiter.

The last couple of years we've made our way around the block with The State, Park, Cliff Bells and Proof. This will be my 10th consecutive Opening Day and the first time I've seen it on a Friday, so I'm eager to see what it will be like. I don't think I'll be able to keep my normal routine of starting to drink at 2am the morning of the game and continuing drinking until Midnight. Even a professional such as myself has limits.

You will have a blast for Opening Day, I know I have every year.

First off, thank you for your advice and your reply.

Secondly, 2am to midnight drinking? You are my new hero.

Thirds, The State, and Park both look promising and I have not been to either. Have you been to corktown for opening day since it's been at CoPa? I just don't want to be out of the action.

cheddar bob · March-22-09, 04:02 PM

Now that you mention it, I did stop by a corktown bar one time but it was years ago. They do have shuttles so if you're so inclined, you can get a ride right to the park. Personally, I prefer to be close to the park so I can walk right on over whenever I feel like it. I just remembered that I told Jams I would stop by Foran's sometime that day so that will be on my list.

I think I'm getting too old to stay awake for 36 hours and drink for 22 of those hours. Last year, I paced my drinking but was beyond exhausted by 9 or 10pm. I think I might need to actually try to get some sleep the night before, but we'll see. The last thing I want to do is go into sleep deprivation induced convulsions or something.

There's so many bars within two blocks of the stadium that you would not be able to get to them all before game time, but post game is a good time to get to those bars.

**JROLLA** · March-23-09, 09:33 AM

I think I might check out the State Bar. I have never been, but walked by a ton of times. Looks real promising.

**Saultp** · March-29-09, 12:09 PM

I'm attending my first opening day too, and had the same concerns about when to get there. I'd like to park somewhere away from the park and take the people mover to the stadium. Anyone have any suggustions?

**Genesyxx** · April-02-09, 02:50 PM

This has gotta be the first Opening Day in some time that they're doing this on Good Friday. I have the day off! Just couldn't get tickets. [[sigh). I'll pile into Cheli's or Proof and enjoy a good drumming.

cheddar bob · April-02-09, 03:18 PM

I get the feeling that due to it's proximity to the park, Cheli's is [[[[[[[[[ central at about 11am on opening day. Same with the Elwood. I should commission a study to determine the validity of this hypothesis of mine...The [[[[[[ factor of a bar on opening day is proportional to the bar's proximity to the park.

With that said, I'm sure I've contributed to teh [[[[[[ factor at Proof that last couple of years. My friend about fell out of chair when they charged him $40 for four shots of Patron a couple years ago. He didn't bitch too much about the opening day price gouging because we were in a celebratory mood, but $6-$7 is the going rate for that.

Cross post to the People From Flint Are Cheap thread.

**Knocturnal** · April-02-09, 04:04 PM

JRolla - I think that you really enjoy the Fort-Shelby as well. I recently stayed there and was quite impressed. The suites are very spacious. My bed was very comfortable. The elevators are quick. Finn and Porter Round Bar was nice. The location is great too. If you choose not to valet park, there is/was parking available for $5/day at 2nd and Lafayette, although the rate may vary with Opening Day price gouging. Lastly, you can't forget about the chocolate chip cookie when checking-in. Haha. The only noticeable thing that I encountered was that I found a strand of hair on the both the bed and a chair from the previous occupant. Not that I look for things to complain about, but jet-black hair on a white comforter kind of sticks out.

cheddar bob · April-02-09, 04:17 PM

I hope it was a long hair, as opposed to a short one.

**Knocturnal** · April-02-09, 04:36 PM

LOL. No, fortunately, it was of the long variety.

**JROLLA** · April-07-09, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by cheddar bob

I get the feeling that due to it's proximity to the park, Cheli's is [[[[[[[[[ central at about 11am on opening day. Same with the Elwood. I should commission a study to determine the validity of this hypothesis of mine...The [[[[[[ factor of a bar on opening day is proportional to the bar's proximity to the park.

With that said, I'm sure I've contributed to teh [[[[[[ factor at Proof that last couple of years. My friend about fell out of chair when they charged him $40 for four shots of Patron a couple years ago. He didn't bitch too much about the opening day price gouging because we were in a celebratory mood, but $6-$7 is the going rate for that.

Cross post to the People From Flint Are Cheap thread.

You also have to incorporate any popped collars and sunglasses indoors into your study.