Spring is in the air: Detroit Tigers set to begin 88th spring training season in Lakeland
Forget groundhogs. In Lakeland, spring starts when the Detroit Tigers take the field.
The Tigers are getting ready to open their 88th spring training camp in Lakeland, the longest-standing relationship between a Major League Baseball team and a spring training host community. It'll be their 59th consecutive season playing in Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
While much of the team is already working out at the TigerTown complex, pitchers and catchers officially report Wednesday, with the first full-squad workout scheduled for Feb. 19.
The Tigers open the 2024 Grapefruit League schedule Feb. 24 at home against the New York Yankees. The team will play 32 Grapefruit League games this spring, including 16 home games.
Among the highlights, they'll play five games against the Yankees, three of which are at home (one of those being a split squad day). They'll face the Boston Red Sox twice, including one home game on March 4.
MLB spring training schedule 2024: First games, report dates for every team
The home slate also includes three games against the Philadelphia Phillies, two against the Toronto Blue Jays, two against the Pittsburgh Pirates, one against the Houston Astros, one against the Minnesota Twins, one against the New York Mets, one against the Baltimore Orioles and one against the Atlanta Braves.
They play the Tampa Bay Rays twice, but neither game is scheduled for Lakeland.
Single-game tickets for all 2024 spring training home games are on sale now via the ticket office at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, by calling 863-686-8075 or online at Tigers.com/Spring.
The Tigers began training in Lakeland in 1934, interrupted for only three years during World War II, long before the current Tigertown was converted to baseball use. Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium opened in 1966 and received multimillion-dollar renovations in 2003 and 2017. In the latter renovation, a 360-degree walkable concourse was opened. The stadium has been voted the best ballpark in the Grapefruit League multiple times and boasts an interactive children’s play area and all-inclusive indoor/outdoor seating.
In November, the Tigers signed an agreement with Lakeland that allows the team to tear down the aging Fetzer Hall dormitory and build a new $33 million dorm complex in its place. As part of the deal, the team extended its relationship with the city through at least 2044.
Tigers spring training schedule
(All games are at 1:05 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Home games in bold. The Spring Breakout game features minor league stars.)
Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. New York Yankees
Sunday, Feb. 25 at Tampa Bay Rays
Monday, Feb. 26 vs. Houston Astros
Tuesday, Feb. 27 Split Squad: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Tuesday, Feb. 27 Split Squad: at Baltimore Orioles
Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Pittsburgh Pirates
Thursday, Feb. 29 at Boston Red Sox
Friday, March 1 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, March 2 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, March 3 at New York Yankees
Monday, March 4 vs. Boston Red Sox
Tuesday, March 5 at Atlanta Braves
Thursday, March 7 Split Squad: vs. Toronto Blue Jays (6:05 p.m.)
Thursday, March 7: Split Squad: at New York Yankees (6:35 p.m.)
Friday, March 8: at Baltimore Orioles (6:05 p.m.)
Saturday, March 9: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, March 10: at New York Mets
Monday, March 11: at Houston Astros
Tuesday, March 12: vs. Minnesota Twins
Wednesday, March 13: at Philadelphia Phillies
Thursday, March 14: vs. New York Yankees
Friday, March 15: Split Squad: vs. Atlanta Braves
Friday, March 15: Split Squad: at Toronto Blue Jays
Saturday, March 16: at Pittsburgh Pirates (4:05 p.m.)
Saturday, March 16: vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Spring Breakout*)
Sunday, March 17: vs. Baltimore Orioles
Tuesday, March 19: vs. Philadelphia Phillies (6:05 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 20: at Minnesota Twins
Thursday, March 21: vs. New York Mets
Friday, March 22: at Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, March 23: Split Squad: vs. New York Yankees
Saturday, March 23: Split Squad at Toronto Blue Jays
Sunday, March 24: at Tampa Bay Rays
Payment for parking at spring training games will now be cashless. Attendants will be using ParkHub handheld devices to expedite the parking process. Parking fees can be paid using a credit card through the point-of-sale system. Parking fees for 2024 are $15 for a car, truck or SUV; $15 for motorcycles; $25 for RVs; $30 for buses
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Tigers spring training returns to Lakeland: Schedule, ticket info