With Michigan opening up outdoor gatherings, the home of the Detroit Tigers is preparing to welcome back more fans.
The state of Michigan lifted its COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor events on Tuesday, including those at outdoor sports and entertainment venues.
In an email sent to fans Tuesday afternoon by the Tigers, Comerica Park will offer additional tickets per game, starting with the club's next home game on June 8 against the Seattle Mariners.
Fans had been limited to 8,200 per game since the season began in April when Governor Gretchen Whitmer allowed outdoor venues to operate at 20 per cent capacity.
The team also announced it was lifting some of the requirements for fans.
"We couldn't be more excited," read the email from the team. "Ticketed fans will no longer be required to complete the health screening form, but please leave your bags in your car or at home, as they are not permitted inside Comerica Park. Masks are also optional for vaccinated and non-vaccinated fans as of [Tuesday]."
The Tigers also placed additional hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the ballpark, and set up a cashless system for ordering and paying for food and drink. Fans were asked to wear masks at all times unless they were in their assigned seats, and eating or drinking.
Indoor sports and entertainment venues can once again welcome up to 50 per cent of capacity, including Little Caesars Arena, the home of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons. The arena had required fans to complete a wellness survey 24 hours before an event. However, Olympia Entertainment, which operates the arena, did not announce what changes may be made under the relaxed guidelines.
The NFL's Detroit Lions had been planning to entertain some fans this season at Ford Field, but the team has yet to provide additional information on seating. The Lions are only offering season-ticket packages at this time.
While the full reopening of Comerica Park is good news for baseball fans in Michigan, Tiger fans in southwestern Ontario will have to wait a little longer to see the boys of summer in person. The border remains closed to non-essential and non-emergency traffic.
Meanwhile, Toronto Blue Jays fans will have to wait to see their team play at Rogers Centre due to the border closure and the province's current restrictions on outdoor gatherings. The Blue Jays began playing home games this week at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, home of its Triple-A farm club, the Buffalo Bisons. The Jays started the season playing home games at its winter home in Dunedin, Florida.