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Business & Tech

Tigers Fans Flaunt D Pride on Woodward, and Local Bars

Whether you stay home, watch the Tigers home opener at a local bar or venture downtown, it's a day to remember for Tigers' fans.

The crack of the bat, vendors hawking hot dogs and crackerjacks, cheers for the home team—sounds like our unique grand tradition of Opening Day in the D for our beloved Detroit Tiger baseball squad is finally here!

Each year in April, thousands of enthusiastic Tiger fans flock to Woodward Avenue to party at the game or at one of the many lively bars surrounding Comerica Park.  Some stay local since they can't play hooky. Either way, fans from Utica and Shelby Township will be flaunting their D with pride.

Sabrina Monroe, 23, is hopping in a bus to head to the game and enjoy the festivities with her wild aunt and uncle at 8 a.m. Their meeting place is Boston's on Hall Road, and Monroe is not asking questions. "I'm along for the ride. I'm in good hands and this isn't our first time at this rodeo, so I'm not worried."

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Boston's, which has a boatload of HDTVs and great surround sound to see every catch, hit and ground out, will also have $3 Summer Shandy and $2 Shock Top Raspberry Wheat on special during the game.

Joe Barnes is going to keep local. "One year I remember being pretty young and went with the shop I was working for on a bus. We drank with a priest, Technicolor-yawned at the stadium, and I ended up telling my mom I was sick on hot dogs," Barnes said. "Ah, the good old days!"

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Barnes and company plan on catching the game at Cass Bar and Grill. The new venue offers plenty of viewing advantages, high top tables, and some of the best sports grub around. Plus drinks are on the cheap.

"We'll have 1/2 off appetizers during the game along with $2.50 Mini Beers, $2 Labatt Blue and Blue Light Bottles, and $3 Lemon Drops," said bartender Paula Gruba. "Any Tiger fan that can't make it downtown Detroit can have as much fun in downtown Utica."

"Plus the Wings are on at 7:30. Talk about a double header of Detroit sports fun!"

One fond memory that Gene Macudzinski has of Opening Day comes from 2008 when he and his then pregnant wife were met by local female sports TV reporter Katrina Hancock.

"I'm walking with my pregnant wife and holding my baby and this overly made up woman with cameras and mic come running up to us excited and kept chirping 'Oh! Are you pregnant? This is excellent.' I couldn't help thinking, knowing my wife, what would have happened if she hadn't been," he laughs. "Anything can happen in the D on opening day."

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