OT: MGoAdvice Tigers Opening Day Bars
So, I've been a season ticket holder for the Tigers for 3 seasons now, and this will be the first time I will actually be able to use my opening day tickets. I was looking for some advice from the board on where the good spots are downtown before the game. I plan on rolling downtown around 7:00 am and beginning my festivus day of drinking and baseball.. Any advice would be appreciated.
That's a classy joint, lol.
Hockeytown Cafe, Cheli's Chili, and Detroit Beer Co are all within walking distance . Detroit Beer Co has some decent brews too.
Detroit Beer Co. has some really good pizzas too.
I also like parking at the Detroit Opera House when going to Detroit Beer Co. because it's practically around the corner from hopping on the freeway. Altogether, it is pretty convenient, good food, great atmosphere, and normally their seasonal brews are pretty interesting.
The Fillmore puts on a good pre-grame party. I highly recommend the Elwood parking structure for after-party. During the game, Beer Hall is the place to get your booze as it's your one spot for Anheuser Busch products inside the park, but I'm sure you already know that one.
Are there any places where you just pay $50 or so bucks or whatever and get a wristband and it's all you can drink? And yes... I'm a Budweiser guy, for cheaper beers, myself so I'm all over that spot.
I haven't seen any advertisements for any all-you-can-drink deals anywhere, but I would be interested if someone else has. Opening day tends to get pricey quickly.
Hoots on the Avenue (Trumbull & Michigan) had some ridiculous gameday specials last season, and they run a free shuttle to and from the park. You also don't have the issues with shuttle lines that you see at Nemo's just down the block.
Hoots is my regular gameday spot, and that's just because a whole season of parking and drinking expensive booze takes a nasty toll on my wallet by the end of the summer.
Town Pump Tavern is very close to Comerica, and always has a good atmosphere on gamedays, its also very close to the parking lots on Woodward
Town Pump is a fun place. Also, just a block (of parking lots) further west down Montcalm is Bookies which usually has some really good game day specials (special for any day there is a home sports game). I think the special was a pitcher and 5 shots (crappy kamakaziee types) for like 13 bucks (maybe 15) but that was a year ago or two.
If you prefer Greektown, then the Old Shillelagh is a fun place and there are lots of good restaurants nearby.
is one of my favorites. There is plenty of parking, beers are reasonable, and its an easy walk to the park.
is right across Woodward on the corner of Elizabeth and Park (next to the Filmore). Great location and great food. They open at 10 am on Opening Day. It's going to be packed.
Bucharest grill is a great place. Its chicken schwarma is amazing and I usually don't got with the schwarmas (not even sure if spelled that right). Also, Cliff Bells close by is a great place but probably not good for opening day as it is a jazz and blues bar.
the Chicken Shawarmas are great. I actually just polished one off an hour ago.
The Well-- Randolph and Gratiot. Short walk, wont be too crowded, perfect for before Tigers games all summer long.
And they have Old Style! For a Cubs fan, that's what you need before a baseball game.
Nemo's at Michigan and Eighth is always a fun place to stop especially on Opening Day. They will have a tent set up in the parking lot and I'm sure they will be open first thing in the morning. From Nemo's you can catch the shuttle to Comerica or you could hike it and do a pub crawl on the way....Lager House, one hand of blackjack at MGM, one round on the deck at Bookie's and one at the Filmore right before game time. There's plenty of parking on the streets behind Nemo's and you could hit up Slow's for some bbq after the game.
Second Nemos. Great burgers, lot of fun.
May not have as much eye candy as Town Pump, however, Town Pump isn't the biggest of placest and becomes absolutely jam packed on Opening Day.
Nemo's will be ridiculous like it always is for the opener....just barhop through Corktown and get a sandwich at Mudgies or Slows. I reserve Nemo's for all my Tiger games save the opener and big late season/playoff games when it attracts a higher class of person.
Maybe not the best you've ever had, but it would go nicely with lots of alcohol:
Hah I always passed that place on the way from Riverfront to I94 and wondered what that place was like.
I park in the lots off Woodward near Hockeytown and tailgate. After a good beer foundation has been set I head to Hockeytown which seems to have a good atmosphere. After all these other good suggestions though I may need to wander a bit more this year.
Tomorrow might call for an MGOBLOG meet and drink. Just a thought.
The Old' Shillelagh is a fun bar, but IMO, you are better off just paying the $50 to park and tailgate (BYOB). If that won't work, I would for sure stay away from Hockeytown Cafe and Chelli's. The beer prices at those places are ridiculous!