Comerica Park is gearing up to host more than 10 area eateries for the upcoming baseball season as part of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s commitment to supporting local businesses.
“The way that fans experience food and beverage at the ballpark is such a unique aspect of baseball in particular,” said Ryan Gustafson, president and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “We’re going to always have the staples of baseball like hotdogs, beer, and nachos, but we want to bring in different flavors, local flavors.”
Collaborating with Delaware North Sportservice, the Tigers are introducing several new additions to the menu across various locations at Comerica Park for the 2024 season, including Detroit-based Slows Bar BQ and Marrow.
Slows Bar BQ is debuting its pitcher’s pub concept at Comerica Landing, featuring new burrito options including pulled pork, hickory smoked chicken and a vegetarian option with plant-based chorizo.
“We’re very excited to be part of the Comerica Park experience, and we’re expecting people to enjoy our new Slows burritos,” said Brian Perrone, co-founder and chef of Slows. “We’ve been in Detroit for almost 20 years and this is our first time here at the park; and a lot of our fans at the restaurant are Tigers fans, so we’re expecting people to enjoy the food here, too.”
Marrow, known for its innovative cuisine, will be operating at the Corner Tap Room near Section 114, offering items such as a bacon burger, braised barbacoa torta, and a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich.
“We’re going to be creating food items using Marrow products: burgers from our lunch menu or sausages from the products that are available in grocery stores,” said Sarah Welch, executive chef and partner at Marrow. “This is really great exposure for us to create a more casual client base. I think when people think of Marrow, they tend to think it’s a little more high end, and yes, we are, but we also have the ability to be more casual and people can experience that at Comerica Park.”
Detroit Water Ice Factory, a local favorite, will be serving refreshing flavors at the Comerica Big Cat Court at section 138, including strawberry lemonade, blue raspberry, and orange cream. “We love being a part of the Comerica Park family. We’ve been in Detroit forever, and we’re a part of the SAY Detroit Foundation and everything we do supports charity, and our water ice is locally made,” said Annette Hill, director of store operations for Detroit Water Ice.
Additionally, Comerica Park will host rotating local pop-ups at section 116, featuring Ferndale-based seafood restaurant Voyager among others. “I think we’re bringing something totally new to the stadium. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a baseball stadium where they’re serving fish dip, or hush puppies, or shrimp,” said Emily Cameron, manager of Voyager. “It’ll be a really cool experience, not only for us, but for the guests as well, and I think it’ll of open up some eyes and maybe make some seafood fans out of it, too.”
Other returning favorites like Green Dot Stables, El Rey de las Arepas and Taqueria El Rey will continue to delight fans with their signature dishes like sliders, tacos and more.
“I live for opportunities like this to share my culture,” said Ray Gutierrez, owner of El Rey de las Arepas. “Last year we were here to celebrate Miguel Cabrera’s last game, and we’re excited to be back in Comerica Park.”
Green Dot Stables plans to rotate some of their sliders to complement Tigers’ opponents throughout the season, something they’re anticipating fans will love. “Fans’ response that we got through our brick-and-mortar restaurant in Corktown was amazing. So many times, people would come in after the game to say that they had eaten sliders at the game and then had to come get more afterwards; so, it was a boost to our slider game,” said Les Molnar, corporate executive chef of Inlaws Hospitality – the ownership group of Green Dot Stables.
At section 139, fans can savor an indulgent cheesesteak sandwich packed with steak, hatch chili queso, and peppers and onions on a hoagie roll; or for those craving a unique twist, the cheesesteak hot dog combines the classic flavors of a hot dog with cheesesteak, all nestled in a hot dog bun. In addition to these delights, sections 151 and 336 offer hot honey chicken tenders, featuring three tenders coated in hot honey and served with crispy fries or classic tenders inside a souvenir five-piece chicken tender bucket with fries. For select theme games like Margaritaville Night and 90s Night, fans can enjoy exclusive food and beverage items like the tequila lime fried chicken sandwich and themed cocktails.
As Comerica Park readies itself for an exciting season, the fusion of local culinary excellence promises an unforgettable experience for Tigers fans of all ages, celebrating both the spirit of the game and Detroit’s vibrant food culture.