Here we are on the eve of Opening Day eve. Here’s some information to get you ready for the festivities:

Tickets

Good news for those of you still looking for tickets, the prices appear to be dropping fast on Stubhub. You can now get pairs together for less than $100 a ticket. Most of these are in the newly erected risers. But there are also relative deals on better seats, like infield box for $179 per ticket.

Of course there isn’t time to ship these, but Stubhub offers an on site ticket pick-up location.

Getting There

It’s Detroit and it’s spring time. The robins are back and so are the construction barrels. MDOT has directions and maps for getting to the stadium.

The Weather

Yeah, things aren’t looking good. The temperature should be fine with highs in the low 50’s. But every weather site I’ve been to is calling for rain.

I know people will gripe about the season starting in March, but a mid April start doesn’t guarantee good weather either.

Heck, the one time the Tigers opened in May it was only 59 degrees. That’s just a couple ticks higher than what we will see on Monday.

History

Baseball Almanac has a listing of the Tigers record (and other clubs) for the home opener. Overall the Tigers are 57-49-1 on Opening Days. That tie came back in 1904 when the game against the St. Louis Browns finished in a 4-4 deadlock.

Detroit has lost 6 of their last 8 home openers, including both games in the Jim Leyland era.

This is the 4th home opener against the Royals, and the Tigers have a 1-2 record in those games.

Festivities and Voice of the Turtle

The game will feature a pregame flyover if the rain doesn’t prevent it. There are also numerous activities going on around the park which are listed below.

To add to the excitement of Opening Day, two bands will be performing for fans outside the ballpark. Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Chevy will have a stage set up in Columbia Plaza near Gate A where Mega 80’s will play from 10:30-12:30. Over at Gate C, Tarter Sauce will perform from 10:30-12:30 for fans entering Comerica Park.

Also outside Gate C, the Tigers, FOX 2 and Baby Ruth will kick off a month long “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” singing contest. In honor of the 100th anniversary of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the Tigers and FOX 2 will search Detroit for the best performance of his cherished song. From 9:30-12:30, fans will have the opportunity to sing for random prizes, including “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” 100th anniversary t-shirts or Tigers giveaway items. More contest details will be available at Gate C on Monday.

Other activities around the park on Opening Day include:

• Chevrolet vehicle displays near the Big Cat Court

• WXYT Radio, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and McDonald’s will be passing out orange and blue beads outside the park

• Grabber will be handing out hand warmers

• WWJ Radio will distribute Cheer Cards

• McDonald’s Sweet Tea will be sampled before the game

• Pepsi will be sampled by fans after the game

“The Voice of the Turtle”

As best he can recall, somewhere around the 1971 season, legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell began starting his first spring training or regular season game by reciting a verse from the King James version of the Bible, called “The Voice of the Turtle” (Song of Solomon 2; 11-12). His introduction became a sign to Tigers fans that the season could officially begin.

On March 20, Harwell graciously agreed to go into the Ron Rose Studios in Southfield to record “The Voice of the Turtle” for Opening Day. Here are the words to the verse which Ernie used to begin so many Tigers seasons and will be heard again on Monday at Comerica Park:

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”