TIGERFEST 2010

WINTER CARAVAN and TIGERFEST
The Tigers players, manager, coaches and broadcasters will embark on the annual Tigers Winter Caravan Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22, leading into TigerFest at Comerica Park on Saturday, January 23.

Last Updated: December 08. 2009 1:17PM
TigerFest tickets on sale Friday
Tony Paul / The Detroit News

Indianapolis -- TigerFest tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m., with the players' and coaches' annual meet-and-greet with fans scheduled for Jan. 23 at Comerica Park.

Tickets can be purchased online at tigers.com/tigerfest or by calling (866) 66-TIGER. Cost is $14 for adults, $7 for children 14 and younger, and free for children 3 and younger.

That ticket includes admission to all events. Among them:

• Autograph sessions and photo booths.

• Batting practice in a major league batting cage.

• Behind-the scenes tours of Comerica Park, including trips to the Tigers clubhouse, visitor's dugout, Champions Club, Ernie Harwell Media Center and the Tigers' executive offices.

• A kids area, which will feature book readings by Tigers players, a tee-ball batting cage, magic show and face painting.

The list of players scheduled to attend will be announced in January, but it traditionally has been an impressive roster.

tpaul@detnews.com

Ugh.

12/08/2009 12:27 PM ET
TigerFest tickets on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.
16th Annual Winter Fan Fest scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23

DETROIT – Detroit Tigers players and coaches return to Comerica Park on Saturday, Jan. 23 to take part in the 16th annual TigerFest, presented by StubHub!. Fans can purchase tickets for Detroit's annual winter baseball event this Friday beginning at 10 a.m. on tigers.com/tigerfest or by calling 866-66-TIGER.

TigerFest, which allows fans to get up-close and personal with their favorite Tigers players and coaches through autograph sessions, photo booths and seminars, takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost of admission, which includes all TigerFest attractions, is $14 for adults, $7 for children (14-and-younger) and free for children three-and-younger.

In addition to the unique access to players and coaches, fans have the opportunity to tour many exclusive areas of the ballpark, including the Tigers clubhouse, visitor's dugout, Champions Club, Ernie Harwell Media Center and Tigers executive's offices.

Additionally, fans have the opportunity to take batting practice in major league batting cages, attend a special two-hour press conference-style "Fan Conference," view historic baseball artifacts at the Tigers archive display and watch live ice sculpting demonstrations.

Younger Tigers fans can enjoy a "kids-only" autograph booth, face painting, a video game bullpen and even take some major league swings in the Tee Ball batting cage. A miniature Comerica Park will feature book readings by Tigers players, a magic show, interactive games, and photo opportunities with Detroit's favorite mascot, PAWS.

Additional information, including players scheduled to appear, will be announced in early January. For further details and the latest updates, visit tigers.com/tigerfest.

Most access areas within the event will be heated and covered; however, the Tigers encourage all fans to dress according to the weather as some passageways may not be protected from seasonal elements.

Tigers offer another shot at TigerFest
Fans have chance to win two VIP tickets, autographed ball

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

01/08/10 3:49 PM EST

CLICK HERE FOR TigerFest Sweepstakes ENTRY FORM

DETROIT -- Though this month's TigerFest is sold out, the Tigers are offering a chance for fans to win two VIP tickets with early entry and an autographed baseball at tigers.com.

More than 30 Tigers players and coaches are expected to attend this year's event, which gives fans in Detroit their first chance to meet some of the new Tigers acquired this offseason. It takes place Saturday, Jan. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Comerica Park. A complete roster for TigerFest and the accompanying Winter Caravan will be released shortly.

TigerFest returns several of the traditional features that have made the event a winter staple in Detroit, from autograph booths and photo areas to seminars, historic exhibits and behind-the-scenes tours. In tune with the season, this year's TigerFest will also feature a giant Tigers ice sculpture, slated to rise over six-feet tall and 13-feet wide. A new feature will be live bat carving demonstrations from David Chandler of RxSport.

Fans can visit the TigerFest homepage for their chance for their chance at VIP tickets. Contest ends next Friday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

TigerFest 2010 presented by StubHub!

Can't make it to TigerFest? Don't miss the action... TigerFest main stage activities will be streamed live exclusively on tigers.com!

TigerFest 2010 Main Stage Schedule

TIGERS OUTLOOK --11:15 - 12:00
Segment will focus on the Tigers off-season activities and preview the 2010 season.
DAVID DOMBROWSKI
MIKE STONE (host) DAN DICKERSON (host)

TIGERS TONIGHT - SPECIAL EDITION* --12:00 - 1:00
Discussion will include interviews with current Tigers players, coaches and Vice President & Assistant General Manager Al Avila.
AL AVILA
TIGERS PLAYERS and COACHES
MIKE STONE (host) DAN DICKERSON (host)

HITTING CLINIC --1:10 - 1:30
A special hitting clinic featuring Detroit Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon and various Tigers players.
LLOYD MCCLENDON and TIGERS PLAYERS
ROD ALLEN (host)

PITCHING CLINIC --1:40 - 2:00
A special pitching clinic featuring Detroit Tigers pitching coach Rick Knapp and various Tigers players.
RICK KNAPP and TIGERS PLAYERS
ROD ALLEN (host)

TIGERS "FAN" CONFERENCE --2:15 - 4:00
Numerous Tigers players will visit the stage for a one-of-a-kind two-hour press conference style Q&A session
TIGERS PLAYERS
MARIO IMPEMBA (host)

*Session will be aired LIVE on the Tigers flagship station - WXYT AM1270.
----------------------------------------------------------

Event Activities for All Fans (ALL ARE INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE)

• Multiple Autograph Booths featuring current Tigers Players and Coaches, including an exclusive "Kids-Only" autograph booth
  
• Main Stage, featuring content related to the 2010 season, pitching & hitting clinics and a special 2-hour Tigers "Fan Conference"
  
• Tigers Player Photo Area, located in the Visitor Clubhouse
  
• Self-guided tour through the Tigers Home Clubhouse
  
• Batting Practice in the Visitors Underground Batting Tunnel
  
• Visitors Dugout will be open for fans to visit and take photos
  
• Guided tour, which includes stops in the Ernie Harwell Media Center, Luxury Suite, The Budweiser Champions Club, and select Detroit Tigers Executive Offices
  
• Live baseball bat carving by Master bat carver, David Chandler of RxSport
  
• Detroit Tigers Ice Sculptures, including a LIVE sculpting demonstration
  
• Green screen action photos
  

Event Activities for Children

The Detroit Tigers Kids Club Fun Zone will feature:

• "Kids Only" Autograph Booth
  
• Miniature Comerica Park featuring book readings by Tigers players, Radio Disney D-Tour show, a special session on "How To Keep Score", led by Tigers Play-by-Play radio voice, Dan Dickerson
  
• Tigers Speed Pitch
  
• "Junior Sluggers" T-Ball Cage
  
• Video Game Bullpen
  
• Face Painting
  
• Official Detroit Tigers Kids Club enrollment
  

2010 KIDS ZONE STAGE SCHEDULE

TIME	ACTIVITY	PLAYER
11:30 - 12:00...	Book Reading............	Rick Porcello
12:00 - 12:30	Book Reading	Nate Robertson
12:30 - 1:00	Radio Disney	D-Tour Show
1:00 - 1:30	Book Reading	Dontrelle Willis
1:30 - 2:00	Learn to Keep Score	Dan Dickerson
2:00 - 2:30	Radio Disney	D-Tour Show
2:30 - 3:00	Book Reading	Don Kelly
3:00 - 3:30	Book Reading	Scott Sizemore
3:30 - 4:00	Radio Disney	D-Tour Show
4:00 - 4:30	Book Reading	Zach Miner

Tigers Players and Personnel Scheduled to Attend

Current Tigers Players

• Alex Avila
  
• Brennan Boesch
  
• Eddie Bonine
  
• Miguel Cabrera
  
• Audy Ciriaco
  
• Phil Coke
  
• Brent Dlugach
  
• Adam Everett
  
• Casey Fien
  
• Alfredo Figaro
  
• Armando Galarraga
  
• Carlos Guillen
  
• Brandon Inge
  
• Austin Jackson
  
• Don Kelly
  
• Gerald Laird
  
• Jeff Larish
  
• Zach Miner
  
• Magglio Ordoñez
  
• Ryan Perry
  
• Rick Porcello
  
• Ryan Raburn
  
• Wilkin Ramirez
  
• Nate Robertson
  
• Jay Sborz
  
• Daniel Schlereth
  
• Max Scherzer
  
• Bobby Seay
  
• Scott Sizemore
  
• Ryan Strieby
  
• Jacob Turner
  
• Justin Verlander
  
• Casper Wells
  
• Dontrelle Willis
  

Coaches

• Jim Leyland
  
• Gene Lamont
  
• Lloyd McClendon
  
• Jeff Jones
  
• Rafael Belliard
  
• Tom Brookens
  
• Rick Knapp
  

Front Office

• David Dombrowski
  
• Al Avila
  

Broadcasters

• Rod Allen
  
• Mike Stone
  
• Dan Dickerson
  
• Mario Impemba
  

Participants subject to change

TigerFest a hit for fans and players
Fans relish opportunity to meet revamped lineup

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

01/23/10 7:30 PM EST

DETROIT -- If there was any question in the back of Rick Porcello's mind about how Tigers fans would receive this new-look team, he had his answer when he arrived at Comerica Park on Saturday morning ahead of TigerFest.

"I was here at about 9:15," he said, "and there was a line of fans wrapped around the corner."

By about 10:30, that line essentially wrapped around one of the parking lots between the ballpark and Woodward Avenue, filled with fans waiting to get in. Once the doors opened to the public a half-hour later, those fans filled the walkways and corners of the park to see familiar faces again and get a look at some of the new ones.

Attendance was never going to be a question; tickets for TigerFest sold out within days after they went on sale in December. The mood of the fans and their support was going to be interesting to see.

The reception was overwhelmingly positive.

"They're treating me like I've been here three or four years already," said Austin Jackson, the rookie center fielder who came over from the Yankees in the Curtis Granderson trade. "I'm happy the way everybody's welcoming me."

From Jackson to Max Scherzer to Phil Coke, and even homegrown prospects such as Scott Sizemore, Casper Wells and Ryan Strieby, Detroit fans had plenty of new players to learn, enough that many had to work to attach names to faces. At the same time, though, many were accepted for who they are, not who they're following.

Others received the warm greeting of familiar veterans.

"Detroit Tigers fans are Detroit Tigers fans," reliever Bobby Seay said. "They accept the business aspect of the game. We have some guys who aren't proven, but everyone's got to start somewhere. That's where we're at, and I think the reception's been very good. It seems the same as any other year in the past to me."

Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said during his question-and-answer session with fans that this has been one of the more complicated offseasons he has had as a general manager anywhere, because of the "adjustments" he had to make. But he also reiterated what he said after last month's three-team trade with the Yankees and D-backs, that trading known talents for the unknown is never popular.

For most fans, TigerFest and the winter caravan that preceded it was their first chance to get to know some of these guys.

Jackson talked about how he came to choose a career in baseball a few years ago over a basketball scholarship that would've made him the next in a long line of renowned point guards at Georgia Tech, how he has been told often that he has big shoes to fill after Granderson, and how he hopes to make a name for himself in Detroit in time. But he also talked about how he'd like to follow Granderson's example of being active in the community and giving back, especially after getting to see the area and meet fans the last few days.

"I've already been thinking about that," Jackson said. "Just going around on the caravan and seeing how fun it is to interact with youth and giving back to them, that's fun to me. I remember when I was that age, I would see ballplayers come in and that would kind of inspire me to want to get where they were. So setting a good example for them is always good."

He could get a chance to do that while setting the table for the middle of the Tigers order. After getting peppered with questions about his leadoff spot for three days, manager Jim Leyland said he "assumes" that he'll bat Jackson leadoff once Spring Training games begin to see how he handles it.

"I don't know who's going to be the leadoff guy Opening Day," Leyland said. "I would like it to be him."

For that matter, fellow rookie Sizemore could bat second behind Jackson. It would be a big step to bat two rookies ahead of Miguel Cabrera, Leyland admitted, but if they show the talent, the Tigers are willing to give them a shot. Fans on Saturday appeared willing to give them a shot, too.

Other newcomers who aren't rookies were getting acclimated, too. Scherzer, the former D-backs starter with the impressive fastball, talked about the text messages he received after December's trade telling him he was a Tiger again -- a Detroit Tiger now, after being a Missouri Tiger in college. He talked about having the chance to watch Brandon Webb and Randy Johnson in Arizona, and now getting the chance to watch Justin Verlander at work.

He also talked about growing up in St. Louis and now playing in Detroit.

"This is a good organization, a great city to play in baseball in," Scherzer said. "This is a great thing for me, and a great opportunity."

Watching Verlander make his way around the ballpark on Saturday was clearly an example of that opportunity. Whether it was the long lines of fans asking for his autograph, the crowd that packed the seminar hall shoulder to shoulder to listen to him and Gerald Laird answer questions and make fans laughs -- it was a session Verlander volunteered to do on the spur of the moment -- or his photo on the cover of the TigerFest guide, Verlander clearly seemed to be the most popular figure and arguably the face of the franchise at age 26.

One fan asked him please not to leave, even though he's two years away from free agency.

Together, the collection of young talent seemed to draw the city's attention Saturday.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.