DETROIT -- The Tigers will open their remodeled Spring Training home this coming February with their 81st camp at Tigertown in Lakeland, Fla., beginning with a Feb. 23 exhibition against Florida Southern College.
The team announced its Spring Training slate on Thursday as it prepares to move into its renovated facility, now known as Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The $40 million project, which began as soon as last Spring Training ended, is expected to be complete by the time pitchers and catchers report in early February.
The upgrades -- including a new clubhouse, offices, weight room, party deck, club suites, more box seats, air conditioned and covered areas and concessions -- continue the longest-running partnership between a Major League team and its Spring Training home.
"We're all very excited about the major renovations in Lakeland that look spectacular," Tigers general manager Al Avila said in a press release. "TigerTown is being transformed into a world class complex second to none in Major League Baseball. It's going to make quite a difference for the Detroit Tigers players and staff, and for the fans, who will appreciate all the enhancements."
The new-look park will get its first game when the Tigers hold their annual exhibition against Florida Southern on Thursday, Feb. 23. From there, Detroit opens its Grapefruit League schedule with back-to-back home games against Baltimore and Houston on Feb. 24-25.
The Tigers will host 17 Grapefruit League games, including the Yankees on March 4 and 17, the Blue Jays on March 10 and 26, the Mets on March 12 and 20, the Phillies on March 7 and 29, the Nationals on March 1 and the Orioles on March 6. Eight of their first 13 Grapefruit League contests will be at home.
All home games are 1:05 p.m. ET starts.
The flip side comes at the end, when the Tigers finish with eight of their final 11 games on the road, culminating with an overnight two-game set against the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., on March 31 and April 1. The club will make another trip to Jupiter to face the Marlins on March 14, two visits to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to meet the Mets on Feb. 26 and March 12, and one trip to the new complex at West Palm Beach, Fla., to play the Nationals on March 13.
Full season ticket packages and individual game tickets will be available at the stadium box office in Lakeland. For more information and group pricing, log on to tigers.com/springtraining or call the Lakeland ticket office at 863-686-8075.