Tigers Spring Training 2025 JM Stadium Guide

You have officially arrived at Joker Marchant Stadium, which is the Spring Training home for the 2025 Detroit Tigers. The stadium is located at Lakeland, Florida, a 60-minute drive from Orlando. The Michigan team has been training at Joker Marchant Stadium since 1966 after the team spent the previous 31 years in the city’s Henley Field (excluding WWII). The Tigers’ spring ballpark was named in honor of Marcus “Joker” Marchant, who was Lakeland’s Director for Parks & Recreation. Mr. Marchant also has a statue just to the right of the home plate entrance. Now that the 2025 Grapefruit League season is around the corner, the Tigers are seeking to reach the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 2011-2014. In fact, Detroit is seeking its first MLB championship since 1984. And most importantly, Joker Marchant Stadium has some exciting fan events in store to officially start off Spring Training in 2025. 

Upcoming Detroit Tigers 2025 Grapefruit League Fan Experience:

78th Annual Tiger BBQ in Lakeland

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, Joker Marchant Stadium will host the pre-season kick-off event: the 78th Annual Tiger BBQ. This experience is the official celebration of the Detroit Tigers’ return to Central Florida as they get ready for the upcoming season. The party runs from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and it includes an all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet. The main entrees consist of Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Pork, Smoked Sausages, Grilled Chicken Quarters, and Shrimp Cocktail. The side dishes will feature Baked Beans, Coleslaw, and Roasted Corn. Fans in attendance at the Tiger BBQ can receive a Souvenir Tigers Spring Training Mug. The free giveaway will be distributed once guests enter the home plate gates. The seating will be located inside the main concourse and the tables will be community-style rather than a single-family style. 

Unique Foods at Joker Marchant Stadium

Detroit sports fans attending Tigers games in Lakeland can order food that tastes like home. Not far from the home plate concourse has the Little Caesar’s stand, which sells pepperoni and cheese flavors. All ticket holders can either order pizzas by the slice or the Detroit-Style Deep Dish Box. The national pizza chain was founded by the late Mike Ilitch, who owned the Tigers from 1992 until his passing in 2017. Of course, the venue has a variety of food options on game day like Que Kaline (home plate), a barbeque cart named after Tigers legend Al Kaline. The third base concourse has a Mac & Tater cart that sells loaded favorites like Chili Mac and BBQ Meat Mac. Please note: some of these food vendors have not been confirmed to return for 2025, so visit the ballpark for the latest updates. 

Future Additions Coming to Tigers Spring Training

Just several years after the team installed a 360 concourse at the ballpark, Tigertown is poised for some more projects along the way. Scheduled for Spring 2025 groundbreaking, Joker Marchant Stadium plans to construct a new 4-floor dorm building for players and coaches. The facility, which includes a recreation hall and cafeteria, will replace the soon-to-be-demolished 58-year old Fetzer Hall. Located adjacent to the 3rd base parking lot, the new dorm building will be about three times the size of the current one. 

The overall project timeline is expected for completion sometime in 2026. As part of the new player experience deal, the city of Lakeland agreed to extend their Grapefruit League partnership with the Tigers by seven more years until the end of 2044. In addition to Fetzer Hall, the club also intends to tear down the other three existing buildings: the hangar, the cafeteria, and the clubhouse/rec hall. 

Upgraded Experiences at Joker Marchant Stadium

Other than the stadium’s general seating and the green berm at left field, the home of Tigers spring camp has social areas where fans can watch the games in style. For instance, the 34 Club above the 1st base side seats is an air-conditioned room that serves a brunch buffet prior to each matinee contest. This section also includes an indoor bar and shaded outdoor seats. Guests can also rely on the On Deck Suite at the other side of the ballpark, and it has upscale dining and holds up to 60 people. Those who want a tropical experience can head over to Margaritaville Patio in right field. This is a two-tier seating platform that has Florida themes and views of the clubhouse & bullpen. 

Night Games at Tigers Spring Camp

Those who don’t want to put up with Florida’s humid weather might find some relief. For the 2025 season, Joker Marchant Stadium plans to host two games under the lights. All of those home contests would start at 6:05 P.M. EDT first pitch. Since gates open approximately 2 hours before the contests begin, fans are encouraged to come to the ballpark at around 4:05 P.M. EDT. Here are the Tigers Spring Training night games for 2025: Friday, March 7 vs. Baltimore Orioles and Friday, March 21 vs. New York Yankees. As a heads up, the later contest will be the Tigers’ split squad event. 

Lakeland has Seen Recent Baseball Successes

Since the Detroit players and coaches headed up north last spring, the team was able to exceed expectations from recent seasons. In Fall 2024, the Tigers snapped their 10-year playoff drought by claiming one of the two AL wild card spots. Detroit stunned the baseball world in the Wild Card Round when it knocked off the Houston Astros club that played in seven straight ACLS appearances. Even though the Tigers went on to lose the Division Series to the Cleveland Guardians, Detroit managed to get that round to a full five games. One month after the playoff elimination, LHP Tarik Skubal won the AL Cy Young award for the league’s best pitcher. 

The Tigers are not the only recent successful baseball franchise to play in Lakeland this year. The Flying Tigers (Single-A) reached the Florida State League postseason back in 2023, but lost to the Clearwater Threshers in the semifinals. One year later, Lakeland had a better outcome because it claimed the first division title in franchise history. Even though the Flying Tigers went farther in the playoffs this time around, they went on to lose in the FSL Championship vs. Palm Beach Cardinals. 

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