Tigers fans show off pent-up playoff fever at Comerica Park Watch Party

Detroit — A decade of pent-up playoff passion was on display Tuesday as dozens of Detroit Tigers fans lined up and then filled a section of Comerica Park where they began watching the Tigers in a first-round game on a big screen in the outfield, as they took on the Houston Astros in the wild card game.

Fans filled Witherell Street behind the right stand before the gates opened at 1:30 p.m. and the Houston game began at 2:32 p.m. The last time the Tigers were in the playoffs was in 2014, but this year's team is not expected to make the playoffs until they finish the season with a record of 29-13 and make the final playoff appearance. Secure a spot in the American League.

Heather Meade of Madison Heights and her family were first in line, arriving at 11 a.m., an hour and a half before the gates opened.

“We’re big fans,” Meade said. “I have a whole collection of jerseys from Saturday’s games that will be given away.”

For the viewing party, fans were limited to the right-hand stands. When the gates opened at 1:30 p.m., Meade and her family received new T-shirts to add to their collection. The first 1,000 fans received free orange T-shirts that read “Tigers in the Wild.”