Sports

Whether you like professional sports, playing pick-up games or just being outdoors and active, metro Detroit is the place to be. Detroit is lucky enough to have all four professional sports teams in its downtown core. Perfect for sports fans. And if you’re more of the outdoorsy type, we have more than just the Great Lakes (although they are pretty fabulous). Explore our waterways, public parks and maybe a sports bar when you’re done.

The brand new Little Caesars Arena is home to both the Detroit Red Wings hockey team and the Detroit Pistons basketball team. The arena pays homage to the rich history of both teams, and hosts a slew of new restaurants for both the Detroit sports fans and the public to enjoy. Catch a Detroit Lions game on Sundays at Ford Field just a few blocks over. And enjoy professional baseball at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, all summer long. Comerica Park even has fireworks on select Friday night games – perfect for a night out with kids! Check out which pro games our coming up on our Detroit events calendar. If you’re in Macomb, stop by Jimmy John’s Field, home to four teams that play in the United Shore Professional Baseball League. This field is perfect for the little ones.

For all you futbol fans out there, Detroit has a huge soccer fan base. We even have our own team, Detroit City FC, which is a pro American soccer club that plays in the National Independent Soccer Association. Fans rush to Hamtramck for every game, and it might be the rowdiest group of sports fans you’ll see. Be sure to stop by some of Hamtramck’s best dive bars afterwards.

Although Detroit is the Motor City, biking has really started to gain a following in the city. With the addition of new bike lanes, the Dequindre Cut Greenway, easy bike rentals like Wheelhouse Detroit on the RiverWalk, and MoGo bike rentals for quick rides in the city, it has never been easier to see Detroit from the comfort of two wheels.

If you want a classic Detroit experience, then a Monday night Slow Roll is not to be missed. This weekly bike ride is led by locals and takes you through Detroit’s best neighborhoods. Ride slow and talk to the locals – we promise you won’t regret going out on a Monday night.

Looking to show off your cycling skills? Participate in the annual Tour de Troit race that explores the city’s most historic areas. Tour de Troit also puts on biking events that take you across the Ambassador Bridge, through Detroit’s eastside, and on a ride in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. And for a unique biking experience, you can ride or watch races at the Lexus Velodrome, Detroit’s very own indoor cycling arena.

Public Parks

If you are looking to get outside and play, metro Detroit has a huge expanse of public parks that are perfect for any outdoor activity. Belle Isle sits right in the middle of the Detroit River and has ample room for biking, walking, running around or having a picnic. On the island, you can also kayak, visit the conservatory, and go to the aquarium or the nature center. The Detroit International RiverWalk spans more than three miles, from Rose Parks Blvd. to the Belle Isle Bridge.

Take in views of Canada, the Detroit skyline and TCF Center (formerly known as Cobo Center); rent bikes from Wheelhouse Detroit; ride the carousel and hang out in the many public parks along the route. If you’re in the suburbs, check out one of the 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Some special ones include the waterfront Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair metroparks, or go hiking, golfing and cross country skiing at Kensington Metropark.

If you haven’t heard, Michigan is directly surrounded by four Great Lakes. Metro Detroit, in particular, has access to Lake Erie, the smaller Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, which connects the two. That’s a lot of water! Southeast Michigan is a fisherman’s paradise. Book a charter on Lake St. Clair, grab a fishing license and fish on the Detroit River or any of the smaller lakes in the area. If you’re lucky enough to have a boat, take advantage of Michigan’s lakes all summer long. Pull your boat up to restaurants in Wyandotte or on the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores and enjoy the area’s best waterside dining. If not, there are numerous kayak rental places on Belle Isle, in Wyandotte, and throughout Macomb and Oakland.

Even when there isn’t a game in town (which is rare, considering there are now 4 pro teams playing downtown), Detroit sports fans will crowd all sports bars in the area. Bars near Little Caesars Arena are perfect for when you don’t have a ticket to the game but still want the rowdy atmosphere. Harry’s, Sports & Social, Mike’s Pizza Bar and Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit are perfect for that. Head to Hockeytown Café and you will see so much Red Wings memorabilia that you won’t even know what to do with yourself. Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar is where Detroit’s soccer fans gather for any pro soccer game.

And it’s also a great place to watch Michigan State teams. Bookie’s Bar & Grill is close to Comerica Park and Ford Field, and has delicious food and an even better rooftop bar. If you want to be as close to Ford Field as possible before kickoff, The Elwood is the place to be. The art deco bar was physically moved from its former location on Woodward Avenue to where it is today. And if you’re in Corktown, you can’t miss Nemo’s. Famous for their simple menu and Detroit sports décor, you can park here and take a shuttle to games and concerts.

There are some pretty big annual sports events in Detroit every year, and they are a must see for anyone who comes downtown. First up is Detroit Tigers Opening Day, which is basically a national holiday in Detroit. No matter the weather, Tigers fans take over downtown Detroit to throw the first big party of the year. At the end of the summer is the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic, where the best high school football teams from metro Detroit kick off their season (literally) at Wayne State. The Tour de Troit ride happens every spring, and then the Detroit Free Press/TCF Bank Marathon takes over in October.

This marathon is international, so it’s kind of a big deal. Participants cross the Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor tunnel during their runs, and also go through some of Detroit’s favorite neighborhoods, too. Thanksgiving Day is huge is The D, aside from America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you come downtown, you can run in the annual Turkey Trot or attend the annual Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game. Detroit doesn’t even stop partying on holidays! And to end the year, the Quick Lane Bowl takes over Ford Field to host two college football teams that are chosen every year.