Live, Work, Play

See below for our updated tailgating rules and parking availability to ensure fan safety and enjoyment at our current staffing levels.

Tailgate Rules for Detroit Lions and Tigers Opening Day 

Welcome to Eastern Market Tailgating! Proceeds made from tailgating go to support our mission of operating our markets, providing greater access to good food, and growing local food businesses. 

Please note that we have changed some of our tailgating rules in accordance with best practices and to ensure that all our guests enjoy tailgating at the Eastern Market. Please read this year’s rules carefully.   

Eastern Market Partnership reserves the right to terminate parking privileges for violating stated rules. 

How to Purchase Tickets: 

• ALL TAILGATING TICKETS WILL BE SOLD ONLY ONLINE IN ADVANCE at easternmarket.org.  

• You will need to show your Eventbrite ticket to be scanned. You will then receive a hang tag before entering the lot. The number on the hang tag corresponds to the number on the ground of the parking space. 

• Purchase Options: 

• Single space purchases will receive a hang tag and 5 wristbands for up to 5 tailgaters. Vehicle or tent allowed. 

• Double space purchases will receive a hang tag and 10 wristbands for up to 10 tailgaters. One vehicle and tent allowed. 

• Your tailgate setup must be contained within the space, and not in the drive lanes. 

• Eastern Market personnel will direct ticketholders to their designated spots. 

• Tags and wristbands will be color coded to each game and not transferable to future tailgate events. 

• Individual tailgate areas have been reconfigured to allow for safe, comfortable, and enjoyable tailgating to occur within parking spaces. 

• While this does reduce the number of available spots per game, those spaces are now larger and can safely accommodate your vehicle, equipment, and guests.   

• The number of regular spaces (vehicles no larger than 9 feet by 19 feet) will vary depending upon whether there is a Sunday or Holiday Market.  

• There are 22 spaces available for Motor Coach, large RVs, and oversized vehicles underneath Shed 6 (vehicles larger than 8 feet by 19 feet). These spaces will be moved to Lot 7 for games between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Additional Policies and Procedures: 

• Eastern Market will post signage enforcing prohibition of weapons and firearms.  

• By order of the Fire Marshall, no tailgating will be allowed in drive lanes within parking lots.  

• Emergency services personnel will be on site in case of emergency.   

• In addition to Eastern Market Partnership personnel and a private security detail, Detroit Police officers will be stationed throughout the tailgating footprint to support the event.  

When: 

• Tailgate and parking lots open at 9:00am for 1:00pm games; and 4:00pm for 8:00pm games. No early access to parking lots. 

• All parking lots close and must be empty sixty (60) minutes after the game. 

• NO OVERNIGHT PARKING! Violators will be towed at the owner’s expense! Eastern Market will not be responsible for vehicles left overnight. 

Where: 

• Tailgating is permitted only in posted lots. Tailgating is not allowed on any public streets, sidewalks, private property, or alleys. 

• Tailgating or parking tickets purchased from Eastern Market are not valid in private parking lots. 

Requirements:  

• All vehicles within tailgating areas must follow any instructions given by Eastern Market Partnership personnel. 

• Guests who fail to abide by Eastern Market Partnership personnel may be subject to immediate ejection from tailgate lots without reimbursement. 

• Formal DJ SET-UPS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Please respect your neighbors around you by not playing extra loud music. 

How to Tailgate; Permitted Setup: 

• Your tailgate setup must be contained within the space that you purchased. 

• Drive lanes, sidewalks, and pedestrian walkways shall remain clear and unobstructed at all times. 

• Electricity is limited and not guaranteed. Small portable electric generators (600W or less) are permitted in parking lot tailgating areas. Electrical cords cannot be placed across parking areas/drive aisles or in areas that would create a hazard for any guests. 

• Tents larger than 10×10 are prohibited. 

Cooking: 

• Only State-approved gas/propane grills with fuel valve shut-offs and self-contained charcoal grills are permitted. NO OPEN FLAMES OR WOOD FIRES BY ORDER OF THE FIRE MARSHALL. 

• Self-starting coals or gas grills only. NO LIGHTER FLUID ALLOWED. 

• DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CONCRETE AND DRAINS – DEEP FRYERS AND COOKING OIL ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE MARKET PREMISES. 

• In parking lot tailgating areas, guests may bring and prepare food for consumption by their family and friends only. Food cannot be offered for sale. 

Alcohol: 

• All tailgate activities must be conducted in accordance with the law. 

• Alcohol must be contained within the tailgate lots. 

• UNDERAGED DRINKING IS PROHIBITED! 

• For your safety and the safety of others please drink responsibly. 

Clean Up: 

• Tailgating areas must be kept in a neat and orderly condition, and all trash must be disposed of in proper receptacles. Guests must return their area back to its original state before leaving the tailgating area. 

• All hot coal must be extinguished and placed in the hot coal bins located in all tailgating lots. 

Prohibited Activities: 

• Sale of food or beverage items by guests is prohibited. Unauthorized private catering companies are strictly prohibited. 

• Platforms, stages, and vehicles with advertising are not permitted in the tailgate areas, unless previously approved by Eastern Market Partnership. 

• Ball playing and frisbee throwing is not allowed underneath any structure. 

• Unregistered motorized and non-motorized vehicles are prohibited in tailgating areas, including, without limitation, golf carts, Segways, skateboards, scooters, and hoverboards. Bicycles are permitted in tailgating areas only at designated bike racks. 

• Drones, remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles or other similar motorized vehicles/devices are prohibited. Possession or operation of such devices may result in immediate ejection from the site and may also result in confiscation of such devices by security and law enforcement. 

• Amplified sound systems cannot be used at excessive volumes and playing music with inappropriate language (profanity, slurs, etc.) is prohibited. 

• The use of megaphones, airhorns, and other noise making devices is prohibited. 

• Advertising or commercial activities by guests are not permitted. Guest vehicles with exterior advertisements (e.g. wraps) are not allowed in the parking lot, tailgating areas even with a valid tailgating parking pass. No commercial advertisement hung or displayed on guest vehicles, tents, signs, or by any other means possible is permitted. 

• Selling of items or soliciting of any promotional or marketing activities by guests is prohibited. 

• Disorderly conduct is not permitted. 

• Picketing, political campaigning, signature gathering, or soliciting or distribution of any kind, including promotional marketing, is not permitted within the tailgating areas or any other parking lots. 

• Weapons or firearms are strictly prohibited. This extends to both real weapons and facsimile weapons, such as toy guns, swords, knives, hatchets, or bombs that might be part of a costume. 

• Liquids other than water may not be poured out onto the ground. 

• Vehicles are parked within the parking lot tailgating areas at the owners’ risk. Eastern Market Partnership and/or its agents are not responsible for fire, theft, damage or loss of/to vehicles or any other article left in parking lot tailgating areas.