Detroit Tigers BBQ to be held Feb. 22 in Lakeland

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·1 min read
Detroit Tigers fans line up for barbeque during the 71st year of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Tiger BBQ at Joker Marchant Stadium, February 21, 2017.
Detroit Tigers fans line up for barbeque during the 71st year of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Tiger BBQ at Joker Marchant Stadium, February 21, 2017.

LAKELAND — Lakeland will welcome the Detroit Tigers back to city for 2023 spring training with the 76th annual Tiger BBQ.

The event, presented by Rodda Construction, will be held Feb. 22 from 6-8 p.m. on Publix's Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, located at 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd. in Lakeland.

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The Tigers have trained in Lakeland since 1934, the longest continuous relationship between a major league team and its spring host. The annual barbecue started in 1946 when former Lakeland Mayor Jimmie Musso organized one in his backyard for the team. So many people attended that the following year the barbecue was held in a World War II hanger where Tiger Town now stands.

Tickets cost $40 per person and can be purchased online at visitcentralflorida.org/tigerbbq. The price includes access to a traditional southern barbecue featuring pulled pork, chicken quarters, ribs, sausage, shrimp cocktail, coleslaw, baked beans and roasted corn. Guests will also receive a souvenir mug.

The proceeds from the event go to the Detroit Tigers Foundation of Florida, Inc., which provides athletic opportunities for underprivileged children in Polk County. For more information on Spring Training tickets, call the Lakeland ticket office at 863-686-8075 or visit tigers.com/springtraining.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Detroit Tigers BBQ to be held Feb. 22 in Lakeland