Finally, we reached a point in this Covid-19 battle where Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Detroit Tigers games at Comerica Park can get to capacity along with bars and restaurants.

Well, we are not there quite yet, but Big Gretch said we could open up outdoor venues to total capacity by June 1 and indoor venues on July 1 if we continue to vaccinate and trends continue in a positive direction. Let the fireworks begin because by July 4 we should be able to party again like it’s 1999.

Detroit missed out on one of its biggest parties of the year. Opening Day was a dud. In fact, it wasn’t Opening Day. The April 1 game against Cleveland was simply the first game of the season. There is a big difference.

Downtown Detroit was like a desert. Most bars and restaurants didn’t even bother to open. Mayor Mike Duggan scared everyone away by telling fans to stay home. They risked getting a ticket if they tailgated and risked getting kicked out of establishments that were overcapacity.

No wonder downtown looked like a Sunday afternoon where folks either go to church or sleep in. We missed out. Detroit is a party city and treats Opening Day like no other city.

This town deserves a big party. And I am proposing the July 2 game against the Chicago White Sox as our Opening Day. Many people will be heading up north to the cabin, but that’s OK. The bars and restaurants will be open, eager to serve those of us who stay behind.

Few people will have to work the next three days as we also celebrate our independence.

What should this new Tigers opening day look like?

We need a day of big tents, gallons of beer, tons of food, and tons of food. We’ve been cooped up in the house or masked up like villains for the past year. We can celebrate our freedom from Covid and our independence all on the same weekend.

We’ve fought over masks or no masks. The anti-Vaxxers brought fear into our lives, making people believe micro-chips and other bad stuff are mixed in with the medicine.

We can hug again and laugh again, celebrate bad baseball again. And have a gay old time.

Let’s get this rolling. Let’s talk about it.

Shout about it. Sing about it. Bug the folks at Woodward Sports to throw a massive tailgate. Let’s make this happen.

Let’s storm Harry’s Detroit that day.

Flood the Brass Rail and wolf down fried chicken and beer at Penny Reds and the Brakeman. Let’s discover new places like Second Best.

Once inside the ballpark, I will meet you at Amsterdam 416 bar located on the Pepsi Porch. It is an excellent spot for overpriced beers and mingling with fellow fans. Let’s swap old Detroit Tigers stories along the outfield fence by statues of Ty Cobb, Willie Horton, Al Kaline, and Charlie Gehringer.

We need this. We deserve this. Let’s make it happen.

Follow Foster on Twitter at TerryFosterDet.