Detroit is not the biggest or the richest city in the country, but it is known as a hotbed of sports. In addition to professional teams in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, the city hosts several college teams and organises numerous tournaments for young athletes. Put it all together, and the next year will be very busy for sports fans who live in Detroit and want to see every important event in person.
To help you prepare for the abundance of great entertainment, we tried to compile a guide of must-see events for the 2025 season for Detroit sports lovers. Here are the some important dates that you should circle in red ink.
March 15th – Basketball State Finals For Boys
Michigan is known as a state that is absolutely mad about basketball, and it commonly serves as a pipeline feeding elite talent to college programs nationwide. Much of this talent will be on full display when the best high school teams in the state square off with a championship on the line. This is an event that means a lot to locals, and the quality of play will certainly be at a high level regardless of which teams qualify for the big game.
March 27th – Detroit Tigers Season Opener
The start of the baseball season marks the most exciting part of the year when it comes to Detroit sports. Tigers are a beloved team in Motor City, and their fans are anxious to see next year’s edition of the team in action. They open the season on the road against the Dodgers, so their fans will have to settle for watching the opener on TV. However, Detroit-based fans will have a chance to watch their heroes in person one week later when White Sox come to town.
April 1st – USA National Hockey Championship – Youth
If you like to bet Canada sports like hockey, you will probably enjoy a top-level tournament that will showcase some of the best US-born players. The fact that we are talking about a youth tournament doesn’t take away any of its charm. This Tier 1 event will take place in the USA Hockey Arena and Novi Ice Arena, and will last for a better part of the week. You can expect plenty of brilliance on ice, and a very spirited atmosphere in the stands.
April 19th – Start of NBA Playoffs
Detroit Pistons have last made NBA playoffs in 2019, but this could be the year when they finally break the streak of bad luck. The team is currently fighting for a spot in the post-season and has already exceeded expectations for the win total set by ‘experts’. If things continue in the same direction until April, Detroit fans could finally get to watch some playoff basketball at home. Keep your fingers crossed and keep checking the NBA standings!
June 1st – Detroit Grand Prix
Auto racing enthusiasts will have a feast on the first day of June, when IndyCar series visits Michigan. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix event takes place on a temporary circuit on the city streets, which gives it a special flavor. For a couple of hours, downtown Detroit will turn into an open-air racetrack and spectators will line the streets to watch the cars zoom by. This race has quite a bit of tradition, as it was first held in 1982 while it assumed its present format in 2012.
August 22nd – LIV Golf Team Championship
Some of the best golfers in the world will demonstrate their skills in this team competition that will take place at The Cardinal course. A total of 13 teams will take part in this professional tournament and compete for the main prizes. This is a newly opened venue, and 2025 will be the first year that it hosts an international event of the highest profile. Thus, local fans have a unique opportunity to witness greatness from up close and they shouldn’t pass it up.
October 19th – Detroit Free Press Marathon
No other sport competition can completely take over an entire city quite like a marathon. In October, Detroit streets will be teeming with amateur and professional runners from many countries trying to set their personal record in a test of endurance. First held in 1978, the marathon is an annual tradition that garners a lot of attention every year. As a peculiarity, we should mention that the race partially takes place underwater since the runners have to go through a tunnel passing underneath the Detroit River.
November 28th – MHSAA Football State Finals
Football is by far the most popular sport in Michigan, and that includes games on the high school level. The final game will feature two most successful teams from the state and will represent a culmination of the entire season of play. Since the game will be played at the Ford Field stadium that Detroit Lions use for NFL matches, it will have a very special feel. An added benefit of this venue is that it can accommodate up to 65,000 people – more than enough to meet the demand.
