ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s the day baseball fans have been waiting for. The Rochester Red Wings will finally return to Innovative Field for their home opener on Tuesday afternoon.

Opening day will be about more than baseball. Ryan Corbett, the Dansville man held captive by the Taliban for over two years, will take the mound to throw the first pitch of the season and celebrate his safe return. In addition, Fairport native Lucas West, who sang the national anthem during a Buffalo Bills playoff game, will also sing the national anthem at Innovative Field.

News10NBC got a behind-the-scenes look at opening day preparations from Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason. Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. and the first pitch will be at 4:05 p.m. Here’s what else to know about opening day:

What does the new lounge look like?

Dan Mason took News10NBC on a tour of the newly remodeled High Falls Lounge, where people in the luxury suites can get cocktails. He said the lounge will allow people to hang out with family, friends, and co-workers when they book a suite.

“That’s what we’re here for. Is making sure that people have a great time,” Mason said. “We got some great new food items. Of course, great music, some great stuff on the video boards, and a hat giveaway.”

What are the new food options?

Some new food options at Innovative Field include beef on weck, a footlong Zweigles hot dog topped with meat sauce and onions, and a braised beef sandwich. Dan Mason cooked Zweigles hot dog live on News10NBC TODAY.

Is there still a 50-degree guarantee?

Yes. Once again, the Red Wings have guaranteed that, if temperatures don’t hit at least 50 °F on the ballpark thermometer during the game, all fans in attendance will get a free ticket for any other home game in April or May of the season.

What’s the new indoor training facility like?

Ahead of their home opener, the Red Wings unveiled their new indoor training facility. “The Red Wings Performance Center” features new batting cages and the latest technology designed to help players perfect their swing.

This state-of-the-art facility also includes a large training room equipped with weights and treadmills. The new facility meets Major League Baseball requirements, with the improvements coming from a $26 million investment from Monroe County and the state.

When is Innovative Field going cashless?

The Red Wings are going all cashless starting on opening day. Innovative Field will stop accepting cash for concessions, merchandise, parking, and tickets. Instead, fans must use credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

The Red Wings say they’re making the change to streamline operations and improve the fan experience. It comes after 29 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams and 26 of 30 Triple-A teams have already gone all cashless.

Fans who only have cash can exchange it for “Digital Diamond Dollars” at the ticket office, which can be used throughout the ballpark for concessions and at the team store.

When will Bruce the Bat Dog make his debut?

Bruce will fetch players’ bats for seven games this season, starting on April 5. You can see the full schedule of when the beloved golden retriever will be at Innovative Field here.

For every bat he catches, the Flower City Group will donate $100 to the “Bruce bettering the community campaign.” This campaign benefits Honor Flight of Rochester and the Veterans Outreach Center.

The campaign began during the 2024 season, to carry on the legacy of Milo, who died in 2023 and was the first bat dog the Red Wings, introduced in 2019.