What you need to know about Royals Opening Day

Opening Day is less than 24 hours away, with the Royals scheduled to host the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon. Danny Duffy will take the mound against former Royals pitcher James Shields, and both pitchers will face lineups undergoing a bit of a transformation due to rebuilds. There are still plenty of tickets available.

Whether you decide to attend the game or watch it from your home or office, here is what you need to know for Opening Day.

The parking lot opens at 9 a.m., with gates opening at 1 p.m and first pitch scheduled at 3:15. All fans will receive a free 2018 magnetic schedule. The club is encouraging fans to be in their seats by 2 p.m. for pre-game festivities. The festivities will feature a celebration of 50 years of Royals baseball including appearances from George Brett, Bo Jackson, Bret Saberhagen, and many other Royals alumni. There will also be a special in memoriam video and a celebration of the two World Series Championships. There will also be a presentation awarding Alex Gordon his fifth Gold Glove.

Pre-game, two bands will entertain crowds. Radar State, a group made up of members of The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary and The Architects, will play in the Outfield Concourse, while the jazz band New Jazz Order will play by Gate B. Jazz saxaphone player Bobby Watson will perform the National Anthem with owner David Glass throwing out the first pitch.

The game will air on Fox Sports Kansas City, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. with Royals Live pre-game. Fox Sports Kansas City is airing 24-hours of Royals programming leading up to the game, including key games from 2017 and spring training games from 2018. Returning on the broadcast will be Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler with reporter Joel Goldberg and pre- and post-game analysis from Jeff Montgomery.

On the radio side, games will air on KCSP 610 in Kansas City and on the Royals Radio Network. The entire crew returns, except for retired producer Don Free, with Denny Matthews to work his 50th season of Royals baseball. Joining him will be Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart. There will also be 22 games broadcast on Spanish-language KYYS-1250 AM in Kansas City with Jose Muñoz on play-by-play.

Elsewhere around baseball, ESPN will broadcast four games on Thursday, beginning with the Cubs and Marlins at 11:40 a.m. CT The Astros vs. Rangers game will follow at 2:35 p.m. with the Giants and Dodgers at 6:08 p.m. The Indians will wrap things up in Seattle against the Mariners at 9:10 p.m.

Already, the Opening Day game in Cincinnati has been postponed due to inclement weather. How are things looking in Kansas City?

If the weather does turn sour and they are forced to postpone, the game will be rescheduled for Friday, March 30 (that is why there is always an off-day after Opening Day).

Are you going to Opening Day? Tailgating? Watching from home? Sneaking in peeks on the computer monitor at work? What are your Opening Day traditions?