Larry Lucchino: The need for more revenue never ceases.

AP / TAKAYUKI HIRAKAWA

BOSTON — When the Red Sox finally return to Boston to hoist their championship flag next spring, their opponents will be the Detroit Tigers. Following two games in Tokyo against the Oakland A’s, two more in the Bay Area against the A’s and a three-game set in Toronto, the Sox will have their home opener April 8 against the Tigers.

The Sox will host three National League opponents — the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks — as part of interleague play, while traveling to face three more N.L. opponents on the road — the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros.

The rival New York Yankees make three visits to Boston — in mid-April, late July and the final weekend of the regular season. The Sox, meanwhile, visit the Bronx and play three series in Yankee Stadium, scheduled to close after next season, in mid-April, Fourth of July weekend and late August.

The Sox make two trips to the West Coast — in the final week of May, then again to begin the second half of the season following the All-Star break.

For the second year in a row, the schedule is a favorable one in the final weeks. After returning from a nine-game trip in late August, the Sox play 19 of their final 28 games at Fenway.

The team also has moved up its Sunday start time by a half-hour, from 2:05 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.

In announcing the schedule, the Red Sox announced price hikes for most tickets.

The lowest-priced tickets — including upper bleachers, Conigliaro’s Corner and general standing room — will remain unchanged.

Lower bleachers, infield and outfield grandstands, right field box and roof box will increase an average of nine percent.

The biggest increase will be applied to field box seats which will increase in cost to $125.

“Last year,” said team president and CEO Larry Lucchino, “we held ticket prices on the non-premium seats, which account for about 80-85 percent of our tickets. Some categories, in fact, we’ve held at the same price for several years.

“But we need revenue to fuel the vision we have — and that vision is for a winning, competitive team, year-in and year-out. And, to preserve, enhance and improve Fenway Park, in addition to re-stocking our minor league system. (Increased) revenue is the gasoline that makes that engine go in all three directions.”

smcadam@projo.com