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Leaders and Best

Official Review by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder

What is it about Michigan Wolverines football? It may be those famous winged helmets, a signature of the program since 1938. Maybe it’s the tradition, with 11 National Championships (second only to Alabama with 14). Maybe it’s just being a part of the largest college football crowd in the world.

Whatever it is, there is little doubt that a visit to Michigan Stadium, “the Big House,” is a must-see for any fan of college football. Recent renovations have increased the total capacity to 109,901 (although more than 114,000 is the record attendance). Even with that gaudy attendance potential, the stadium doesn’t feel as big as you might imagine. The single bowl design gives you the impression that you are in a much more accessible venue, and your view of the field will be outstanding, even from the back row.

A crisp autumn afternoon, surrounded by a sea of maize and blue while you hear the Michigan marching band blast out “Hail to the Victors” is without a doubt, one of the best college football experiences in the country.

Food & Beverage    4

If you walk the entire circumference around Michigan Stadium, you will find plenty of options. On the inner part of the concourse there are small concession stands offering all of the expected stadium foods. Pizza ($8), hot dog ($4.50), jumbo Kosher hot dog ($6), bratwurst ($6), popcorn ($5), and soft pretzel ($4.50) are all here, and all over priced.

Coke products are available in a 32-ounce souvenir size ($6) or a regular for $4.50. Tom Horton's provides coffee and hot chocolate ($3 for a small, $8 for a souvenir sized mug), and bottled water is available for $4. Alcohol is not served in Michigan Stadium, as is the case in most college football stadiums.

What really elevates the food selection is the smattering of smaller vendors that dot the outer part of the concourse. I highly recommend the pulled pork sandwich from Red Rock Downtown BBQ served on Texas toast ($9). It is easily enough for two people and is absolutely delicious. I couldn't finish the whole thing.

I also tried the Philly cheesesteak from the Victors grill, served on local Zingerman's bread ($9). It was also good, but not quite as tasty as the pulled pork. Bottom line: Stay on the outer part of the concourse and you will find plenty of great options to enhance your visit.

Atmosphere    5

Big Ten football is a lot of fun, and if you're going to visit anywhere in the conference, then Ann Arbor is the place to go.

Be sure to be in your seat 20 minutes prior to kickoff to enjoy the marching band. When the team enters the field from the tunnel with the marching band blaring, you will surely get goosebumps. The simple, but compelling traditions, including the "Let's Go Blue" cheer, as well as the clapping along to Hail to the Victors are a lot of fun to see, even if you're there to support the visiting team.

The seating is metal bleachers throughout, and feels a little bit crowded as you might expect. Despite the size though, there is absolutely no bad seat in the (big) house. Accordingly, consider going for the least expensive ticket you can find when choosing your seat. In fact, in some ways, a spot in the back row is a great way to take in the whole atmosphere at Michigan Stadium.

Two scoreboards are found at the two ends, measuring 85 feet wide. They display the rushing and passing yards, time remaining, down and distance, play clock, and time outs, as well as replays of the action on the field. Regardless of where you are sitting you'll be able to know the game situation.

Neighborhood    5

Ann Arbor is one of those perfect college towns. Whether it's game day or not, there is a certain energy that emanates from the city that is undeniable. The option to tailgate among thousands of others in the parking lot of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School is a tough one to turn down. It is an expensive parking space ($50), but if you arrive early and come well supplied you will have a fantastic time.

If you choose not to tailgate, then there are several great options in downtown Ann Arbor. It is about a mile walk from downtown to the stadium. You can save a lot of money by parking in one of the downtown garages. If you end up at a parking meter and the meter expires, the fine is only $10 if you pay it within 24 hours, so it may actually be a cheaper option that most of the parking arrangements closer to the stadium.

If you're looking for craft beer, then you have several options. I like the Blue Tractor (they also have great BBQ), but Arbor Brewing Company and Grizzly Peak are also available. If you like Italian food, then Gratzi and Mani Osteria are both great places to go, especially if you want something a little more upscale. Frita Batidos serves up tasty Cuban-inspired food.

The Blue Nile serves up Ethiopian food which is both unique and delicious. Ashley's is one of my favorite all-time bars with an overwhelming beer selection, and tasty stilton fries. Zingerman's is a foodie paradise, and would be a perfect early morning stop if you want to get supplies for a gourmet tailgating party.

Kids will love the Ann Arbor Children's Museum. There are several other great spots. If you're not a regular in town, and don't want to tailgate, then go downtown and explore a bit.

Fans    5

Michigan doesn't have a mascot all dressed up as some zany wolverine. Instead, the atmosphere is largely carried by the huge crowd and the outstanding Michigan marching band. If you're outside of the stadium on a game day, the noise from the crowd can be heard from a half a mile away or more. The sheer magnitude of the event is awe-inspiring.

Fans of Michigan football are die-hard to say the least. You'll hear fans discussing teams from long ago and high school recruits that may or may not be coming to the program 2-3 years down the line. Everyone in the stadium seems engaged during the game, and the enormity of collective oohs and ahs is really something to see.

The student section is large and vocal, and the closer you get to the field the more passion you will experience from the students. They love their football in Ann Arbor, and there is no doubt about this when you're at the game.

Access    3

As you may imagine, the town gets pretty hectic on a game day. It is worthwhile to check out the University's parking guide when you're planning your visit, but even if you don't find a spot in a stadium lot, there is still plenty of parking available, including free street parking if you're willing to walk a bit.

The route I took for parking, and my recommendation to you is to park along Pauline. Around two hours before kickoff there was street parking available at around 1100 Pauline (about 0.7 miles from the stadium). Soon after, you'll find residents who open up their driveways or front lawns for a cost of $15-$25 for "EZ Out" parking. The closer to the stadium of course the more you will pay. If you can manage the walk, then bring some comfortable shoes and save some money by walking a bit.

Downtown is an option as well in one of the parking garages, but plan to be there early, and know that you'll have a mile or more to walk to the game. However, if it is a nice fall day, it is a very pleasant walk. It's also a good option if you are planning on dining downtown.

If you plan on tailgating, then the parking lot at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, adjacent to Michigan Stadium at the corner of Stadium and Main, is the place to be. It's a hefty $50 to park, and $250 for an RV, but you'll be sure to have a great time.

Restrooms can get crowded and are a bit cramped, so if you don't mind missing some of the play on the field, it may be worth your while to skip out 2 minutes before halftime.

For some sections, the seating inside the stadium can back up through the aisles. Section 15 in particular during my most recent visit seemed to be a problem as there was a line of fans waiting to get to their seat well into the first quarter. You would be wise to enter the stadium at least 30 minutes before kickoff so you can grab any food or drink you might want, walk the stadium a bit, and be seated in time for the game. In fact, seeing the marching band is a big part of the experience, so plan to be in your seat at least 20 minutes before kickoff for the most entertainment value.

Return on Investment    5

Tickets start at $75, and you won't find much of a break on the secondary market. Because the views are so good in this bowl seating design, you can safely go for a low priced ticket and have a great view. Get your tickets early for the best prices.

This is one of those experiences that you'll easily spend $100-$200 and feel like it was all worth it. Parking can be expensive, but there are ways to mitigate that if you're willing to walk. Food inside the stadium is definitely on the expensive side compared to other college football venues, but there is some quality to be found. Programs will cost you $5, but are very well done. Overall, you may spend a bit, but it will be money well spent indeed.

Extras    5

I'll award a few extra points for some cool factoids that come along with the immense capacity of Michigan Stadium. This is the site for the largest crowd ever to witness a hockey game, when 104,073 witnessed a Michigan vs Michigan State contest in December 2010. The streak of 100,000+ fans for every game since 1975 is pretty impressive, and there is also a cool mystery attached to the official capacity. One seat in the official capacity is reserved as Fritz Crisler's seat, although no one knows where it is specifically. In honor of him, the official capacity has always ended with an extra allotment, thus the current capacity number of 109,901 (also cool because of the palindrome).

The fact that Michigan has the most wins in the history of college football, and is also an 11-time National Champion, just adds to the ambience of the home venue. You can't help but appreciate the history as you walk the concourse and see the tributes to the championship teams outside sections 20-26, or the great player tributes outside sections 1-5.

Finally, I'll give an extra point for the town of Ann Arbor, one of my favorite college towns in the land.

Final Thoughts

Michigan football is an institution, and Michigan Stadium is a classic. There is no doubt that every college football fan should have this on their must-visit list. You may just be a part of the largest crowd to witness a college football game.

Parking fo the Big House

All unreserved lots for tailgating are ID'ed in the GameDay Parking - Ann Arbor app for iPhone. More info at www.gamedayparkingapps.com.

by GameDay Parking | Sep 02, 2012 07:44 PM

Pulled Pork Sandwich

That pulled port sandwich looks like enough of a reason to visit.

by conradklank | Oct 18, 2012 04:24 PM

Legendary

What is it about Michigan Stadium ? .... Perhaps it is a former President of the United States as a "Michigan Football Legend"

by | Oct 18, 2012 08:16 PM

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