Michigan Stadium - Michigan Wolverines

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57

Michigan Stadium 1201 S Main St Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Michigan Wolverines website

Michigan Stadium website

Year Opened: 1927

Capacity: 107,601

Welcome to The Big House 

Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town, and this is most obvious on a sunny Saturday autumn afternoon when the Wolverines are home at Michigan Stadium, more commonly known as The Big House. This nickname is not an exaggeration, as the gridiron is the third-largest stadium in the world behind Narendra Modi Stadium in India (114,600) and Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea (113,281), which obviously makes it the largest in the United States, even with its capacity having been reduced to 107,601 a decade ago.

Michigan Stadium was constructed in 1927 at the insistence of legendary Michigan coach Fielding Yost. It originally seated 72,000, but was quickly updated to hold over 85,000. Renovations over the years gradually boosted capacity until 2010, when it reached its pinnacle of 109,901, before some accessibility modifications in 2015 reduced that to the current number. Even then, attendance regularly exceeds capacity, likely due to students packing in their section; on September 7, 2013, the stadium hosted a record 115,109 in a night game against Notre Dame.

Michigan is one of the most storied programs in the history of college football. Coaching legends such as Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, Lloyd Carr, and Bo Schembechler have walked the sidelines. Great players such as Tom Harmon, Desmond Howard, Tom Brady, and Charles Woodson have awed the massive crowds. The 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford, wore number 48 for the maize and blue and was a star at center on teams that won back-to-back national championships in 1932 and 1933.

The program has won more games than any other college football program in any division by a margin, making up several seasons' worth of games. As of this writing, they have 34 more wins than rival Ohio State.

Meanwhile, “Hail to the Victors” is among the most recognizable fight songs in all of football, and the famous winged helmets are immediately recognizable to even the most casual sports fan.

All of this is to say that the Big House and a Michigan football game should sit squarely on even the shortest list of must-see venues for any sports fan. The pageantry, history, and pure joy of a Saturday in Ann Arbor are a must for all avid stadium travelers.

Food & Beverage 4

The quality of concessions at a Michigan Wolverines football game is better than what you may be used to at other stadiums, but you won’t be blown away by the variety of options. Given the size of the crowd, you might expect to wait in line for some time, but there are so many concession stands that queuing will not be a major hassle.

The most common stand is Wolverine Classics, which offers hot dogs ($7.25) and stadium sausages ($8.25) that are provided by Dearborn Sausage Company, and they are very good. Vegetarians can opt for the Beyond Sausage at $8. Snacks include a soft pretzel for $7 (add $2 for the cheese cup) and popped maize ($6.5) instead of popcorn, a shoutout to the school colors of Maize and Gold.

If you want something a little larger, Top Dog has a foot-long coney for $14 and a foot-long currywurst for $16. Big House Burgers has a smashburger for $16, while a Mitten Burger (named for the state's distinctive outline) is an olive burger that comes with cheddar cheese and olive spread for $18.Buddy's Pizza out of Detroit is the pizza provider, with a four-square pepperoni or cheese pizza going for $16.  

Coca-Cola products are on offer in various sizes. A souvenir beverage mug is $12.25, a 32-ounce souvenir cup of soda is $9.50, and a 20-ounce bottle of pop is $6.50. Bottled water will cost $5.50, while hot chocolate or coffee is $5. Keep in mind that there are “hydration stations” located around the concourse where you can pick up a free cup of water or seven if you so desire.

The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company is for those who might need a caffeine injection, with a good variety of both hot and cold brews for between $8-11. A souvenir mug here is $12 for 24 ounces of coffee, while there is a Maize and Blue donut from Washtenaw Dairy (Ann Arbor is in Washtenaw County) is $5.

Alcohol is now available at the Big House, with sales beginning in 2024. A 16-oz. A can of beer ranges between $12.25 and $13.50, while a canned cocktail goes for $16.25. Another common option is Flock, where a chicken tender basket is $13; add just 75 cents for the Hot Honey variety.

This is a mere selection of what's on offer. There are food maps posted along the concourse and several news articles that detail specialty offerings such as a Cherry Bomb Meatball (chicken meatballs with curried apple and cherry gastrique).

Overall, although food and beverages are rather expensive, it is of higher quality than fare found in similar stadiums. If you’re staying in Ann Arbor, though, try to save your appetite for the large selection of excellent restaurants found downtown.

Atmosphere 5

Perhaps the most important thing about attending a game at the Big House is to take your time. Make a day of it and soak it all in. If you love to tailgate, then this is a great place to do it. You can shoot for the Ann Arbor Pioneer High School parking lot, the University of Michigan golf course, or in numerous driveways, church parking lots, or public parks surrounding the stadium.

 This is an important part of the game day experience and really adds to the visit. Be aware that bags of any kind are not allowed inside the stadium, so only bring essentials with you, and what you can comfortably fit into your pockets. 

Gates open two hours before kickoff, and I would recommend entering the stadium at least one hour before the start of the game. If you wait too long, you can experience a bottleneck and may miss some of the action while getting to your seat. As well, the Michigan marching band performs about 20 minutes before kickoff, and that is something you won’t want to miss. This goes for halftime as well; try to avoid a trip to the restrooms or concessions during intermission if you can.

Despite the massive size of Michigan Stadium in terms of capacity, it actually feels rather intimate due to its single bowl design. There is only minimal space between the stands and the playing field, and a view from the back row hardly feels like a negative to your viewing experience.

That said, something has to give when you factor in the number of people in the stands and the relative proximity to the game. The bench seats are small and uncomfortable, with very little room between rows.

If you’re in the student section, this is somewhat alleviated by the fact that the young men and women stand throughout the contest, but in other sections, where you mostly sit, it can be quite uncomfortable. In fact, a back row seat may be the best seat in the house if you would like some back support and avoid having someone’s knees pressed against you.

Note that the sections are split down the middle, so seat 1 is not necessarily an aisle seat. Use SeatGeek's very detailed map to find out exactly where you will be sitting. SeatGeek is also the official reseller for Michigan sports and generally has more inventory than you will find elsewhere.

Sections 44, 1, and 2 have seats painted to show the iconic Michigan M inside a box. The large structures above both sidelines are mostly suites, and you can sometimes find seats there on the secondary market, though at quite a premium.

There are two large scoreboards with HD video screens behind all of the seats at each end of the stadium. They measure 4,000 square feet and provide announcements, stats, replays, and scores from around college football for fans throughout the stadium. The pre-game hype video is narrated by the late James Earl Jones, a Michigan alumnus, and it really is quite spectacular. Fun fact: Michigan Stadium was the first sports stadium in the United States to utilize electronic scoreboards, back in 1930.

Michigan Stadium Interior, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey

Neighborhood 5

Downtown Ann Arbor is within walking distance, and Main Street is the primary thoroughfare. Here you will find a great variety of excellent restaurants, bars, shopping, and breweries. 

Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a favorite spot and is featured on ESPN as the local place to go, and would be a perfect early morning stop if you want to get supplies for a gourmet tailgating party. Places like Ashley's and Arbor Brewing Company's Corner Brewery provide excellent full-service options as well.

If you like Italian food, then Mani Osteria and Bar comes highly recommended, 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.

If you want to enjoy a cheaper option, the New York Pizza Depot offers some specials throughout the week.

Kids will love the Ann Arbor Children’s Museum, while adults might prefer the university's Museum of Art. Both should be inspired by the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology or the Museum of Natural History. All are within walking distance of each other and the sports complex.

Hotel accommodations can be found clustered near I-94 just to the south of the stadium, but expect to pay a hefty sum to stay here. If you’re flying in, the Detroit airport is about 20 miles east along I-94, and there are plenty of hotels there for a much better rate. Another alternative is to stay in the northeast corner of the city along Plymouth Road, where there are several hotels and a shuttle bus that will take you to and from the game. 

Fans 5

Michigan fans love their team, and it shows on game day. The stands are decked out in maize and blue with only slight flecks of green or red, depending on the visiting teams’ colors. The crowd is appreciative of the program’s rich history and will explode when a former great visits the stadium or a video of a recent standout graces the big screen.

This crowd loves to cheer, and the playing of Hail to the Victors, one of the absolute best pep songs in the history of mankind, will bring students, young and old, to a fevered pitch. Fans are also very friendly to visitors, welcoming them to the Big House with a smile and a handshake. This is the way college sports should be: friendly rivalries over a shared enjoyment of the game itself.

Access 3

This is the one area that hurts the stadium's ranking, but it can be mitigated with some patience and planning. If you must drive, get there very early and park a few minutes away from the stadium, perhaps in a lot with tailgating, or in nearby neighborhoods. 

For night games, you can find free parking downtown, where meters are not enforced after 6 p.m. For day games, you will have to be more creative. After the game, let traffic subside for the first hour, either by finding a tailgate to join or heading downtown for dinner and a drink. 

Parking can be quite expensive, with premium spots in the Ann Arbor Pioneer High School parking lot starting at $80. There are cheaper options farther away, with the Brown Lot near the Varsity Tennis Center going for $30. The U of M golf course is $55, while entrepreneurial neighbors charge $40 to park on their lawn. Regardless, expect a long wait afterward as the stadium is quite far from I-94.

Local transit provides a football shuttle from five locations and is an option if you want to avoid the hassles of driving and parking. At $1.50 each way, it is a bargain, but it too will be stuck in traffic after the game. 

The seating bowl is quite compact, and it can be tough to get to your seat, but the concourses are more than enough for the crowd, particularly as the outer plaza provides plenty of room to walk around.

Lines for restrooms and concessions can certainly form at halftime or immediately following the game. Given the length of TV timeouts, you might be able to sneak out just before a commercial break and get back without missing too much of the action.

Return on Investment 5

Ticket prices vary based on the opponent, and it can be tough to find seats at the box office, so make use of the secondary market. SeatGeek is the official supplier and hence has more options (as well as several discount codes), but check the other sites too. For the game I attended, tickets dropped from $100 two weeks prior to $30 on the morning of the game. Note that the students sit in sections 26-33.

Overall, if you go all out and tailgate in one of the nearby lots, purchase good seats, and eat at the stadium, you can spend $200-$300 per person, but there are certainly ways to save money and cut that price drastically, especially if you’re willing to walk a bit from your chosen parking location or use the shuttle bus. This is one of those stadiums that will be found on many bucket lists, and well it should be. Make the trip and you’ll feel like it is money well spent.

Extras 5

There are historic touches around the stadium honoring past stars outside Sections 1-5 and championship teams near Sections 20-26. Get there early to see them all.

The Circle of Champions,  also known as the Varsity Colonnade, is a circular structure with eight Doric columns inscribed with Michigan's conference and national titles. Located just inside the southeast gate, the first words of 'Hail to the Victors, ' the school fight song, are etched into the crown that sits atop the columns.

There are so many other things to award points for here that it’s almost pointless to count. Whether it’s tailgating on the UM Golf Course, rising in chorus to “Hail to the Victors,” the Michigan Marching Band, or watching the team emerge from the tunnel and jump to touch the “Go Blue” banner, there’s something spectacular around every corner.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that Michigan Stadium belongs in any list of the best stadium experiences in college football, the United States, North America, or worldwide. Come to Ann Arbor and see what the Big House is all about.