Advice on Best Game Day Experience - Sept 3 at the Big House!

I too, am taking my boys to the game on the 3rd, and have some ideas of what we are hoping to do before the start. We are parking early, grabbing breakfast downtown, and heading to the MDEN when they open just to explore the store, let them spend some of "their" money etc. After that, we hope to walk through campus, and head to Revelli Hall, where the band will be doing some things before the start of the game, and then they march to the stadium. 

The museum being closed because of Covid, really bummed me out, as I was hoping to take them there, but we will get there again someday. I am coming from Philly and spending the weekend in Michigan, my first time at a home game since 2005! I can't wait. Hope the weather holds, and you all have a great time, and GO BLUE! 

Restrooms fully renovated no more troths, individual urinals.

Pregame, tailgates all around as you know, Pioneer / Golf Course or up and down side streets of Staidium blvd or Main st.  

Bad Back, not sure what to tell you unless you can swing your way into a handicap seat but they limit who can sit with you so, Idk if you should wear a back support for the game and tough it out or not, up to you.  

Band, yes Marches down Hoover St, up to the Stadium  Drum line also plays outside Revelli Hall, but go to mgoblue.com and look up gameday festivities.  

Teach the boys proper drinking games prior to kickoff... just as every good father should do.

The wife and I usually hit up Maize and Blue deli before the game because the food is enough to get us through the entire game without having to buy inside the Big House. 

walking around on the golf course for a couple hours is a great way to spend time before the game. i have pics of my daughter playing with a bulldog puppy with a nice M bandana there. i also just like to walk all the way around the stadium and check out all the parties/tailgates. can often strike up a convo and get a free dog/burger from some nice folks who brought WAY too much food.

also take (or buy) a football and play a game of catch with the kids on the golf course. they can dive and fall and have nice manicured grass to cushion. plenty of port-a-potties around.

Pee troughs are gone, although some are nostalgic about them!  

There's a lot more food choices now, but the prices are horrible.  And this year they might be even worse.  Plan on longer waits too.  If they still are not accepting cash and staffing shortages exist again,  lines coyld be long.  

Seems like a walking campus tour in the a.m. would be a good idea.  A lot of changes if you haven't been back in a while.  Maybe the kids would enjoy the new Natural History museum (now across the sidewalk from Ruthven).  

I would suggest just two things.

1. Arrive to the stadium early and take in the scene as it slowly fills up and intensifies.

2. No matter where you are in the stadium, even if surrounded by some fuddy duddies, engage in as much of the in game revelry put on by any of the band, DJ or student section, as you can.

I guess three things.  For a daytime September game, slap on sunscreen.

Have fun!

It sounds like you already have a place to go pregame (Avalon which is good), but in case you wanted other options Dominicks generally opens around 10 am and is lovely in nice weather.  The walk from Doms to the stadium, down State then Hoover, goes past lots of parties that make me feel both old and nostalgic. 

I believe Pizza House, Pretzel Bell and Conor O'Neills open early on game days, but I'd check.

Walking the golf course is fun as was mentioned above.  Not sure about buying into tailgates, though I know they always talk about the Bud Light Victors Lounge on WTKA.

Good for kids: figure out when the band steps off of the steps of Revelli Hall; and position yourself near the intersection of Greene/Keech/Kipke.  The band comes down Hoover and takes a left onto Greene and then veers of onto Kipke to wrap around to go into the stadium.  You hear them before you see them and it is a pretty cool experience.  Once they go by you turnaround and head into the gates/stadium and have enough time to walk around the stadium to see cool stuff before going into your seats. 

Park at a house near Allmendinger Park and set up your own small tailgate. There will be a lot of informal touch football games going on that always invite new kids to play. 

Going to see the Step Show in front of Revelli Hall and then marching in with the band is the highlight of the pre-game experience. 

I too am interested in what others will say.  I’ve decided to go to the same game with two of my boys.  It will be their first game and they are 9 and 12.  I debated on doing some sort of tail gate thing at the golf course and let them have some “kids pops” while dad has “dad pops” but I also like the idea of parking down by Mden area and walking past campus and to Revelli to do the whole band watching thing.  Also would want to get into the stadium extra early just to show them around.  If we do the tailgate option, I don’t know if we will have time to explore the stadium.  Right now I am leaning towards the later because they can see a lot more stuff (that they probably don’t care about but will pretend they do while with me)

: )

Since you are staying at the Bell Tower, I would grab breakfast at Panera’s (1/2 block away). Head to Rackham Auditorium and start a walking tour from there to the Diag to South University to the Law Quad.  

Stop at Dominick’s for an adult and kid beverage (take them to the back where the fountain is).  Then a jaunt down State Street, turn onto Hoover and it’s on to Revelli Hall.  There are now numerous vendors selling swag and food and drink while you wait or are listening to the band.  Follow them up to the stadium.  Once at the stadium, look back at the city of Ann Arbor - beautiful shot and possibly a nice pic with the fam.  

Get into the stadium and enjoy friendly banter with opposition (and Freshmen).  LOTS of good choices for food and drink throughout the concourse.  Head over to SouthEast corner to the M-Den right next to Crisler.  Let the kids pick out something to commentate the day.  Head to your seats and enjoy the full-on Michigan Football experience.  BTW if you talk to one of the ushers early on and tell them about your back, they may be able to help you.  

Post game walk down Main Street and High-five all the students, visitors, rivals, alum, etc.  Enjoy a pop at Conor O’Neill’s (named after the grandson that works there daily) or Pretzel Bell or Grizzly Peak or Blue Tractor.  All are very kid friendly.  Enjoy!!

Avalon is a great choice for breakfast.  

When do you want to walk around campus?  Pre game?  Post game?  Both?

I think the parking garage at Ross / B school provides good access, but it will be a solid walk - maybe a mile - to Avalon from there.

Following the band from Revelli to the Stadium is fun.

Do you have any classmates / friends / family who are tailgating?  If that changes - make sure to join them.

One “challenge” will be the schedule - a noon kickoff - but several hours of sunlight to enjoy after the game.  The lots near the Stadium will close down - which can impact any “post game” tailgating - two hours after the game.  

Have a blast.  I remember taking my son to the first UTL game - it was his first visit to the Big House, and he’s about to begin his Sophomore year at Michigan.

Go Blue!

I haven't been to a game in a few years, but the essentials never change. Get into town early. Breakfast at Steve's Lunch, catch a free cocktail at the Law Quad, catch the band marching to the stadium, a couple of Don Dogs at the game, then dinner at the Cracked Crab , Whiffletree or Red Fox. 

What? Is the band no longer marching to the stadium?

What?