Ann Arbor game day guide...
I am fortunate enough to be making my first trip to Ann Arbor for The Game. I've been to enough games over the years to know generally how to get around, but an insider's guide to AA on OSU weekend would be awesome.
Questions I have:
1. Where will college gameday be? ( I have to assume it will be there...)
1a. How early does it get crowded for gameday in AA?
2. Will there be a MGoBlog pregame tailgate, or drinking the night before? Anything you'd suggest checking out friday night?
3. Has Brian/anyone ever considered trying to make a giant MGoBlog sign for someone to hold up and get free advertising on national television?
4. How impossible would it be in AA to get Desmond to sign a ball or my old beckett guide with him on the cover?
November 4th, 2009 at 12:43 PM ^
First off, The Game is a great experience and you'll definitely enjoy it.
Not to let you down but it's not a given that Gameday will be in Ann Arbor. Our chances are pretty good this year but we have some competition from the Oregon v. Arizona, LSU v. Ole Miss and possibly some others (check the schedule).
They've set up in different places in the past and you have to get there the night before if you want a prime spot. In 2003 my friends went at 8pm on Friday.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:42 PM ^
right outside Michigan stadium. The last time they were at the north-west side of the stadium off of Ann Arbor-Saline Road.
OSU weekend gets crowded early, so if it's an 11:00 game expect to be up REALLY early if you want to participate in all the festivites.
Friday night check out any of the bars on central campus...brown jug, charley's, etc. I highly recommend a late night BTB (formerly big ten burrito) to get your stomach ready for drinking early the next morning.
I like to go to Moe's on North University right across from the Diag to get a bunch of new Michigan gear. It's a neat environment. Small store packed with Michigan faithful...the original UM store.
Good luck with getting Desmond's autograph.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
11:00 game? You in the CST or am I not aware of something?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^
Quickly, I can tell you that a bunch of us threw in 10 bucks ($60 total) a piece and parked in the Crisler Arena parking lot for Penn State. I've been a number of places and that was the coolest spot to be. We were feet away from the WOMC broadcast and hung with Beckmann and Brandstatter (who I met through his niece), the band went right around us, we got into a verbal joust with the Penn State guys who dress up in the football uniforms (almost got arrested because of that). As we left, we blended in with the high dollar athletic donators and basically got a police escort out of the parking lot.
You got the total game atmosphere and had the ability to go all over without being to far away from the vehicle (i mean, to far from the cooler).
November 4th, 2009 at 1:11 PM ^
for obnoxiously drunk tOSU fans at 8am. there is nothing better than a middle aged ubber drunk woman getting in your face because you're a michigan fan.... happened to me in 1995.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:09 PM ^
What type of experience are you looking for? Chilled out, raging blackout, or somewhere in between?
November 4th, 2009 at 11:24 PM ^
I'd say somewhere in between. We live in Columbus so we can see the raging drunk pour beer on a 7 yr old every saturday..
Im actually hoping the UM fans impress the fiance. She hates the offensive stuff we see here, or when we've gone to various road games. She doesnt believe UM fans could actually be civil from all the deceptive propaganda she hears from our buckeye neighbors (none of which have actually every been to AA)
I hope I haven't set an unrealistic expectation, but so far UM fans have been some of the most civil Ive been to.. even after the Colorado game I saw little hostility.