Next month I will be making my first trip to see a Michigan basketball game. I have never been inside the arena. Just curious what how the view is from the upper bowl, I will be in section 28. Also how is the atmosphere for basketball games, inparticular bigger games (not baby seal nor during break.
Thanks in advance mgoblog world, always can count on you for advice!
Underwhelming.
Atmosphere
My experience has always been it depends upon the game. Typically, if it is a basketball power expect the game to be fun with the fans into it. If you are seeing Iowa, you will be underwhelmed (is a good word for it). I am hoping you are going to the Kansas or Ohio State game because those should be the best two games for a good experience in terms of atmosphere (no promise on result of game).
"Those who stay will be champions" -Bo
Against OSU, I would recommend upper Bowl
Thad Matta is really creepy looking, so the farther the better.
NO coach, FU!
"Look up, get up, and don't ever give up"
Have you ever been to a
Have you ever been to a football game?
It's nothing like that.
Not that I loved Rich Rod less, but that I loved Michigan more.
That's both a good and bad
That's both a good and bad thing. Basketball games are more entertaining to me, personally. Plus, with football there's always this awful sense that it's either win (convincingly) or everything is a failure. The expectations take a lot of the fun out of it.
Very rarely at the Big House do you get to experience a momumental upset. There's been several at Crisler over the past 5 or so years.
CoE Class of 2007
the Bryant game was the first
the Bryant game was the first one I went to this year and honestly, it was kind of refreshing to be at a game where I knew that my mood that week wouldn't be impacted by every minor thing that happened. It was nice to be able to sit back and just watch the game without my heart pounding in my chest and my hands not quivering out of nervousness. Very strange, this thing we call Being a Michigan Fan.
Not that I loved Rich Rod less, but that I loved Michigan more.
I, personally, think hat the
I, personally, think hat the view from the upper bowl is fine. It's obviously not as fun as being close to the court, but you can see the action well and you'll enjoy yourself.
The atmosphere, however, is hit-or-miss. If the team is drilling their threes, it'll be rocking. If not, you'll hear a sprinkle of fans of the other team clapping their hands and that's about it.
The arena isn't very big
The arena isn't very big (only 13,000 capacity) so your view should be fine anywhere. However, Crisler is also kind of dumpy so it's not the best place to watch a game.
The atmosphere is hit or miss. I was at the Duke game a couple years ago when we won and it was pretty nuts. But even with the whole storming the court thing (which is vastly overrated) it didn't come anywhere near the level of a football game. If we are playing a crap team or getting blown out forget about it, it is about as exciting as the Law Library.
The atmosphere of that Duke
The atmosphere of that Duke game far and away exceeds the atmosphere of any Michigan football game in the past 5 years. That Duke game will easily be the most amazing, entertaining, fun thing I've ever experienced during my time on campus.
CoE Class of 2007
Have to disagree
The Notre Dame game in 09 was absolutely unreal and the Illinois game this year was up there as well. Don't get me wrong, the Duke game was an amazing experience but I still don't think it compares to football.
Hmm... to each his own. I'll
Hmm... to each his own. I'll admit, while I love football, I'd take a hoops Nat'l Title over a football one, so maybe I'm biased.
But as someone who loves all sports and has been to every venue on campus, never - those games included - has the crowd been that crazy from beginning to end. If you think back and remember the '09 ND game, it was not exactly that thrilling in the first half. Other than the opening play of Illinois this year, I spent most of that game prior to OT wondering WTF is going on.
The Duke game was a tour de force. Every possession that crowd was going insane. It was like every bucket was a touchdown and every stop was a sack. It was amazing for all 40 minutes.
CoE Class of 2007
I don't know about that
I just feel like it's a case of a tree falling in a forest with no one around. NIT win better than the 98 Rose Bowl? Really? I respect you feeling that way, but I can't fathom that.
The thing I love about the football games is that they are so relevant. I personally enjoy good teams and winning more than anything. Having everything riding on the outcome of a game is what really excites me. Call me a glutton for punishment, but the undulation of emotions at a football game is what gets me going. I just feel like with basketball games, losing isn't the worst thing in the world. So when we win, it's not as gratifying.
On top of that, the experience of Michigan football is unparalleled in my mind. My brother flies up from Dallas for a Michigan game every year and he didn't even go there. Don't think he'd do the same for a basketball game.
Agreed
In my experience (20+ year season ticket holder), the atmosphere at Crisler is very much determined by the product on the floor. If Michigan is playing well and the opponent has some cache, it will be rocking and will exceed the atmosphere at Michigan Stadium. It's smaller and closed in and just lends itself to be louder than the football stadium.
The crowd yesterday was pretty solid, especially during UM's end of the first half run. The $15 for three games and a t-shirt deal they put together for the three games over the holidays seemed to have been a good move.
All things considered, don't expect the crowd to carry the game, but they will be into it pretty hard core if the game supports it.
I saw them blow out I think
I saw them blow out I think Wisconsin during the freshman Fab Five season. The place was impressively loud. I thought it beat old Jennison Field House for noise intimidation. Like people are saying, the product on the floor drives it.
"because character wins in life and character wins on the football field....." 1-11-11
aiming for blue
Depending on the opponent, Michigan's record at the time, and the general hotness of the ticket, you may want to consider spending some $ to get in the blue section. I've managed to do that for a reasonable price several times. See what's available outside just before (and maybe just after, if you'd be OK with missing the start) the game.
"..."
I've never been very
I've never been very satisfied with the seats I've had in the upper bowl. Breslin has much better upper deck seats, even if they are up a bit higher.
I don't understand all of the dissatisfaction with Crisler.
The Upper bowl "Maize" (please not Gold) seats have good views. The game will be as exciting as the players and fans make it.
A few of our conference rivals have some pretty nice arenas (UW, OSU and, I suppose MSU) that they got at the cost of large debt or advertising/naming rights. I have a hard time figuring our what if anything is deficient about Crisler.
I agree - Crisler's lack of
I agree - Crisler's lack of appeal is vastly overrated to me. I love the place. It is intimate and large at the same time. The concorses suck - I concede that. But really, if you're spending much time in the concourse, you have you're priorities out of whack.
Sightlines are great, the place can get easily louder than Michigan Stadium. Some things can be updated, sure, but it's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be.
CoE Class of 2007
Apart from the fact it's
Apart from the fact it's named after Fritz Crisler, and I have fond memories of seeing my first game there in Feb. '89, there is not much positive to say about Crisler. It feels like an NBA arena--there is no sense of intimacy. IMO, it should be retro-fitted, with the roof lowered and about 2,000 seats either moved closer or closed.
Missing Ann Arbor
Feels like an NBA arena?
Are you sure you're talking about the right building? Crisler is the second-smallest arena in the Big Ten. If you want to see a college place that feels just like an NBA arena, go to a game at Value City Arena in Columbus.
Also, to answer the OP's
Also, to answer the OP's question: Crisler has great sightlines. All other things equal (and they pretty much are in Crisler) the closer the better and the closer to mid court the better.
Being across from the Maize Rage is fun, especially if you bring kids. If they aren't into the game, they'll be into the student section's antics.
It all depends on the opponent and the team's effort, but any B10 usually brings a quality atmosphere. If Michigan can play with the big dogs and make a couple runs (like yesterday) it'll be a fun game. If it's a lower level B10 game, it should be a good competitive game.
The thing I hate about Crisler is the over-priced concessions, though that's commonplace. Just be like me and sneak in Subway.
CoE Class of 2007
All of what you say is
All of what you say is probably true. I was probably a bit spoiled growing up in the Lansing area when the Breslin Center was brand new. I do remember being generally satisfied with the sightlines in the upper section of the Breslin Center, and less so with Crisler.
Crisler is still functional, but dated facility built in an unfortunate time architecturally. Nothing like walking into Crisler and feeling like you're in a giant concrete pillbox.
There are some dated aspects of Crisler.
Just as there were with Michigan Stadium. Crisler is what -- 40 years old?
Just off the top of my head:
Agree + a few
Agree with most of what you say. The scoreboards aren't terrible. They give you all the info you need. HD would be nice, but I don't think they're a huge detriment.
Bathrooms are bad, there's no sugar coating that.
I can live with the lighting. Agree, much better than it was.
My two complaints
- Upholstry on the seats needs to be rehauled. Most seats are torn, stained, or both. It looks like they put some test seat replacements in the northwest corner. Those look nice and would be a big improvement if spread around the entire arena.
- I don't know what can be done about this, but the leg room is ridiculous. They just put the rows too close together in my opinion.
Your first complaint will
Your first complaint will soon be rectified - all of the seats are going to be replaced this offseason. The ceiling is going to be replaced as well.
Yep.
Although it is the exterior "roof", not the ceiling, that requires renovation.
I heard it straight from Dave Brandon -- no suprise, it is what he's told the whole world -- that the first order of business after completing the new basketball team center, is to complete the needed structural work to Crisler during the summer; roof, HVAC, reconfigured bathrooms. There is going to be an adjustment in the seating. I just didn't get it clear how radical the adjustment will be. They need to create a more workable press area, and yeah I expect all the seats to be replaced, I just don't know when, and Brandon is really anxious to re-do the scoreboards. He seemed more eager, in fact, to re-do the Crisler and Stadium scorboards than the Yost scoreboard. Actually, they've got such big (but not finalized) plans for Yost, and that is such a hard, unforgiving structure to work with, that they are moving more slowly.
YES
A new ceiling will definitely help. Now we need some HD scoreboards...
Abort, Retry, Fail?
posted from iPhone
It's not great.....but not bad.....I've only been in the lower bowl once, and I enjoyed that more.....
Hmmm...
Well...
I...
Um...
Er...
You should be able to get to the bathrooms and consessions quickly?
The views are fine. For
The views are fine. For whatever reason, everyone loves to bash Crisler and use it as an excuse for the fact that our basketball fanbase is fickle about attending games. In reality, Crisler only seats 13,000, and there are no luxury boxes taking up space, so no seat is all that far from the court. If you've ever sat in the upper deck at the Palace (which seats 22,000 and has two rows of suites below the upper deck), Crisler's upper deck will be much closer to the action.
Good views...
good time. The better the game, the better the crowd re: noise and chaos. But the bball games are fun to go to regardless. I've been in the upper bowl for 25 years. The views are fine and the folks around us are nice, too. Very few obnoxious drunks spitting, swearing, standing, etc. throughout the entire game. So enjoy the game and the view.
Maize Rage can sometimes be
Maize Rage can sometimes be the best student section in the nation and other times be down right bad. Duke game they were great but at the UTAH game they were boring and weren't even yelling during Utahs FTs. Most the time I see half the kids jumping and other half playing with their cell phones...
http://midnightmaize.blogspot.com/
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can anyone elaborate on the
can anyone elaborate on the view from section 6? is it as close to the floor as it looks? i'm going to the penn state game on sunday
Underwhelming.