MLive: Tailgating in Ann Arbor back to normal on Saturday

Submitted by Broken Brilliance on August 30th, 2021 at 3:14 PM

*DISCLAIMER*

If this bothers you for pandemic related reasons, it's probably best to refrain from reading or commenting. Think of poor Rob F and all the covid shitthreads that he's had to police over the past year and a half.

Furthermore, the next mgoblogger whose mind you change from either tribe of the covid issue will be the first.

With that being said, here's an article from this morning.

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/08/expect-full-lots-plenty-of-traffic-as-university-of-michigan-football-tailgates-return-to-pre-covid-rules.html

If you are participating, what are your plans? I'm personally planning on getting my own spot on the course for the Washington game, with Pioneer as my backup.

Any tips would be appreciated. Feel free to share any useful information with the group in terms of pricing, cash vs online reservations, etc.

Enjoy the day if you go!

MgoBlowww

August 30th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^

Honestly this time last year I wasn’t really sure when we’d get back to a normal football season. Tailgating, packed stadium, ect, but damn does it feel nice. I can’t wait for Michigan football to let me down and hurt me once again. 

JimmyBeGood

August 30th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^

PSA: the roads will not be back to normal. They just reduced Main st. to one lane in each direction from Stadium to Downtown. Last Saturday at 11am : backup from Pauline to almost Madison. It hampers traffic  by pioneer also because it turns into right turn only at AAGO. Liberty is also shut down! Aaargh. Safer streets initiative. 

True Blue Grit

August 30th, 2021 at 3:50 PM ^

That's for sure.  Add to that list:  for those coming up from the south on Wagner Rd, the intersection of Waters and Wagner is closed due to reconstruction and adding turn lanes.  So, you'll need to go a different route around that.  Zeeb Rd. is also closed between Pleasant Lake and Ellsworth for the completion of paving that section.  

clarkiefromcanada

August 30th, 2021 at 3:43 PM ^

As a Canadian I (and my family) can’t cross the border thus missing our first non-Covid season opener in about 20 years. This is neither pro/con vaccines so don’t take it that way. I’ll miss my usual early morning breakfast downtown, pregaming, shotgunning beers with random fans on the way to the stadium (always amazed this gets offered pretty much every game), walking to the stadium with the band (I’ll even miss the evangelists with their giant signs). Gonna pregame this year on Lake Huron and enjoy the dulcet tones of Jon Jansen before listening to the radio broadcast. Quite a change. 

blueheron

August 30th, 2021 at 3:45 PM ^

OP, tailgating is pretty much an outdoor activity. With reasonable air circulation the risk of a big virus hit is pretty small.

Are you really expecting a backlash here?

uminks

August 30th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^

Outdoors, many study shows a 20 to 30 feet radius around your tailgate. I would invite people you know who are fully vaccinated. I'm a bit disappointed that proof of vaccination is not required to enter Michigan Stadium. It is outdoors but the bleacher seats you are sitting a few inches away from the people on either side of you. Clothe masks may provide only a small amount of protection against aerosol viruses. Interesting Scientific American article

RedRum

August 30th, 2021 at 11:56 PM ^

You guys here about corona platinum? It’s a shitty beer. Ds love it and Rs hate it. I’s are confused as hell. Ts are trying to deplatform the As but the Bs think that aligning with the Fs and the Ms will make the Js think that the Ys are out to get the Ws. It’s a shitty game. There are three companies That sell 90% of the beer. Drink local. Bells, Ann Arbor brewing, etc.

moral of the story? Ten is afraid of seven because seven eight nine. Could there be anything more obvious? Wake up sheeple. 
 

If you’ve read to this point, and God help you if you did, I feel it is necessary to bow to Mgoboard custom and assert the constitutional immunity of “/s” 

may God have mercy on your sole, and by that I mean overwalked shoes. 
 

it’s Michigan Monday before the fucking opener. Go Blue!!!

JamieH

August 30th, 2021 at 3:50 PM ^

We will just have to see.  With the Alpha version of this, outdoor transmission was very small.  With Delta we're not sure yet.  I'm sure we'll start getting a better idea this week since several teams have started their season.

I think everyone is hoping we can have a "normal" season, or at least something close to it.

Ferg0dsakes

August 30th, 2021 at 3:50 PM ^

This may be helpful, as it's close enough to the Big House to cause a snarl for tailgate/parkers:

https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2021/08/28/water-main-break-closes-road-in-ann-arbor-indefinitely/?fbclid=IwAR2OqTRcozWu1w6DGpAlipJ8qDMlWI_XY1-Mt6F5dyqlbZs8vZY2prxQabc#/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=a4

Also, JimmyBeGood stated it, but it repeats with bears:  If you are arriving on I-94 at the Main Street exit, and headed North; the right lane is now RIGHT TURN ONLY at the intersection of Main/Stadium.

rob f

August 30th, 2021 at 11:47 PM ^

Just adding an additional note to that last paragraph above by 'Ferg0dsakes', the  "...arriving on I-94 at the Main St exit" is pertaining to the Saline Rd exit from I-94 to head north to The Big House. Saline then becomes Main just a block before you reach the U of M Golf Course and Pioneer High School's prairie at Scio Church Road.

This change in traffic flow will definitely slow down traffic in the vicinity of the corner of Main and Stadium, the intersection where Pioneer High School pedestrian traffic crosses to The Big House.

LSAClassOf2000

August 30th, 2021 at 4:10 PM ^

I just want to remind people that, if you're coming from an area that has not been so blessed with rain in order to tailgate in Ann Arbor, the ground in spots is quite soft around here, so be mindful of where you park even if the course and other lots are open. 

Also, those of you who are not townies are going to enjoy Main Street in its current state....and Liberty....the Safer Streets Initiative is being implemented. That is on top of the pain of getting around Metro Detroit generally at the moment for some of us (I live along I-275 south of the airport, so the freeway by me is basically useless in its current condition).