My road trip to the Maryland game
First a shout out to Bakken Blue who graciously sent me a parking pass. Much appreciated!
We left on Friday from metro Detroit and made the drive to suburban DC in about 9 hours. It rained almost the entire way which had me a little concerned that that front would continue in MD on Saturday (it didn't). We had a nice dinner at Guapo's in Bethesda Friday night but then made the mistake of checking on the basketball game ...
Drove to College Park Saturday morning (very heavy traffic) but we were comfortably parked in our lot by 9:30 or so. There was already a lot of tailgating and the lot was at least 1/3 Michigan fans. The MD people were very cordial. We headed off to the stadium but make a small detour to scope out the MD basketball arena. We could get in and made for a nice bathroom pit stop. I wanted to see the court but there was a lady sitting by the entrance from the concourse to the court that said because practice was going on we couldn't look in there.
So after a brief stop at the Fox pregame show (whatever they are calling that), we went to the stadium. I thought SECU was much nicer than I was led to believe. Obviously smaller than The Big House but seemed well maintained. I thought the concessions were much better than The Big House (a low bar in my opinion) with several crab themed things, local pizza, and beer. We sat in the 200 section which had good site lines. I thought the MD crowd was better than I was led to believe it would be and would guess the M fans were about 1/3 of the total. No razing at all, the MD people seemed happy to have us.
At the end of the game we went down to the lower section behind the M bench and am sure we are in the team picture! Back to the lot after the game. Traffic was very heavy and very slow to get out of the lot so we just hung around for an hour or so and nearby tailgaters were happy to share some food and drink with us.
Even an hour and half post game it was slow getting out of the campus area and the beltway was jammed. We had to get back by Sunday so we headed back west for a few hours and stayed at a random PA Hampton before completing the trip home Sunday morning.
All and all a worthwhile trip. Would definitely do again. I think the campus and stadium vibe was much better than I expected but as many said not much of a college town connected to it.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^
I've been to SECU a few times including last weekend. I think its in need of a pretty major renovation, however the people and fans affiliated w/ the University are first class.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:14 PM ^
Um bad news, this is the renovation. You should have seen it in the past.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
It is not a nice B1G stadium. This was my 3rd time at this stadium and each visit I've left less impressed.
I sat in section 24 row S which was on the 40 yard line directly behind the Maryland bench. Great seats, but in the shade so it was chilly throughout the game. This side of the field was much more of a fan mix between Maryland and Michigan. Behind the UM bench, it looked to be 75+% UM fans. Maryland fans were cordial enough although there were numerous calls of "CHEATERS!" throughout the game.
There is a Men's bathroom at the top of Section 24 right before the concourse. There are a grand total of 2(!) urinals in that bathroom (with 3 sinks!). As you can imagine, the lines were extremely long. I ended up going to the bathrooms in the end zone behind the student section where they were larger and had the old school troughs
My son and I made the mistake of getting food at halftime. The narrow concourse gets so congested it's impossible to move. It's also impossible to know where the concession lines end. The concessions are decent, although the lines were consistently long. Numerous crab options and the beer selection was good too including some DC and Virginia beers.
Also, the I find the tiny score/video board at the one end of the stadium to be hilarious. They couldn't find the money to put something in just a little bit bigger?
Did anyone stay at The Hotel on campus? We caught an Uber there after the game and noticed the New York Football Giants were staying there. The Giants were played the Commanders at FedEx Field on Sunday. I wonder if Ben Bredenson and Jalen Mayfield were able to make it to the UM game?
November 20th, 2023 at 5:36 PM ^
It takes forever to get food/drinks at the concession stands. Even if you go in the middle of a quarter.
November 20th, 2023 at 5:37 PM ^
I've never been to a UMD game, but I have stayed at The Hotel twice. It is very nice, reasonably priced, well-located (e.g., you can easily walk to campus or down the road to various restaurants) and I recommend it.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^
It’d be a great place to stay on a football weekend but I imagine it’s tough to get a room. I was surprised the Giants were saying there…although decent hotel options with close proximity to FedEx Field are limited.
Several players were in the lobby waiting on a food delivery service. Bad timing since traffic was terrible at the conclusion of the UM game.
November 20th, 2023 at 7:21 PM ^
Yes, I imagine it would cost $350/night and up on football weekends. I stayed there twice during the summer, so that was not an issue.
I'm more than a bit surprised an NFL team stayed there -- it is a fine, modern hotel, but at least a couple steps down from a Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons, which is where I assume those folks stay (but maybe that's just NBA teams, as they have many fewer players; perhaps NFL teams budget more for Hyatt Regency, Westin, etc).
November 20th, 2023 at 9:08 PM ^
Guest room prices probably play a part, but meeting space is likely a bigger factor.
NBA teams don't need a large meal room, and may only need 1 additional room for team meetings...often times trying to find somewhere that has a meeting room large enough to accommodate both.
NFL teams are looking at 7-10 position group meeting rooms, depending how the they like to split up. A meal room for the entire team, and a training room.
Generally the Hyatts/Marriotts/Hiltons of the world, particularly in cities with NFL franchises, have more meeting space and are more flexible in their room rates than the Ritz Carlton's of the world.
And I know none of this matters to anybody, but its one of the few times on this board something that is in the realm of what I do for a living, that I figured I'd chime in.....carry on.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:25 PM ^
I don't know about the MD side, but the visitor's side beer stands were out of everything other than Bud Light and Michelob Ultra well before the end of the 3rd quarter. Very disappointing. I ended up at Looney's Pub after the game with a good number of U of M fans. Good times.
November 20th, 2023 at 10:09 PM ^
I might try to get food next time in 2 years. I didn't even try because I got in just at kickoff and the lines for food were already way too long. Luckily I had already eaten breakfast at Big Noon.
Up in the 300's the lines weren't that bad but I didn't try during max bathroom times (aka halftime etc)
November 20th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
Much better atmosphere for this year's game than previous year. I think the nice weather and competitive game kept the Maryland fans at the stadium after halftime.
Heard a Maryland fan behind me say this was their best game in 30 years.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:17 PM ^
Yeah I've been to all of them since 2015 and this was the first one that did not finish with a 3/4 empty stadium.
So, you're welcome Maryland I guess.
It was a great day for tailgating. I hung out with some people that were there just for that, they didn't even go to the game.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:35 PM ^
I'm all for going with a crab theme at the Big House. Maybe King Crab.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^
Dungeness is the way to go!
EDIT: Already planning meals for gameday against Washington!
November 20th, 2023 at 5:32 PM ^
Or maybe Krusty Krab as an alternative?
November 20th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
Too bad you didn't get to film their bball practice.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:19 PM ^
That lady kept me from looking in as well. I didn't realize that is why she was doing it. I thought she was just being a bitch to the Michigan fan.
November 20th, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^
"Stayed at a random PA Hampton"
Joel Klatt approves.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:01 PM ^
" I wanted to see the court but there was a lady sitting by the entrance from the concourse to the court that said because practice was going on we couldn't look in there."
Why did you not sneak in and tape the practice!? Would that be wrong?
November 20th, 2023 at 4:56 PM ^
Did the lady have a big red dot on her cashmere sweater?
November 20th, 2023 at 4:03 PM ^
At the airport waiting for the flight home. The noon start was great. Nice weather in the sun. Got cold out after dark. Traffic seemed heavy. We took the metro.
November 20th, 2023 at 4:46 PM ^
Yeah but did you have the chessie pretzel?
November 20th, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^
Yeah. It was OK.
Like my crab dip with more lump or backfin, not shreds of claw meat. .
It was massive.
Sat in Section 23: it was cold af.
November 20th, 2023 at 6:51 PM ^
It was warm and sunny on the Michigan side (of course).
This time of year, being in the direct sun can make a 20 degree difference.
November 20th, 2023 at 5:09 PM ^
Gus & Joel would approve of your stay at a Hampton. Hope you enjoyed some WAFFLES Sunday morning.
Glad you had a nice trip. Thanks for sharing!
November 20th, 2023 at 5:34 PM ^
I wanted to see the court but there was a lady sitting by the entrance from the concourse to the court that said because practice was going on we couldn't look in there.
Damn, so your sign stealing attempt was thwarted?
Kidding of course, good write up!
November 20th, 2023 at 6:05 PM ^
Maryland is a safe place for football. Weather was great on the Michigan sideline, especially with a chilled beer.
Concession choices and wait times were the only negative really... and that damned cannon always shocks me the first couple times.
Went to FOX big noon kickoff. Rob Stone and Matt Leinart were very cool. Urban Meyer seemed out of place and uncomfortable ( probably thinking he could outcoach Day with his eyes closed or checking out the Terps baton twirler who was the national champion!).
November 20th, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
I talked to Stone as he was walking off the set he's a cool guy. We had a talk about the US MNT. Those lines were long in the stadium. I had a sausage egg and cheese croissant at Big Noon (they were just giving them away at the table) so that was basically my only food all game lol
November 20th, 2023 at 6:21 PM ^
Why didn't you show her your vast network credentials and remind her of 90% of all news articles verifying UM scouts all venues in advance...duh?
November 20th, 2023 at 7:15 PM ^
As the saying goes: MARYLAND IS FOR CRABS!!!
Glad you and your friends had a good time.
November 20th, 2023 at 7:28 PM ^
Thanks for sharing this. Glad you had a good trip and great Michigan had so much support there.
November 20th, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
Guapo's is pretty good. Not familiar with the Bethesda location but they have many locations around the DC area.
Didn't know Xfinity Center was open. I was on campus around 8 AM and walked 40 minutes from College Park Metro to the set. To my dismay there was already several hundred people there, and they ran all out of the red cowboy Big Noon hats. But I did get a free croissant, egg and sausage sandwich.
Big Noon was amazing. I mostly sat behind the set and watched from there, away from the crowd. Stood by the exit of the stage and saw all the FOX pundits, some of them just walked by like Urban (although he did fist bump me as I put my fist out, when he walked into the set). Brady Quinn took a lot of time out to talk to the troops, take pictures with them, and they basically said anyone who served, get backstage because they love their troops, and they all got a special camoflague shirt. Saw Bear pass by, gave him a high five, and saw Rob Stone who does hosting. Talked to him about US soccer, good guy.
Game itself, I sat way up high in 307 row HH, which is like a few rows away from the highest seats in the stadium. But it was basically the 50 yard line, just really high, and there was almost 95% michigan fans up there. It's a very good view up there of the surrounding campus and field, it just is a long walk up the steps. Someone yelled out "PLAY MR BRIGHTSIDE" which drew laughter, and then the ref said "Penalty on Rutgers", who wasn't even playing in that stadium, which prompted a lot of laughter from the partisan Blue crowd. One man remarked "Holding, Alabama" which also elicited a lot of laughs.
At the end of the game, Michigan fans started to rush the field and the PA Announcer was basically like "ALL FANS GET OFF THE FIELD INCLUDING MICHIGAN FANS GET OFF THE FIELD" and everyone laughed at that too as we walked en masse into the concourse.
I will say that the shuttle to the Metro is pretty convenient too, they packed everyone onto these school busses and then we had to endure a lot of stadium egress traffic. But since Michigan won everyone was in good spirits.
It was a fun Michigan takeover day. I live in Virginia near Dulles Airport. I don't often get the chance to see Michigan live in person, so this was the first, and damn it, it was a sensational time. It got me hooked. I wish I could be there Saturday but I can't. I will be watching from home, and I will definitely make it out to more Michigan games if they come by locally.