Pregame help needed!

Submitted by MinorRage on

I've been going to games for almost 30 years at this point, and have always tailgated pregame, typically at Pioneer or the golf course. For the first time my wife and I are the only 2 going, and we were thinking of hitting up a bar or two in downtown and walking to the stadium. Any suggestions on areas to park and which place to hit up? We are both healthy and fit so have no problems with a decent walk. Thanks in advance!

MGoBoard

yossarians tree

September 22nd, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^

Here's my strategy if you need to get out of town right after the game. I live east of Ann Arbor so I come in from that side of town and park on the street somewhere near Geddes Rd. near the cemetary and walk all the way across campus to the game. It's a long walk but a nice walk and you get to see campus. When the game is over I haul ass back to my car and can get out onto US-23 in a few minutes and bingo, I am ahead of 90% of the traffic.

Joined: 08/19/2010

MGoPoints: 22294

Indiana Blue

September 22nd, 2016 at 2:31 PM ^

Right by the AA Public Library.  Nicest parking garage in the world.  $1.20 per hour (read CHEAP on gameday).  You can go west to Main St. or east to State Street ... take your pick.  Easy in and easy out ... and incredibly clean and very well lighted.  About a 15 minute walk from the stadium.

Go Blue!

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

MGoGrad11

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^

The Washington st. parking structure (by Division) is one of the best kept parking secrets on gameday. $3 all day, assuming rates are still the same as last year. The deck on Washinton and First is $5 all day. They are both pretty good options depending on whether you're looking for the State St. or Main St. areas.

Joined: 09/18/2016

MGoPoints: 51

MGoGrad11

September 22nd, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^

I'd imagine it's pretty rough. I usually get food after the games though so I'm not leaving immediately after. The Washington/Division deck gives the option of avoiding main St. and heading east towards 23, which could be a little better. Someone who parks in these lots often would probably have more knowledge of the specifics. I have used these decks in the past, but as of recently I'm usually down at AAGOC.

Joined: 09/18/2016

MGoPoints: 51

MGoGrad11

September 22nd, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^

Sorry, no idea on that. What I can tell you is that I got into Ann Arbor at 10 last weekend and the city was a breeze to get through. Even by 11 it didn't look too bad. My guess is there was still open parking in those lots at that time, but Penn St. is obviously a little more anticipated (read: earlier arrivals) than Colorado.

Joined: 09/18/2016

MGoPoints: 51

reshp1

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^

If you get it relatively early, you can often find street parking in the neighborhoods north of Huron. I usually try to find something north of Rackham and walk through the Diag area. Ashley's and Brown Jug are both on the way-ish to the Stadium. Then it's a shortcut through the law-quad and down State and Hoover to the stadium. 

Joined: 10/31/2011

MGoPoints: 34177

Hail To The Blue

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^

Highly recommend parking back by the nursing building. The lot there is free and always wide open. It's a few blocks away from North Quad/Rackham, but that'll take you right in to that side of town and up State if you want, or you could cut through campus and end up on South U to hit up a bar. I like parking there because I get to walk through pretty much all of town to get to the stadium.

Joined: 10/30/2013

MGoPoints: 1600

His Dudeness

September 22nd, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^

The parking garage on William by the bus station is $5. It's walking distance to Ashleys (my favorite spot). It takes a while to get out of that area, but it takes a while to get out of any area after a game.

 

Joined: 11/24/2008

MGoPoints: -973290

goblueram

September 22nd, 2016 at 11:26 AM ^

Park over by me on Old West side, walk down Liberty and catch the start of noon games at the P-Bell.  Then you can bar crawl down Main street, have lunch, etc. en route to the game.

Joined: 08/18/2009

MGoPoints: 11701

ADogNamedBo

September 22nd, 2016 at 1:31 PM ^

The one time we did this instead of tailgaiting, we were going to bar hop. We ended up with great seats at the Blue Tractor bar and didn't leave until we started walking to the game which was UTL II. I was feeling no pain walking in to the stadium!

Joined: 12/28/2013

MGoPoints: 1424

Tate

September 22nd, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^

I'm coming from Canton, thinking about Ubering over (estimate says $18-24, probably will get higher) I have a $20 off first ride. Is that a good idea? I don't want to drive in, wanna have a handful of beers post game.

Joined: 01/11/2013

MGoPoints: 10027

MGoGrad11

September 23rd, 2016 at 12:14 AM ^

I would be weary of a surcharge for busy times if you are planning on doing this. Assuming the max of $24 both ways, a 3x surcharge leaves you with $130 in uber rides even with the $20 off. I think this is a worst case scenario, but just wanted to point out how high it could get. Lyft was still at a 1.5 surcharge at 9:30 pm last week.

Joined: 09/18/2016

MGoPoints: 51

Michifornia

September 22nd, 2016 at 10:53 PM ^

I took my two daughters last year the UNLV game, they loved it (we live in CA).  I'm taking them again this year to Homecoming.  They are both 12.  Is there a "family" type tailgate?  If not, we'll just do the MDen shopping spree and get to the field early again to see the players.

Thanks for any tips.

Joined: 10/03/2013

MGoPoints: 13813