Seeking Advice - Kid's First Game

but if it were me, I would bring a football to throw. lots of food and maybe some board games/cards. my kids (at 8) would be bored for sure... but if we had stuff to do, they'd be alright. People watching... I would park at the golf course if you still can because there was always so much going on and it's close. I would also consider walking over by Hoover to see the band come in.

in the neighborhoods West of the Stadium.  Street parking is available West of  Seventh Street pretty easily.  After the game, you walk past a lot of the traffic.

Unfortunatley, there just isn't 'easy' access to leave.  You will be waiting in traffic regardless of direction.  But I've found the West side is the easiest if you're going that direction anyway.

I use Zeeb Rd as my entry and exit point to I-94 and follow side streets to Pauline Ave and the neighborhoods.

Take the kids to the Drumline step show about an hour and a half before kickoff.  Great show!

http://mmb.music.umich.edu/section-sites/drumline/stepshow.htm

 

I have three girls who have no interest in football other then my love for Michigan.  We went to the Bowling Green game and that is my first bit of advice go to a cheap game where M will win (do not even say it or think it) and you can roll up 20 minutes before the game starts.  

I parked in $20 parking and it was a 15 min walk.  

NO SEAT BACKS can bring cushion.

We sat 35 yard line about 80 rows up perfect for the kids.

Most important you want to be in your seat for the band and the team entrance.

We skipped tailgating and such being out of state.  We stayed in Kellog about an hour away and hotel was very reasonable.  Woke up-had nice family breakfeast-parked reasonably close.  Saw the band take the field.  MGCLUB SUPPORTS YOU.  Denard make an incredible run they still discuss to this day.  Nice 35 yard line seats I Craig's Listed for $40 each.  Lunch at Zingermans and  back to Kelogg-home next day (800 miles to Kansas City).

 

Are you taking 94 or 96? If you are taking 96, you can take 23 to get to A2 and get off at the north side of town (Plymouth or Geddes). You can easily get to 5th and shoot right through town. We like to park at Fingerle - only 1/2 a mile to the stadium, easy out. Easy to get back to Plymouth or Geddes via Division.

What game are you looking for? I have extra tickets to some games. Email me: [email protected]

As far as parking goes, it just depends on how far you would consider walking vs the price of parking. For me, being 23, I'd rather park at Colonial Lanes, tailgate in the parking lot, a little further for $10 rather than parking at Pioneer or the golf course for $50.

If you don't have tickets yet, I can assure you they will be pretty cheap come August 27th/28th on Stubhub. I always like being in either endzone around row 30-40, but everyone has their own preference.

WIth it being a noon kickoff, we always try to get there by 10. That really gives you a hour to throw some football, eat and drink (if you are going to do that), and then gives you a hour to get to the stadium, get to your seat, see warmups if you're into that, and buy concessions/programs ect. ect.

But like I said, everyone has different gameday rituals. I would not advise getting there later than 10:30 though. The place can become a madhouse around the stadium.

Took my (then) 6 year old to his first game last year, coming from Grand Rapids.  Here are my takeaways:

1.  Parking - we parked just south of the golf course at someone's house right on Main.  Price was decent, and getting in was easy.  We walked to the stadium, wasn't the shortest walk, but not bad.  After the game we walked around the stadium a bit, but leaving was easy.  All traffic on Main is directed south, so just get on and work your way over to the right so you can jump on 94 and get home.  

2.  Depending on what interests your kids, there is a lot to look at.  My son was content just watching the players warm up, and we were there an hour before kickoff.  You can watch the band march in closer to kickoff, and then the pregame show.  The earlier you are there the easier it will be to get to your seats.

3. We didn't carry anything in, so I can't comment on that, other than it looked like pretty standard security checking through bags, etc.

4.  We StubHub'ed a couple of seats in the corner, and they were great seats.  I'm not there enough to give a bunch of recommendations, but I don't recall ever having bad seats.  Maybe directly in the endzone would be bad, I don't know.

I have kids slightly younger than yours and have stupidly been bringing them since they were four. A few thoughts from my failures:

1) Pick a bad game and get an extra ticket or two so you have some space.

2) Don't take them those first two games because of the heat. They're already going to have trouble sitting still, the heat will make it far worse.

3) Same is true of the cold. If I were you the game I'd target is Minnesota. Weather should be about right and tickets likely won't be terribly priced. My second choice would be the Sept 20th game.

4) Yes the kids will get really bored at a standard tailgate and you'll run them out of energy if you do too much sightseeing before the game. The drumline show suggestion was a good one. Though the traffic and lines will be worse, I wouldn't get them there too early you'll lose them by halftime if you do.

Believe me I know this feeling. I want so badly to share my love for Michigan Football with the kids, especially my 6 year son. Truth be told, they just don't have the patience so don't set your expectations too high and don't set yourself up for failure by expecting them to be out there too long. They'll get older soon enough and then you'll get to enjoy it.

A side note..... I have a LOT better success rate bringing them to Yost for hockey games. No idea why that is. Perhaps because we don't have to get there too far before, Maybe because its not quite as cramped and you get two intermissions. Might be a good starter for them.

I park in the neighborhoods east of Packard. If your walking casually it's a 20 minute walk. The nice thing is traffic is not a problem at all. Not to mention its free. I can't imagine why people pay to park ( other than tailgating of course).

1) park west of the stadium in the neighborhood.  You can find parking starting at $5 and up to $25 as you get closer to the stadium.  The kids might like the UMGC better but I am diabolically opposed to paying $40 or $50 to park.

2) The band comes out of their building on Hoover and makes their march to the stadium.  I've never personally done it, but they end up walking right beside my mom's spot near the tunnel.  It's cool.

3) I would get there 3 hours before kick off.  It gives plenty of time to enjoy a tailgate, walk to the stadium, and get in your seat because....

4) watch the band enter the stadium.  This is an absolute must.

5) stay after to watch the drumline

It's a long day and the kids will likely need a nap.  You can chill out in the shade under the trees outside section 12 during halftime.

Enjoy.

Sit in the north end zone, and don't buy tickets that are more than 10 rows from the portal, and stay close to the aisle.  You can count on game days in September being really hot, and younger kids will get restless and be up and down the whole game.  Being near the portal will be easier to get out for refreshments and bathroom breaks.  Plus there is a grassy hill outside the north endzone that is a great, cooler place to relax in and let the kids run around.  Personally I would recommend section 36, which is a small section that doesn't extend all the way to the field.  As a point of reference, row 69 is the first row down inside section 36.

Hope this helps, and have fun!

About parking at the bowling Alley is when you leave you make a right on the road the Alley is on. It runs parallel with State except has no traffic. You end up coming out on State street right before 94.

look for row 50 and up, good view and not a hundred steps to bathroom or concessions. The kids might not care but you will having to take all of them at different times to bathroom or for a hot dog/brat.

No figuring what they may enjoy about football.  So here's my take based on that I started to bring my kids regularly when they were about 10.  None of them actually played football - but they still loved to throw one around.

1) get there early to avoid sitting in traffic.  I would park off Division if you want to see the band pre-game 

2) the band pre-game starts about 90 minutes before kickoff and they march to the stadium about 45 minutes prior to kickoff.  The pre-game is at the corner of Hoover and Division.  Elbel Field is right accross the street.  To watch the band march in is something they'll NEVER forget.  Go in the stadium then - so you'll get to see the band "take the field".

If your kids want to throw around a football before seeing the band pre-game, they can use the actual band practice field on the very north end of Elbel.  The field has the artificial turf with yard lines and is regulation size - they will see how huge a football field is.  Its open to anyone.

3) be sure to have drinks and snacks to have AFTER the game !  Regardless of where you park it will be a mess.  Alternatively - you can take the kids to the Michigan Union (short walk from the stadium / parking + they can push the CUBE).  They have fast food options and will get to see REAL students - its quick, cheap and usually kids are very impressed.

4) buy them M stuff

5) Go Blue!

We have gone to a few games in the last couple of years and really like taking the shuttle bus.  You park at one of the hotels (free) and ride the shuttle -- no walking -- and they let you off right in front of the stadium.  After the game take your time to enjoy where you are and they pick you up at the same location!

Stubhub a couple days before the game is what we have done and for one of the weaker early games should not be too hard on the wallet!

Enjoy the Game and Go Blue!  #Raiseemright

ENJOY IT!!!! There may be minor hiccups and inconveniences, but to watch the look on your kids faces and the unavoidable excitement is something that will never be replicated.

The following are my observations based on taking my grandniece, the awesome Sloane, to game starting at about age 3.

1) Give them a script - tell them "we will stand in a crowd then find our seats then the guy will say "BAAAND TAKE THE FIELD" (they love to practice that)....so they will know what to expect. Do not be surprised if they are weirded out by the sheer amount of noise - tell them in advance it will be super noisy. Sloane was sure the drum major could see her personally and that he was scary when he took off his hat.

2) Get seats near the facilities. The 96th row is ideal as you will not waste too much time on potty breaks.

3) Leave on a high note - don't wait until they wear out, you still have to walk back to the car, and you want them to remember if fondly.

4) Popcorn. Dole it out a kernel at a time, and they will be with you for at least a couple quarters. They will remember the popcorn as much as the game at first.

I'll say it:

Your lack of a proper apostraphe in the title made me very confused as to what this thread was about.  At first I thought there was some game or event called "Kids First" - like a charity event for kids.  It took me probably 5 times of seeing the title before I finally realized you just left the apostraphe out and were referring to your kid's first Michigan game.

I took my daughter, then 5, to the Illinois game in 2012.  It was raining and cold all morning and I couldn't bring myself to take a kindergartener with a cold to the Stadium in those conditions.  We watched the first half at a friend's house near Packard and Stadium, then my wife dropped us off at Granger & State during halftime.  It was still raining but not pouring at that time, and the rain eventually stopped.  The game was a laugher (45-0) and I told her "Sweetie, next year we'll come to a game when it's not raining."  *She looked thoughtful for a moment and asked "How will you know?"  I told her "good point."

 

FWIW I took her to the Minnesota game last fall and the weather was glorious.

You got so much good advice that you must now be thoroughly confused.  However, remember that overall every game is a "Happening" where some amount of people, generally more than 105,000 get together to watch a game, dress goofy and desparately want the home team to win.  Have fun, get them to sing the Victors with you.

The tailgate parties at the various golf courses are also a hoot, but the students now get really really hammered.  I could care less about it, but it might not be a good experience for young kids to see people barfing, pissing in the open field or openly having sex.

Do not over pay for tickets.  There will be a lot of tickets readily available from guys near the stadium for face or less.

It should be a fabulous time for you.

I would love to read about your experience after it all happens.