Spring Game Help Needed!
I have miraculously convinced my family here in Florida that we should visit our family in Michigan around mid-April (gee, wonder why?). I have never been to a spring game in AA. What are the basics I should know? Is there anything of note? Post game awesome places to eat? etc....
Any help is appreciated.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
Hopefully Dominics will be open by then (usually opens around early to mid April and/or when weather becomes respectable). Fantastic sangrias and great atmosphere; food pretty decent too (Italian mainly). Careful though; a few half gallons of sangrias and you'll be pretty tipsy before you know it.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^
Dominick's is open the first weekend after spring break. Many a St. Patrick's day ended with Sangria and an Italian sub (so Irish) at Dominick's.
UPDATE: I miss Ann Arbor - Chicago summers can't hold a candle to AA summers.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
Summer in Chicago isn't as good as Ann Arbor? I think you've lost me on that one.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:09 PM ^
I think it depends on your station in life. Young/single looking for wild nights = Chicago. Married looking for chill afternoons and grilling = AA.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^
to each his own
February 11th, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^
Careful though; a few half gallons of sangrias and you'll be pretty tipsy before you know it.And broke/homeless. That place is unnecessarily expensive, for what it is.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^
you have to mix the sangria and the constant buzz!
February 11th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
Game usually starts at one with pregame activities happening before that in the stadium. It is becoming a bigger deal of late. Tailgating takes place. The crisler lot is should be free but come early for that. Otherwise normal parking is in affect. I have tailgated at pioneer for it before. I think they charge like $5 or something to park. The rest is just Ann Arbor, it is all great.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
Yeah, Pioneer was $5 for parking last year, IIRC.
Last year they did locker room tours, but you needed to get there at the crack of dawn to have a shot at them.... the line wrapped all the way around to Stadium and Main.
The seating is first come, first served. We managed to snag first row seats on the opposite side and were within close proximity to many players and alumni.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
If you plan on parking @ Pioneer which I thought always had room… get there an hr before the game to be safe, I showed up in AA @ the start of the game and lost an hr driving around AA as Pioneer closed its parking. Once I got into the stadium 2/3 rds of the practice was over.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^
Pioneer closes it's gates before actually filling up. This was the problem I had. I had to punt trying to find anything remotely close to the stadium. Got lucky on a lawn somewhere on Pauline (literally).
February 11th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
I suggest any students or people who look like they could be students go early. Last year a buddy of mine went way early to watch the warm-ups and the excellent All-Star flag game (Ron Bellamy has a decent arm, it turns out). The unexpected benefit of this was that some reps from the team came wandering around the studenjt section, and we were asked to come onto the field and help hold up the M Club banner as the team ran out. I was a 4-year member of the MMB and have done lots of cool things down on the field, but I had never held the banner, and it was a cool and unique experience.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:50 PM ^
I remember just sitting there and this guy came up and said "Do you guys want to hold the banner while the team runs on the field?". We all sat there and stupidly stared at one another wondering if he was serious. Me and my buddy were giddy like schoolgirls and got to watch the entire spring game from the sidelines in addition to holding the banner and shaking hands with the Michigan Men who kept walking past.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
Does anyone know the early line on this game?
February 11th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^
I think they're waiting to see the injury report.
February 11th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^
Michigan +2.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
Nice work getting the fam to travel up from Florida.
My old man's birthday is April 17th and he lives in the U.P. I already told him that I would get him tickets to the Michigan Spring Game for his B-Day. He has no idea. :)
February 11th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
This is our tailgating pre-season. We need our practice ... right? I'm also breaking out a new UM table I made over the winter. Tabletop sealed with most game tickets since the late 70's, tailgating & game photos and other misc items. Stolat! Go Blue!
February 11th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
Last year's game day was pretty chilly (~50º?). Being from Florida, you might find it down right cold especially if it's cloudy. So, pack the appropriate outer gear. And, bring something to sit on, those aluminum benches suck the heat right out of your tush.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
Don't bring anything with pockets.
This brings up a good question, though. Is security as tight at the spring game? Can you bring bigger bags?
February 11th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
It's actually freezing here right now! It is supposed to snow here tomorrow! WTF! A little AA here in NW Florida haha
February 11th, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^
Expect parking to be a headache. Dress weather apporpriate and bring your fashion sun glasses.
And after the game, go down to the parking lot between the Stadium and Crisler Arena and see 30-40 year old men taking pictures of 17 year old high school recruits.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^
Blimpy Burger, nuff said.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^
Every time I am in AA I hit Zingermans.
http://www.zingermansdeli.com/content/pages/home.php
February 11th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
there may or may not be a flag footbaw game. If you sign up, just know the other teams plans on carrying dangerous weapons and many are on weekend passes.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:38 PM ^
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm fairly stoked that this is happening. I'm sure it will be a good experience.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^
Where do you get the tickets from and how much do they usually cost?
February 11th, 2010 at 5:16 PM ^
$Free.99
February 11th, 2010 at 7:29 PM ^
Are there tickets to meet players and stuff beofr the game?
February 12th, 2010 at 1:01 AM ^
yeah why are people talking about tickets, isnt it free?
February 12th, 2010 at 1:28 AM ^
This event is free... just like it should be.
February 12th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
and to think I was jealous I couldn't make it to Daytona for the 24 Hours or the 500 or Bike Week....