Tips For Buying Tickets For The First Time
Well, here's sort of an embarrassing confession. I am 21 years old and have never been to a Michigan game. So this year I have made it my mission to make it out to Ann Arbor. My girlfriend and I are looking for tickets and I've got a few questions. Any other input is definitely appreciated though.
First of all I'm pretty much limited to either the UConn or UMass games because of other scheduling conflicts.
As a young guy with not so much in the way of money what is a good section/row combo to get decent seats without breaking the bank? I've seen some tickets for both games in section 18 that are in rows 1 & 2 going cheaply. I know this is partially because corners aren't always desirable, but the close row seems to make up for that slightly. Is it better to be up close in the corner or far back in the center part of the endzone? Also what are some good tips to avoid spending too much in parking and other various game days expenses once we are in Ann Arbor?
Farther back in the end zones or else you won't be able to see action on the other end of the field very well.
Student section seats would be perfect for someone your age if you don't mind standing up for the whole game. The only problem with student tickets is that if you're not a student, you have to pay $20 or so to get it "validated" for a non-student. I'm not sure how much this costs anymore, but it basically adjusts the price from student ticket levels to regular ticket levels (the students get a discount). If you know any students, you might want to rustle up some UMich IDs so you can avoid the validation fee. The gate attendants don't check the picture very closely.
I would monitor craigslist until you see a price you like. StubHub will offer a good idea of what tickets are going for. Typically, the closer to game day you get, the cheaper the tickets are, so try to hold out if you can.
Paying for parking is completely avoidable if you head over this way: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ann+arbor,+…
There is a residential neighborhood just south of that marker whose streets are always empty, free, and legal to park on. The best part is, you can walk right up 7th (maybe a 10-15 min walk depending on pace/crowd) which takes you right by the Pioneer HS tailgate, which is a fantastic atmosphere to experience during your march to the Big House.
I had never sat in the student section my entire life and found tickets through Craig's List for the ND game last year. If at all possible I would greatly urge you to find tickets in the student section. Tickets for the UMass game should not be that difficult. The closer you get to game day the better the pricing will be. For UMass you could even wait uintil game day if you wanted as you should find people wanting to unload. I have never waited until game day itself however I see transactions happening all the time. Have fun and I hope you see a Michigan victory.
sit in the student section, get the full experience, and if you go to UMass, expect to pay like $10. Just remember, if you don't have a student ID, you need to validate student tickets.
As a current student I would suggest facebook marketplace before craigslist. That's where all of my friends and I post our extra/unused tickets.
Parking- $30
Tailgate food and beverage of choice- $20
Tickets Uconn/Umass (gameday scalped) - $70/ $20
Estimate total- $120/$ 70
Price of Michigan winning and just being at the big house priceless
The question of sitting in row 1 or far back depends on what you're looking for. Sitting close and you will miss some of the action, but you'll make up for it when the action comes your way. When I was a student we always sat down low and the experience was awesome. I now have season tickets in row 84 and it is easy to see the entire field, but I miss the action of sitting down low.
Honestly, if you get a chance at row 1, I'd say take it.
For the UConn game the whole place will be electric. Anywhere you sit in the stadium will be a great experience.
For UMass the stadium will have a much lower energy level. I suggest sitting with the students. You'll have a good time.
Don't pay for parking. The neighborhood north of Huron and east of State always has some street parking for free. Walk with the crowds down State to Hoover, then to the stadium. It takes about a half-hour. It's an absolute blast.
I'd say row 40 or higher to get a decent view but I generally don't like seats in the first 20 rows especially in the end zone.
I've had very good luck buying tickets on ebay. The closer to the game generally the lower the price. Sometimes the tickets are sent to me and I've also picked them up and paid in person. UMass will be less expensive.
I've bought tickets on ebay for a unattractive game at well under face 6+ times. I pay about $10 for parking near West Quad, about a 15 minute walk. It's easy to get out of town on Division but it depends where you are headed.
i sat up 80 rows in the endzone, didnt hinder my fun one bit, since then i have been sitting in better seats but you will still love whatever seat you sit in. sounds like for you the cheaper the better, but always check craigslists too.
UCONN will cost a lot more but it will be so much more exciting. Don't worry where you sit. YOu can see the game well from any seat. Use ebay but don't start seriously looking until the Sunday night before the game. I also stay West of Main street and park in a neighborhood west of the stadium for free and walk. It's about a twenty minute walk but half of it is past the practice field and the soccer field and Crisler arena. If you want to tailgate go to Pioneer high school, it's $15 cheaper than the golf course. If you go to UMass don't buy tickets until game day and make sure to barter because you will be able to find $10 tickets if you're patient.
You won't regret it. Stadium re-opening, Mealer walk, quite possibly the start of the New Beginning. It's going to be a madhouse... The air will be let out for UMASS, either because we started the season off wrong or as a breather after beating ND
UCONN. It's, umm, a very pivotal game
That's my advice!
We don't get too many self professed Big House virgins here, so I think you need to deal with this problem immediately! Seriously, U Conn game. Opening game. Be there.
Parking - I park on Edgewood, two blocks west of the stadium. Coming or going, I take the Miller/Maple exit off 14 and bypass most of the traffic. My cost there is $25 and I have use of the bathrooms. You can also take your shot at parking on the side streets to the southwest for free.
Food about $25.
Drinks at Ashleys after the game - worth every penny to revel among your fellow fans, quaff a few cold ones and savor a Michigan victory.
Have fun!
I used to have tix in row 6 in the endzone. I hated them. Too low to see any actioin that wasn't right in front of you anbd had to watch it on the scoreboard. In addition, if you have too many "soda's" at the tailgate, you have to go to the bathroom and it is a real pain trying to get out to the concourse from row 6. I know they have improved the bathrooms with numbers and locations, but it is not easy to get out of the bottom of the bowl.
My best seats were right next to the student section in row 82. I could see every part of every play and could hit the concourse for food and bathrooms in about 2 minutes. Also, if it rained, I was in the concourse overhang in minutes. When we got stuck in the thunderstorm several years ago in row 6 it was impossible to get out.
So my advice would be if you are going to drink and want to get food, and the weather is iffy, sit high. If not, sit low in the student section and have one of the most memorable times of your life.
Last year vs EMU I had section 18 row 2 seats. We found out that you have a little bit of a longer line when piling into the stadium as the corner sections hold more people. The seats were great though, we were really close to the action but when they were on the opposite side of the field you really couldn't see that well unless you checked out the scoreboard display. We also had that superfan guy right next to us and he kept the fans nearby involved in the game as most of them decided to sit on their hands for the game. Also we had one boisterously drunk guy sitting behind us who kept yelling at Charissa Thompson calling her Erin Andrews. Great entertainment value for the price!!