Informal Poll - Best Seats in the Big House?

Submitted by profitgoblue on

So I finally got my tickets to the Notre Dame game after spending weeks researching and watching the prices.  I finally bit the bullet and threw down some serious cash to get them and I decided that if I was going to drop that kind of money, I was going to get good seats.  That started me thinking:

What do you all think are the best seats in Michigan Stadium and why?

Personally, I prefer seats in Sections 24-25, somewhere around Rows 20-30.  They are close enough to the student section to get a piece of my college experience but also a little closer to midfield.  Rows 20-30 are close enough to the field to feel a part of the action but far enough up to see the whole field clearly. 

What say you?

 

MichFan1997

August 23rd, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^

I went to my spot during fan day. Wasn't a terrible view.

For Western I got section 24, row 20. That's about 30 yard line. Super pumped to see that spot.

Got section 43 for Eastern and 4 for Minnesota. I doubt any of these spots is gonna be too bad.

If I could pick one seat tho, I'd find whatever section is the 50 yard line, go up about 30-40 rows, and take that spot.

Tully Mars

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^

I'm going to concur with you that 30-50 is best, outside of that I'd rather be higher up (i.e. row 80 where my season tickets are) than row 15.  I'm torn between sections 23-24 (near the student section, but close to mid-field) or section 1,2, 43, 44 which are opposite the band so that they can be easily heard.  

Wave83

August 23rd, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^

I appreciate your love for rows 20-30.  Our season tickets are in Section 23, Row 25 (on the 45 yard line further away from the student section). 

Obviously, it depends what you want out of the experience.  If you want to sit with Lloyd Brady and Denard, you need to be in the first row of the student section.   However, I have always thought that for purely watching the game, Section 23 (around the 50), between rows 40 and 60, would be best.  Down in rows 20 to 30 are best if you want to give up a little of the viewing angle in exchange for hearing the sounds of the hits on the field. 

I think the old press box side is better than the other side (a little better) because the sun is in your face left and the band plays toward you more at halftime (if you're into that). 

Another consideration is the aisles.  I think it is good not to sit next to them because the parade of people in and out can block your view (at least when you are in a sideline section).

dlanny22

August 23rd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^

I'll be in section 1 row 3.  I am hoping that for picture taking that it will be an awesome seat.  Though I feel I may actually be too close to the field.  My favorite seats are actually the end zone closest to the student section about 40 rows up.  I may be the oddball in that respect.

profitgoblue

August 23rd, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^

I've sat in Section 1, Row 1 for a few games and enjoyed it.  Its a very different experience though.  Its super close to the field and you can watch the visiting team and see things you wouldn't normally see (team huddles, hear what they are saying, etc.).  But the view of the other end of the field is absolutely terrible.  You basically have to watch the big screen to know what is going on.

As for endzone seats, those would have been perfect for watching the spread option.  You can see all the reads, the holes in the line, etc.

 

andrewG

August 23rd, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^

student section, all the way. you just can't match that atmosphere. more than happy to stand the entire game. and if not row 1, then somewhere in the 20's to be close to the action, but still have a good view of the field.

also... at what point does it become creepy for me to be in the student section? i graduated in '06 and am fairly young looking, so i figure i have at least a few more years, but i wanna stretch this out as long as i can.

bklein09

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^

You've got plenty of years left IMO.

You could be a grad student, medical student, PhD student, etc.

Those degrees can take 10 years or more, so you have a little while to ride that train. 

Then, once you really start getting old, you can say you are there because your son/daughter got you tickets to the game in that section. 

When my parents used to come to Michigan games, I would always get them student tickets next to me. And they loved it. 

So I figure you can stay until you can't stand anymore, then you should probably look for seats elsewhere.

rlc

August 23rd, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^

Love sitting in the endzone between the numbers. You can really see the gaps opening up on plays which you miss from a side view. Row 30 seems about the perfect distance.

 

[email protected]

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^

I've always been partial to section 20 around row 40, where I have had the privilege to sit and watch Michigan footballs for a long while.  That is the virtue of Michigan stadium - having a decent view of the field almost anyplace!

Wolverine Devotee

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^

Sections 20-24, about halfway up. Perfect view of all of the game. And even if you're really high up, you'll still have a great view.

Bando Calrissian

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^

For the game after 9/11, I was given tickets in Section 1, first row above the entrance portal around row 50 or so.  Absolutely perfect view.  Not too high, not too low, and no obstructions in front of you.

Section 1

August 23rd, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^

I am not kidding.  Totally serious.  Dick and Lynne Cheney were in Michigan during an election campaign, and they came as part of a 2000 campaign swing through Ann Arbor.  They were seated directly above the Section 1 lower portal.  With four Secret Service agents behind them. 

I got his autograph on my ticket stub, and in trying to just make casual conversation, I asked him who his Wyoming Cowboys were playing that day.  Like asking a soldier what his hometown is.  There was this weird little moment of panic when I realized he had no idea, and Lynne looked at Dick like, Oh, God I hope this isn't a trick question from a reporter because we know how picky the press is trying to be about our true state of residence...  Cheney smiled and said he didn't know and I thanked him and told him he had my support.

They only stayed for about a Quarter, and then the regular holders of the seats came back, and the two older couples (who looked like prosperous faculty and/or Ann Arbor-suburban liberals) were brought back to the seats and they were wearing Gore-Leiberman campaign buttons.  One of the ladies had stuck a Gore bumpersticker on the back of her shoulders.

JEL

August 23rd, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^

The best seat in Michigan Stadium can’t be bought, therefore isn’t on any seating chart, its seat 109,901 reserved for Mr. Yost

mikel796

August 23rd, 2011 at 2:28 PM ^

seat in the house.  I like anything about halfway up to about 3/4th's the way up...any section.  At times I like the end zone seats because of the perspective it gives you on line play....overall though I like the corners about halfway up....you can see the whole field and get some idea on the holes/line play.

rob f

August 23rd, 2011 at 3:11 PM ^

I've had my seats along the aisle in section 36, 75+ rows up, for 31 years now---and I honestly wouldn't trade them for anywhere else.  We're looking straight down the eastern sideline, have a great view of 3/4 of the field (from the opposite end 25-yd-line all the way back to our end, the north end zone).  Like a few others above already mentioned, we have a great view of line play and of seeing plays develop all over the field, both on offense and defense.  I only use my binoculars for action at the other end of the field, generally on plays inside the 25 at the south end of The Big House. 

Ease of access to concessions, restrooms, shade at Halftime on hot days, and protection from the cold north wind in November are among the many fringe benefits my seats offer.  If it's a sunny November day, even if the temperature is only 40 or so, that sunshine often warms things enough that I can shed outerwear right down to my shirtsleeves.   I can often hit the concessions or restrooms, sometimes even both if I time it right, if I wait until a TV timeout, without missing even one series of downs.  No seats in the Big House are more convenient than mine!

Best fringe benefit of being there so long, though?  Knowing I'll be seated among friends, among many of the same prople we've struck friendships up with over the years, knowing I'll shake hands with and exchange greetings with the same ushers that have been working our very nearby entrance ramp for 10-20 years. 

I can proudly proclaim that, in all the years I've gone to games (dating back to 1975), I have NEVER left early, win or lose.  Pretty much the tradition of most in the seats surrounding mine in sec. 36 to stick around, win or lose, and discuss the game we'd just enjoyed, plus look forward to the following game. 

I'll be there 'til I'm gone !

 

 

Row26

August 23rd, 2011 at 5:08 PM ^

I'm a fan of seats in the corners, probably 20-40 rows up.

I've seen dozens of games from my parents' seats, in the NE corner in row 26 (hence my screenname), and think that's about the right height to be close to the action but high enough to actually see the whole field.

I've sat on the 50 a number of times, and while the view is great, I feel like I might as well be home watching the same view on TV for free. The crowd in those sections is so quiet that it really loses the excitement of being there in the stadium. I've also sat in both endzones, including in row A for the MSU game last year, and while that provides a very different perspective it's also hard to know whether a play has gone for 2 yards or 12 yards especially when it's on the opposite side of the 50.

I now have season tickets in the SW corner in row 86. I love the corner view and I don't mind being high up (except for the game last year when someone in the front row of the club seats above me knocked a full cup of pop off the ledge and it hit me in the back) but think being lower just makes you feel like a part of the action more.

Chuck Norris

August 23rd, 2011 at 5:42 PM ^

I'm in section 2, row 18-ish. 35 yard line, opposite the old press box (not sure if theres press on just that side anymore, with the new expansions and what-not.) You can't really hear the student section as well as you can from the other side, but you get an excellent view of them doing the wave, reverse wave, slow, fast, double, etc. 

Vegas863

August 17th, 2012 at 1:50 AM ^

as I will be visiting Chicago and have resolved to drive over to Ann Arbor for the day to catch the game against UMass.  For those in the know, is there a decent chance to get tickets (2) somewhere between section 20 - 25, about midway up, if I show up on game day or is that a pipe dream?  As I've never been before, I would like to sit on the Michigan side and make it a memorable experience.

Thanks in advance!

jtown8378

August 17th, 2012 at 5:03 AM ^

I LOVE being near the student section...I want to be by the crazies. I am on the isle Rw 2....right behind the defense. Close to the field to hear the football being played on the field. I can see the field fine from my seats...LOVE them. I too am one of the last people to leave the stadium...I never want to leave. I enjoy the atmosphere, and just the history of the stadium...I often remember plays that happened on that field...the greatS that played in that stadium. I feel lucky and honored to be a season ticket holder. HAIL HAIL!! GO BLUE!