How early do you arrive/leave for games?
I'm an early bird. There's only 7 days of 365 that I can be in the stadium for a Football Saturday.
We usually hit the road at 6:30. Arrive at dark leave at dark.
I go inside the stadium at as soon as the gates open, for every game. Stay until the MMB postgame show ends.
Our lot (first on right on Potter off Main) is cleared by the time we leave and it's always dark.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
Right when the golf course opens to have some breakfast beers. Go into the stadium around an hour before. Post game- golf course tailgate to let traffic die down for 2 hours.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
Jim, please don't turn into Steve Sarkisian
August 30th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^
Imma get right ripped!
August 30th, 2016 at 11:53 AM ^
Same here. In line by 7:45 for AAGO and leave tailgate 1hr before kick, seats in SW corner of stadium
August 30th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
I also like to arrive when the gates to the golf course open. Good to get a great spot that backs up to the fairway. I've quit drinking beers at tailgates and go with wine. Wine limits my many trips to the port-o-john. That line gets crazy long in the early afternoon. And yeah... all my friends rip me for it.
August 30th, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^
Drink it straight from the bottle. You can eliminate the "I'm too fancy for a tailgate" vibe you're giving off and instead hit that grungy, IDGAF college-kid demeanor. You may feel stupid but you'll look amazing.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
I enjoy the tailgate atmosphere almost as much as being inside the stadium so I always wait just long enough to catch the pregame. The best feeling is walking through the entrance to section 39 as the band is running out onto the field.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^
WD, one day you'll like the taste of beer.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
I'm too focused/anxious to drink before the games.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:41 AM ^
That's why you drink!
August 30th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
This
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August 30th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
Exactly. Let me explain, WD, how alcohol works....
August 30th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
1000% this
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August 30th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
Exactly. I start drinking when I wake up because I'm nervous, excited and so many other feelings before the start of Michigan football.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
I will drink before noon games. If I drink before 330 games then more than likely I will blackout so I usually don't do so... Bad memories from 2008-2014.
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August 30th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
...that is a good thing.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
I agree with him on this one. Not exactly with the "too nervous" reasoning, but I just prefer to observe everything and feel those nerves/anxiety in their fullness, at least during the game.
Sometimes I'll drink after in either celebration or sadness, but I have never had more than 2 drinks before the Big House and never will.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
in time to hear "Baaaaand, take the fieeeeeld" otherwise it jinxes the whole operation.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
Were you last for the State game last season?
August 30th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^
Late not last
August 30th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
in the state for the osu game?
August 30th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
5 minutes before kick and leave when the game ends ... I respect the band but also hear them out my window for hours every day
August 30th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
I have a core group of friends who set up shop on the course at the crack of dawn for every home game. That allows me to leisurely join them at my convenience. Into the stadium about 30 mins before kick to get settled. Usually don't screw around after the final whistle. To the car and gone.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
like California, and not getting to be in the Big House more than once or twice a year, I like to soak it in. When we went last year and brought two of our daughters for their first game ever, we went early and went down next to the field to see warm ups. It was fantastic. And of course stayed until the end to watch the band. Can't wait to do it again for the Illinois game!! GO BLUE!!
August 30th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
Same here. Travelling from AZ once or twice per season, I enjoy tailgating with friends, but like to be in the stadium for all the pre-game activities. Resume the tailgate party for another hour or so after the game until traffic clears on Main.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
We park in the neighborhood west of the stadium... drink a couple barley pops... head in...
August 30th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
when i was a student i was always late ;)
August 30th, 2016 at 10:48 AM ^
we have a long drive back home on saturdays so as the 4th quarter comes on, then we start planning the run back to the truck and hopefully heading north before the other 112,000 maize and blue faithful.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
the fuck out of Dodge & beating traffic.
but I would feel WAY too conflicted leaving if the game was even semi-close.
I don't have too strict a routine, but generally 1 of 3 options.
with wife:
get into town a few hrs early, wander around, snack & drink a few different places, watch the drum show-beat the band into the stadium. stay all game, drinks after.
with a single buddy:
same as the above but not as long, in the stadium early for warm-ups. stay all game,
directly home after.
with a bunch of guys who tailgate at the golf course:
get in a couple hrs early and stay at the tailgate til about 15 min before game time. stay most of game, minor post-game tailgating.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
October 17, would have been a great game to leave early...
August 30th, 2016 at 12:05 PM ^
...and never make it to the stadium.
August 30th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
Even wrecking the car on the highway might have been a better option.
August 30th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
and i am just not able to handle sitting in traffic. i did enough of that in socal to last 10 lifetimes, thus do we live up north.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
Definitely try to get at or before kickoff, but sometimes shit happens. I'll stay until the end of the game unless shit is going very poorly. If you don't mind going to college bars, I've found places on South U are easy to get into while waiting for traffic to die down a little after the game.
August 30th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
You go to college bars . . . at a college?
That's just wrong.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
Will be getting to the golf course this Saturday hopefully around 8:15 or so.
A few years ago, a buddy of mine wanted to go early to see the band play. We got there about 50 minutes early. The bad news? It was 2008 Michigan/Northwestern game.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:05 AM ^
Brings back terrible memories. My girlfriend (at the time) and I went to that game. Terrible all the way around.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^
Most likely also contributed to you guys breaking up.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
We come up from Indianapolis, leave at 2am so we are pulling into Pioneer by 6am.
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August 30th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
Where abouts!?
August 30th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
Noblesville
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August 30th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
Same here my man. Coming from central Indy. 4+ hour drive. Like to get in and get settled before watching the band step show and following them into the stadium.
Leaving around 3:30am this Saturday to stop by the MDen and get some Jumpman gear prior to kickoff.
August 30th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^
Coming by the tailgate?
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August 30th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^
We will see. Hitting the MDen first before hitting the band. Best part of the experience. You should join.
August 30th, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^
We usually head over once a season during a 3:30 kick and walk in with the band, hard to do it and still get a good tailgate in with the noon kick
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August 30th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^
I make the 3hr drive from Columbus, so I usually don't get there too early and normally the first out of the stadium when the game ends. Would love to be able to hang out more.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
Arrive in Ann Arbor at 7:30 am sharp regardless of kickoff time. First bloody mary by 8:00 after set up of appropriate lounge equipment and tailgate games. Typically stay approximately 2 hours after the game for a 330 and longer for a nooner. Of course this all depends on the outcome of the game.
August 30th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
It depends on whether or not I’m staying for the weekend.
Typically if it’s a one day runner I will leave Toronto around 6:30 and depending on the border and who I have with me I am there in 3-3 ½ hours. Tailgate at the golf course and try and get in in time to see the band take the field.
After the game I am usually out like a shot. The one advantage of parking at the golf course is the one way streets after the game out to the 94. Granted it’s a parking lot once you get there but I’ve become accustomed to it. I’m going to take Sarnia home as I’ve heard there is a place in St Clair Shores that now serves dolewhip (don’t judge me) and then back home in time to mock my gf who will be watching the Kiffin bowl.
August 30th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
On the Dole whip. Not kidding.