Spring Game Details

Submitted by Brian on

[PRESS RELEASE]

Fans Guide to the 2015 Spring Football Game Presented by PNC Bank

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 2015 Spring Football Game presented by PNC Bank will be held at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, April 4, at noon EDT. The spring game is free and open to the public.

The gates to the Big House will open at 10 a.m., as events will surround the football team's final spring practice. The Big Ten Network will televise the annual spring game starting at 12 p.m. In addition, the football game will be broadcast on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit.

The typical prohibited items list applies for the spring game and all activities at Michigan Stadium.

Following is a list of everything fans need to know about the annual spring game and activities:

Parking: The lots around Michigan Stadium owned and operated by the University of Michigan will be free and open to the public starting at 7 a.m.; however, availability in these lots is extremely limited. Pioneer High School will be charging $20 for cars and $50 for RVs on Saturday.

ADA Parking: A limited number of parking spots for guests with mobility impairments will be available (free of charge) in the parking area east of the William Davidson Player Development Center and can be accessed off of Stadium Blvd. A State-Issued Disability Parking Placard will be required in order to gain admittance into this area of the parking lot and it will open at7 a.m.

Gates, Restrooms and Concessions: The Michigan Stadium gates will open at 10 a.m.  Most restrooms will be open and concessions will be available at several locations throughout the stadium.  Please see the nearest Michigan Stadium Event Team Member for assistance on game day.

MDen Stores: The MDen stores located inside Michigan Stadium will be open for fans to purchase official Michigan merchandise. The stores are located in the north end zone, the south end zone just inside Gate 4 and the southwest corner inside Crisler Center.

Beneficiaries: Beginning in 2015, the Michigan Spring Game will be leveraged to raise both awareness and donations for the Trail to the Victors Big House 5K Race Beneficiaries. The 2015 race beneficiaries include Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels, Ann Arbor YMCA, Dance Marathon, 826 Michigan, Project Healthy Schools and Special Olympics of Michigan. The beneficiaries will be located on the south stadium concourse between Gates 2 and 4 during the Spring Game to share information about their respective organizations. There are several ways you can show your support for these local organizations. Please visit http://www.mgoblue.com/bighouse5k/ to volunteer for race day, make a donation or register to run!

Radio Broadcast: The Michigan/IMG Sports Network will broadcast the 2015 spring football game held at Michigan Stadium. Jim Brandstatter, Dan Dierdorf and Doug Karsch will be on-hand to provide play-by-play, analysis and reports on the Wolverines. The broadcast can be heard on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit. In addition, fans can listen online at MGoBlue.com. Coverage will begin at 11:45 a.m. and end at approximately 2:45 p.m.

The spring game will be broadcast on the following radio affiliates: Alma (WFYC 1280 AM), Ann Arbor (WTKA 1050 AM), Detroit (WXYT 97.1 FM), Grand Rapids (WOOD 1300 AM), Muskegon (WOOD 106.9 FM) and Toledo (WLQR 106.5 FM). The game will also be broadcast on Sirius XM Radio -- channels 93 (Sirius) and 195 (XM).

Big Ten Network Broadcast: Matt Shepard (play-by-play), former Wolverine defensive back Marcus Ray (analyst) and Sue Ann Robak (field reporter) will broadcast Michigan's spring game live on the Big Ten Network (BTN). The network will come on the air at noon and run until the completion of the scrimmage at 2:30 p.m.

Michigan Football Highlights and Interviews: The athletic department will have a complete highlight package and interviews with head coach Jim Harbaugh and players available on MGoBlue.com following the conclusion of the spring game.

PNC Bank Kick for Cash: The athletic department will randomly select one fan to attempt field goals with the chance to win a PNC gift card up to $300. The fan will have the opportunity to kick from three different spots -- a 10-, 20- or 30-yard kick -- with varying prizes for each of the three distances.

Towsley Museum: The Towsley Football Museum located inside Schembechler Hall will be open to fans from 9 a.m. to noon. The museum chronicles the history and passion of Michigan football.

Golf Course Sidewalk Sale: Be sure to stop by the University of Michigan Golf Course before or after the Spring Game on April 4 for the spring sidewalk sale. Running 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., everything in the shop will be at least 15% off with some items up to 40% off. In addition, a large selection of hats will be available for only $5! This is your chance to get your hands on brand new gear at great prices.

Comments

Mr. Yost

April 1st, 2015 at 7:59 AM ^

Why the FUCK is the Spring Game this weekend? It's going to be in the 40s. Wait until the last weekend of the month and host this thing as late as possible when it can realisitically be 20 degrees warmer.

(You also get more time between practices...assisting with retention and recovery).

Makes too much sense.

west2

April 1st, 2015 at 10:06 AM ^

I read somewhere on the blog that Hoke initially started the early spring game date in case of injury to allow more time for recovery.  This Saturday is also bad as it is the Easter weekend likely to further diminish attendance.  

akim

April 1st, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^

I was under the impression that they wanted to get their spring practices done ASAP so that they would havesome understanding of hte new system and have more time in the summer to get ready for fall football.

NotADuck

April 1st, 2015 at 8:47 AM ^

I don't suppose there is any other place to see the broadcast other than BTN?  I have DirecTV and they don't carry BTN.

Damn cable companies and their petty fueds.

Michigan4Harbaugh

April 1st, 2015 at 9:43 AM ^

Hope BTNs camera crews have improved this season. Usually when a big play is happening on the field, the camera crew is panning around looking for some guy picking his nose in the stands.

NotADuck

April 1st, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^

From what I saw last year the camera crew did their job just fine.  It was the guy at the switchboard that cut away mid-play once in a while.  Hopefully they have a new switchboard operator or a new producer calling the shots.

Its me Dave

April 1st, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^

I'm a townie who just never got around to going, but plan to this weekend.  What sort of range is attendance for the spring game?  I'm not really too concerned about getting good seats or watching the action very intently - I just want to enjoy the atmosphere with my friend.  So what time should I be passing the turnstile?

Jgruss42

April 3rd, 2015 at 11:17 PM ^

Do we know anything about format of the game yet?

We heard that there would basically be no kicking at the game, but I wasnt sure if that included kickoffs, or just FGs and punting.

There are tons of ways to carve up the game (and keep it a game) without special teams. But I have not heard what the plans would be.

 

bluewoody

April 4th, 2015 at 7:26 PM ^

Truthfully, concessions aren't at the top of the list. But holy shit, I felt like I was trying to get a hot dog in Port-au-Prince haiti. A total, unmitigated fucking disaster. Huge prices, shitty food, and absolutely incompetent service. Please get rid of all the volunteer groups running the concessions. A total unmitigated shit shoe at the concession stands. Fuck you concession services.

Canadian

April 5th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^

Well the shoes I brought to Cleveland for the frozen diamond a few years ago were pretty shitty. The soles both broke in half due to the walking in snow on the Saturday and as a result my feet were frozen on Sunday. Drastically overestimated their quality.