Big Chill Views?

Submitted by preed1 on
I really wanted to attend the big chill, but it was too long of a drive for me. I wanted to know some feedback as to how everyone that attended thought there view was and where they were at? I know that it is a great event and the fans view takes second to the atmosphere in somthing like this.

Brhino

December 13th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^

Row 48, south end zone

The view of the actual game was pretty good overall but I couldn't really see the goals.  Four of them were scored at the north end which was too far away, and I couldn't see the one at the south end because it was down low and I couldn't see because of the wall.

So, on goals, my train of thought generally went like this:

"Hey this is some good offensive pressure"

"hey that looks like a good shot on goal.  That might have scored."

"Hey everyone with a good line of sight is cheering"

"Okay I will cheer too"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

plaidflannel

December 13th, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^

Section 28, Row 78.  I had no problems.  Saw all of the goals rip the net.  Only had issues with action close to the nearside boards, but that's a problem at every hockey venue, not just football stadiums.  Awesome afternoon.

jcgary

December 13th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^

I was on the blue line behind the State bench and I was worried I wouldn't be able to see much but I was able to see everything on the North end of the ice because the State bench stayed seated the entire game when the puck was in the south end it was a little harder because the Michigan bench was standing most of the time. 

But great view and had a blast

bluebyyou

December 13th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^

Section 1, Row 20, best party I have had in an outdoor stadium watching a hockey game in a long time.  Seriously, it was a lot of fun, the weather gods were on our side and it goes down in my book as another in a long list of items that makes the University of  Michigan a very special place to be.

treetown

December 13th, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^

Initially I thought it was held a bit late in the day but I realized later that they wanted to end the game by dusk so the fireworks show can be held.

Good sight lines in general. I was high up, row 91, 35 yard line, west side, so it is possible to follow the flow of the game - at that level, it helps to have binoculars if you want to know the individual players and to follow the puck, you should have a sense of the game. It helps you to know where to look and when.

It was a good crowd and loud. There were annoying tv extended time outs. The lights worked well and the bright ice really showed up well.

Don't know about the cost, but I suspect it made money even with the cost of the set up. It looked like the concessions were doing good business - a bit too cold for many to tailgate in the usual way and hot chocolate was a huge seller. I hope that this is done periodically - maybe on years where there are only 6 home games. The weather was perfect. Had it been 24 hours later, it would have been a real mess.

Only one gripe I heard was from a parent whose kid was suppose to take an exam at Pioneer high school (ACT? SAT?) and usually the kids are dropped off or can park at the school - all of that got screwed up.

The fireworks were a nice way to top things off. Overall a really fun winter afternoon.

HartAttack20

December 13th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

Generally tough to see the puck when it was close to the boards closest to me, but I was surprised how easy it was to see the action. I believe four of the goals were on my end of the ice, so that was cool, too. The crowd's reaction to that first goal was crazy. Really great experience, and I'd love to do it again someday.

Elise

December 13th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^

Agreed on the views so far and the fireworks.  I was in section 8, row 70 and was able to see fine. 

The problem was hearing, actually.  I never realized how impossible it is to participate in pretty much anything the student section does from there, since it takes what feels like a full second for any of the sounds to reach (if at all). That goes even for the loudspeakers.

MGoShoe

December 13th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

...vicinity.  I was section 6, row 32.  Sight lines were good and got to see all of the goals and most of the action.

The aircraft/helicopter noise seemed more annoyring than during a football game. The hockey game in a football stadium worked on most levels except for crowd noise. There wasn't a lot of sustained noise like there is for a football game which is the direct result of hockey's game flow vs. football's sequenced plays.

FieldingBLUE

December 13th, 2010 at 1:17 PM ^

Happy about being up that high, good sightlines. Plus, I can see myself on the images both on the photo site and saw myself on SportsCenter as we were standing right below the north scoreboard.

I didn't get tickets in my normal football season ticket spot, which is Section 17, row 71, but I would assume those were pretty solid, too, given the height.

Wolverine318

December 13th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^

Section 30, row 20 the sightlines were pretty good. My other seats (from my hockey package) were in section 33 row 8. I gave those to my friends and had them come over to section 30 which was higher up for better sightlines. I was able to see all of the goals, plus had a great view of the Wohlberg field goal. 

I went to the Camp Randall Hockey Classic and those sighlines were complete crap. I could hardly see anything. The olympic ice really made a difference for the fans. I believe outside of aging the ice for a week and half, this was the best decision Dave Brandon and the rink manager made. 

I agree with whoever said thank god the game was not cold like it is today in Ann Arbor. Even the public skate yesterday was fairly warm outside. It was a bit wet with the snow showers, but I think it made the atmosphere even more fun. 

JeepinBen

December 13th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^

I loaded a bunch of pics from the uconn game and the stadium tour the next day. my pics from the game and skating yesterday morning are coming this afternoon

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 13th, 2010 at 1:40 PM ^

Honestly, pictures always way overstate how far away the view is from any particular seat, especially the upper deck (of a stadium that has one.)  You see these pictures and they make the game look like it's a mile away and then you actually get to your seat and you realize it's not that bad.

Srock

December 13th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^

I've been to all three Michigan outdoor games, and without a doubt my views of the ice at Michigan Stadium were the best - I actually could watch the game in front of me and see all the action - I also had much better seats for this event (Sec 23 row 46). Yes, 50 yard line (er Center Ice) and 1/2 way up. At Wiscy I was low in the corner of the endzone and had to watch the game on the big screens - at the Cold War I was in the corner of an endzone as well. The weather for this one was the best as well. Perfect day!

Go Blue!

jlcoleman71

December 13th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^

We had a group of twelve in the front row, which was fun......our football season ticket seats are Section 22 Row 43 as a comparison.

There wasn't much of a view of the game in the front row, it was hard to follow the puck being that low.

We had fun and the weather held up.

yostlovesme

December 13th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^

Watched it from a bar In Towson, Md and I was the only one in there who liked hockey except for a random guy who said he has always loved Michigan and he was only 18.  Loved every minute of it.  Especially texting my dad (an MSU alum) every 5 min. 

Son of Tacopants

December 13th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^

Section 32 north endzone.  I could see the game just fine but the best part of being on the north side was the fact we were the first people to spot the stealth bomber coming, I saw it as a speck on the horizon as the national anthem started.  As it got closer the whole north side of the stadium erupted in screaming and pointing,  it really was the highlight of the day for me.

Mr. Robot

December 13th, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^

Considering I'm used to being up against the benches, the distance was kind of annoying to me at first and is the reason an event like this is once in a lifetime. Taking the Yost season-ticket glasses off though, it was pretty good. I was around row 50 above the band and I could see just fine. The puck got a little difficult to find at times, but overall still pretty good.

Hair Raid Offense

December 13th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^

Perfect seats. Just about center ice and not too high so that your too far away to see what's going on and not too low so my view wasn't abstructed by the boards. Couldn't have asked for better seats.

jaspersail

December 13th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^

The sightlines from halfway up in the south end zone were great.    The only thing that would have made it better was if they had pulled down the goalposts.  Why didn't they?

On the other hand, the sound was pretty bad.  If the ice was mic'd, I couldn't hear it.  And the sound from hard checks and pucks against the boards arrived a second or so after the action.  It was kind of surreal.

The game and event was great though.  And the sight of Curly Fries parading the field made me drool on the lady seated in front of me...

Indiana Blue

December 13th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^

Michigan Stadium SHINES like no other football venue ... anywhere.. period !

The views were just a good as attending a Final Four in basketball.  I was at Lucas Oil field for last year's Final Four (hahaahah Sparty  -  saw you get beat both times !!!!) and you are there for the event .... which both were spectacular !!!    We were Sec. 20  row 6  - a little low - but being there was worth every minute.

Go Blue !   

weasel3216

December 13th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^

Seats were great, i could see the puck move (wish surprised me) and the game actions looked closer than expected.  I really hope this is an event every 4 years because this was one of my best experiences at The Big House.

big sister

December 13th, 2010 at 7:26 PM ^

section 26, row 75-90ish

At first I was sitting in section 30, pretty high up there, which i really like for football but i couldn't really see the puck.  I moved with some friends to section 26 and could see a lot better.  Being fairly high in the stadium wasn't any sort of hindrance at all.