Finally Attending My First Game at the Big House!! Need some info please...
I am super excited to say that after cheering on my wolverines for the past 30 years I am going to finally be attending a game this year (I get to watch the beat OSU!!!).
Anyway, I know there was a board topic on this in the past but for some reason the search function keeps telling me there's an error every time I try to search for something so I thought I'd ask the board for input. We want to know where would be a good place to stay within walking distance (if possible) to the stadium? We have never been to A2 so any information you want to provide will be so much appreciated. Food places, hotels, sights...whatever you got I'll gladly take! I'm so excited right now I can hardly think straight!!!
Thanks and Go Blue!!!! See you at OSU
First order of business: If you haven't already booked a hotel room, do that ASAP. Weber's has a nice shuttle that will take you right to the game if you're staying there, though the hotel/restaurant has seen better days.
Last game I went to (during which something happened of which I was aware but not fully aware) we stayed at the Candlewood Suites on Eisenhower and Ann Arbor-Saline. We took a very quick and easy bus ride to Main St. in the morning (had some Broken Egg IIRC).
After the game turned sour we just decided to hoof it back, and it really was not a bad walk--less than 2 miles. Would do again.
Hope you enjoy yourself. I've never been to The Big House for a game. My first live Michigan game was the BW3 bowl 2 years ago but, i'll be at Utah :D. Go Blue
It's important not to faint when you walk into the Big House for the first time. It will ruin your whole day, and you probably will miss your first ever game at the Big House.
You can thank me later.
The renovations were needed and very well done, but I miss the epic troll job the pre-renovations Michigan Stadium could do. I'll never forget walking in the first time thinking there was no way it was a gigantic stadium.
It'll always be that way to an extent, but the boxes and new brick mitigate it at least a little.
My first game was when I was 8, so even without the bricks and boxes it felt like the outside was really tall! And with the press boxes, it's only got bigger. Maybe it's because I go so rarely, but the size still hits me pretty hard everytime I walk in. The beauty, the history, the greenest green grass you'll ever see, and the straight lines of the block M formed by the marching band.
Giving me chills just thinking about it.
I live just south of Michigan Stadium between Briarwood Mall and the golf course. Got a killer set of couches. I will not be heading home for Thanksgiving this year. If you provide the meal, a fifth,a 30 rack, and parking on the golf course for gameday we got ourselves a deal.
Only 50% serious...
I love everybody right now!! But seriously, thank you. Any can't miss restaraunts I need to visit while there?
My 100% biased opinion, go to my aunt's place, even if it's a few miles from campus. It's now JayBaugh approved.
Best hidden Gem in A2!! https://t.co/K52soh5z0U
— Jay Harbaugh (@JayHarbaugh) July 24, 2015
Unbiased, I wouldn't leave town without checking out Zingermans, but the line on game days is ridiculous.
We are in row 40 section 34 (on the advice of some of the posters...Thanks for that by the way). I was thinking of a sit down place. I'm not a huge deli fan, more of a full meal type of person. I like most food (indian, thai, greek...anything really). so suggestions would be great.
Especially for this big occassion, hit the Real Seafood Company if you can get in.
If by "national chain" you mean Ann Arbor and Bay City, than sure.
Huh, I didn't know about the Florida ones.
I agree with your sentiment tho. If you choose Five Guys or Jimmy Johns over Frita Batidos or Maize and Blue and you haven't had the latter two before, you should be fired into the sun.
That we are from Nova Scotia so seafood is something we get tons of here. The poster was correct that I would prefer something unique to AA.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
Real C was the only one for decades I believe before they opened any others. It's part of Main Street Ventures which started in Ann Arbor and includes Real C, Gratzi, Chop House and Palio. All of them were the originals at the time they opened as I remember it, not sure if any of those have expanded or not other than the Chop House. The Real Seafood has dinner rolls that make the whole thing worth it regardless of how the rest of your meal is. The same rolls they used to have at the dearly departed Maude's, which I'm pretty sure was also a M.S.V. place. They also have a nice filet mignon for much cheaper than the Chop House if you're not actually a seafood person or you understand what's really happening in the ocean.
Highly suggest Fritas Batidos. A lot of students' favorite place in Ann Arbor at this point.
is this new? I only went to BTB and Pancheros.
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My suggestion for lodging would be airbnb. Ann Arbor has a surprising number of listings for a town of its size.
I totally forgot to try Anr BNB and now we have lots of options. Thanks!
The gameday atmosphere for Ohio State is off the charts. Been to two Michigan-Ohio State matchups, both wins, at the Big House. Was there for the most glorious victory in recent history in 1997 and then again two years later.
What you will notice is the number of Buckeye fans who attend. This really surprised me the first year, how many were inside the Big House and expected their guys to win. The tension for this game is palpable, the atmosphere is electric, and every moment is grist for lifetime memory banking. Just soak it all in.
Go early. Schedule yourself plenty of time. You can watch the hordes in team colors as they make their way up Hoover from State Street and start peeling off to stadium entry. Ann Arbor is emblazoned in autumn gold, a midsummer lull and feel to the ides of winter.
To me, this is the ultimate struggle for college football glory every year. Beating MSU in Halloween shadows is big, beating OSU in midday November is off the charts, huge. Not because of what they/ve done, just because of who they are and what it means. Live that day as if were your last. Rejoice like no is watching, dance like no one is paying attention, and enjoy like its heaven on eartth. Because for a few hours when Michigan wins, it truly is.
Even if you have to book a room on the outskirts, you can always Uber to and from the stadium. But give yourself plenty of time (at least two hours) to soak up the pregame tailgate scene. And hit the downtown or campus bars afterward.
I attended my first game last season with my youngest son, after 40+ years cheering for Michigan. I had been down on the field once before, on a tour during high school, but walking in and seeing the scope of the seating is kinda mind-boggling at first. We had seats in the corner and it seemed liked the people in the opposite corner were in a different zip code.
Afternoon Delight!!!! Holy Crap, my girlfriend worked there when I was in HS (Community '78) - when that song was 1st popular... half the students now probably think it came from "Anchorman"
For the OP, there was an exhaustively long thread a couple months ago about where to eat in A2, search it out. There was a lot of great info/opinions (and debate) on there.
Airbnb for sure for lodging, the hotels are either booked or very marked up game weekend. By the way - by OSU everyone here is assuming you mean Ohio, not Oregon (Harbaugh's first home game as HC)... or did you specify Ohio and I missed it?
Enjoy your first game at Michigan Stadium - relish the entire experience, even if the good guys don't prevail. I'll be at Homecoming. I think we got a chance that day!!! ;-D
which is, of course, TBA
but I endorse this route for a rookie, the band leaves from the IM Building area and marches into the stadium, follow along
you can tour the tailgates at Crisler and across Stadium blvd on the golf course.
there is a pedestrian tunnel under Stadium, with intersting acoustics
I'm there for every home game.......except this year, I have to miss Ohio State!!!! Going to be on a family cruise for my mother in laws 75th birthday.......oh the choices we make.
I can't recommend hotels etc. but if you're in for a couple of days I'd hit Zingerman's (deli) and Pizza House for traditional AA fare.
http://www.zingermansdeli.com/
If you don't have a car and are not tailgating, walk over to the golf course and make new friends. I've shared my beer with many michigan fans who looked thirsty.
As for the "be in awe" comment. To this date, every time I walk through my tunnel into the stadium, I take a few seconds to take it all in.......it is an awesome thing to experience.
Enjoy and Go Blue
I've mentioned this to some other MGoBloggers but would anyone be interested in doing a tailgate or meet-up for one of these games? I know I probably just volunteered myself...
Anyway if you are interested maybe a side discussion at Literati on Friday.
Also, OP...that is going to be an amazing first game to attend.
Yeah. I don't want to break up people's traditional tailgating groups, but an MGoBlog one could be a lot of fun...I'm sure it's been discussed on here before.
The night before UTL II there was an unofficial MGOtailgate on berkley st. at the MGoPatio. Free beer from Wolverine State Brewery a little free food from ??? (can't remember who) and a few ex-wolverines had a talk and Q&A (Marlin Jackson?). Half the people looked like typical fans you see at the Big House, then there was Brian, and the other half looked like they just crawled out of their basement after five weeks of obsessing on MGoBlog. Twas a good night.
Id be up for an MGOtailgate at AAGO or the Golf course.
and especially if it will be a while before you can return, you should try to see some of the campus after the game. Check off a few of the standards (Law Quad, Diag, spin the Cube, etc.) North on Main St. from William to Washington you'll find a variety of restaurants and breweries (and I've never had a bad meal or beer at any of 'em).
Most of all, enjoy. I have a feeling that won't be diffficult.
GO BLUE!
I like these threads because it reminds me what a special experience Michigan Stadium is, especially when it is your first time going to a game, and particularly after cheering for the Wolverines for so long. I've had the advantage of not only being a student at Michigan but growing up locally (spending about twelve years of my life in Saline, right outside Ann Arbor), so it was easy for me to take this experience for granted because we always went to at least a few and it was never more than a 20-25 minute drive from any place I've lived.
As for restaurants, you can pretty much pick and choose up and down Main Street - Gratzi is not a bad experience if you've never been, and that's just for starters. Just off Main, Bandito's is pretty good Mexican fare IMHO and there's also the Chop House if you're in the mood for steak. Larger point, you can choose and rarely be incorrect in the Main Street Corridor.
Sights....obviously the campus of the University Of Michigan, but if you have time, the museums on it as well. There won't be much in bloom in November, but Nichols Arboretum - if the weather is decent - is a nice place to just go for a walk. Around the city, the Matthei Botanical Gardens are a fun diversion, the Leslie Nature Center too. Back on South Campus, the Towsley Museum - a very nice shrine to Michigan football indeed. Check the hours though - they are limited.
We are listing one of our guest rooms on AirBNB:
Football weekends - a room & a ride
We are in the NE part of Ann Arbor (not walking distance to the stadium) - but we'll include a ride to and from the stadium area, as well as breakfast.
I think I saw your advert and when I went back to try and book it it was no longer there. Damn, I wish I had checked back on the thread earlier! Thanks for the tip though.
ASHLEYS
My suggestion is to pay up for a good hotel. The Days Inn off Carpenter Road is rated 2.5 / 5.0 stars on hotels.com for a reason. Also, there is another one that is even cheaper - on Washtenaw, closer to the campus - that is even WORSE. I'd probably opt for the Holiday Inn at $400 per night. I wish I was kidding, but supply / demand, ya dig?