Home › Ann Arbor › Michigan Stadium (The Big House)
Michigan Stadium (The Big House), Ann Arbor - Things to Do at Michigan Stadium (The Big House)

Things to Do at Michigan Stadium (The Big House)

Complete Guide to Michigan Stadium (The Big House) in Ann Arbor

About Michigan Stadium (The Big House)

Michigan Stadium isn't called The Big House for marketing reasons. It earned the name. With a listed capacity north of 107,000 and a real-world habit of squeezing in 110,000-plus on rivalry Saturdays, it's the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere. You feel that the moment you walk down the tunnel ramps. The bowl sinks below street level, so from the parking lots on State Street you'd never guess what's underneath, until you're suddenly looking down at a yawning expanse of maize-and-blue benches and that famous block 'M' painted at midfield. On a game day in Ann Arbor, the air smells like charcoal smoke from tailgate grills on Pioneer High's lawn, bratwurst from the carts on Main Street, and the faintly sweet, almost-buttery scent of someone's bourbon-spiked cider in a Yeti cup. You'll hear the Michigan Marching Band's brass section warming up two blocks away, the rhythmic chant of 'Go Blue!' bouncing off the brick of the Crisler Center, and the distinctive metallic ping of cornhole bags. Inside, the noise tends to build slowly. This isn't an SEC pressure cooker. But when the team emerges and touches the 'Go Blue' banner, the sound becomes something you feel in your sternum. Off-season is quieter. The stadium stays open. You'll find joggers doing stadium stairs, occasional tour groups, and the odd wedding photo shoot using the tunnel as a backdrop. The venue hosts more than football these days. Hockey's Big Chill, the occasional concert, even a Real Madrid match drew over 109,000 in 2014, which gives you a sense of the place's gravitational pull.

What to See & Do

The Tunnel and Field-Level View

Walking out of the tunnel onto the sideline is the moment that gets people. The grass (FieldTurf, technically, since 2003) feels springy underfoot, and looking up at the encircling bowl from down there warps your sense of scale. Upper rows feel impossibly distant. On stadium tours you can stand right where the team huddles before kickoff.

The Block 'M' at Midfield

Bigger than it looks on TV. The maize is more of a warm honey-yellow up close, and you can see where cleats have scuffed the paint from the most recent game. Photographers tend to lie flat on the fifty-yard line to capture the full M in frame.

Crisler Center and Yost Ice Arena (Adjacent)

Part of the same athletic campus, these are worth a wander even if you're not catching a game. Yost in particular has a wonderfully creaky old-barn feel. It opened in 1923. The wooden rafters smell faintly of varnish and decades of Zamboni ice.

The Brick Exterior and Plaques

The newer brick facade surrounds the original 1927 bowl. Added in the 2010 renovation. Look for the commemorative plaques honoring Fielding Yost (who built the place) and the various national championship years etched into the entryways.

The Press Box and Luxury Suites

Visible from the outside as the towering structures on the east and west sides. They look almost out of proportion to the modest brick base. Part of the quirky charm. The stadium is a 1920s bowl with 21st-century skyscrapers grafted on top.

Practical Information

Opening Hours

On non-game days, the stadium is generally accessible for self-guided exterior viewing during daylight hours. Official tours typically run on select weekdays during the academic year and require advance booking through the Michigan Athletics website. Game days work differently. Gates open about two hours before kickoff.

Tickets & Pricing

Single-game tickets through Michigan's official ticket office tend to land in the mid-range for non-conference games and climb to a splurge for Ohio State, Michigan State, and night games. Secondary market prices for the Ohio State game can get downright eye-watering. Tours are budget-friendly. They're a good option for non-football visitors.

Best Time to Visit

A home football Saturday in autumn is the unmatched experience. The maples around campus turn fiery orange, the air has that crisp Michigan edge, and the whole town shows up. The trade-off hurts. Parking is a nightmare and hotel rates triple. For a calmer visit, a weekday in late spring lets you walk the concourses and take photos without crowds.

Suggested Duration

Allow two to three hours for a stadium tour with time to wander the surrounding athletic campus. Game day is different. Plan on the full day. Tailgates start by mid-morning, and post-game traffic out of Ann Arbor takes patience.

Getting There

Ann Arbor sits about 45 minutes west of Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) via I-94. Driving in for a game? The city runs shuttle buses from satellite lots at Pioneer High School and Briarwood Mall, which tends to be cheaper and saner than chasing residential street parking. The University also operates game-day buses from the central campus area. Amtrak's Wolverine line stops in Ann Arbor with service from Chicago and Detroit, and the station is a manageable walk or short Lyft to the stadium. From downtown Ann Arbor, the stadium is about a 20-minute walk south down Main Street. Doable, and honestly part of the experience on game day.

Things to Do Nearby

Pioneer High School Tailgate Lots
Right across Stadium Boulevard, this is where the serious tailgaters set up. A slice of Americana. Even if you're not joining one, walking through gets you RVs, smokers, beer pong, and the occasional satellite TV showing the early games.
State Street and South University
The main commercial drags of campus, about a 15-minute walk north. Lively scene. You'll find pre-game brunch spots, the well-known Blue Front convenience store for last-minute supplies, and bookstores selling enough maize-and-blue merchandise to outfit a small army.
The University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)
A welcome counterweight to the football frenzy. Free admission. Solid permanent collection. The kind of quiet, climate-controlled refuge that's much appreciated when it's snowing outside in November.
Zingerman's Deli
Worth the trip to Ann Arbor on its own, locals will tell you. A sandwich-and-bread institution in Kerrytown, about 20 minutes from the stadium. The Reuben (#2 on the menu) has a cult following. Pricey for a sandwich. But it pairs well with a stadium visit since you can grab one to tailgate with.
Nichols Arboretum (The Arb)
A 123-acre arboretum running along the Huron River, about 10 minutes from the stadium. The peony garden peaks in early June and the fall color rivals anything in New England. Good antidote to game-day chaos.

Tips & Advice

Only seeing one game? Make it a night game under the lights. The atmosphere runs noticeably more electric than a noon kickoff, and the maize-pom-pom giveaway turns the whole bowl into a shimmering field of yellow.
Show up early. Arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff to catch the Michigan Marching Band step show on Elbel Field. It's a tradition older than most of the stadium itself, and you don't need a ticket to watch.
Cashless venue. The stadium stopped accepting cash at concessions a few years back, so make sure your card or phone wallet is loaded up before you arrive.
Bag policy is strict. Clear bags only, roughly the size of a gallon zip-lock. Anything else gets turned away at the gate, and the lines to check bags at off-site lockers can eat 30 minutes of your pre-game.
Visiting off-season? The unofficial 'sneak a peek' move is to walk up to Gate 10 on the east side. You can usually get a glimpse down into the bowl through the openings, even when the stadium is technically closed.

Tours & Activities at Michigan Stadium (The Big House)

Didn't see anything interesting yet?

Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Michigan Stadium (The Big House).

See All Michigan Stadium (The Big House) Tours on Viator