Big 10 fans

[longboard55]

So USC is moving to the Big 10 next year, not happy but it is all about the $.. We are trying to pick a football road trip. The choices are Michigan, Maryland or Minnesota. We know Michigan would be great but we are concerned about availability of tickets, hotels and flights. So we are considering more Minnesota or Maryland, both games are in October and flights are about the same price. Anyone have any opinions on better game day experience, and better restaurant and bars.

 

[EACarlson]

Dinkytown is amazing around the Minnesota campus. I grew up a couple miles from there and partied there regularly in my younger days. The Surly Tap Room is a must if you are a beer drinker at all. Usually on game days they have food trucks also.
But I would be hard pressed to tell you to go anywhere other than the Big House if you have the chance. Tickets could be very expensive, especially for USC-Ichigan. Flights are readily available between anywhere and DTW, which is only about 25 miles from campus. Plenty of hotels in between Ann Arbor and Detroit. I've stayed in Canton before which is about 5 miles from the airport.

 

[CynBeth]

How long is your trip? At Maryland there is a stop that is part of the DC metro if you have time to visit.

 

[disny_luvr]

We are huge Penn State fans, and out of those three, I’d pick Michigan, hands down.

 

[mgarbowski]

I am a New York based Michigan parent twice over, and my wife and I have averaged 1 game a year since 2018 (skipped 2020 Covid season but 2x in 2022). The travel is pretty easy even for game weekends. And we've been to plenty of games against big draws, including Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State.

As has been mentioned, the airport is 25 minutes from campus. It is a Delta hub, and American serves it also. There are a good number of hotels outside Ann Arbor but close, and they cost a lot less than the hotels in or even a couple of miles from downtown Ann Arbor. Besides Canton as mentioned, look in Belleville, Plymouth and Novi. We have stayed in every one of those towns for games at Hilton or Marriott brands for decent prices.

We always park in the downtown part of Ann Arbor near campus (cheap public garages) which is a walkable mile from the stadium. Depending on game time, we grab either morning coffee, lunch or dinner there, and walk to the Big House. The walk back isn't bad either, and avoids the crush of cars trying to exit the parking options closer to the stadium. But you can park in one of those options for more $$ if you'd rather avoid the walk.

I can't help you with ticket prices, except to note we're going to the USC game ourselves, so I'll be dealing with it also. If you do come, wave "hi." I always enjoy a day with 110,000 of my closest friends.

Anyways, do the research before deciding to avoid Michigan. I'm biased, but as others have said it's another level.

 

[Brian Noble]

Add me to the "look at Michigan again" chorus. I'm on the faculty there, have had season tickets for about 25 years, and both of my kids are alumni. It's a pretty phenomenal experience. Get there early enough to see the drumline's step show, march to the stadium with the band, and stay at least through the third->fourth quarter break to get the full experience. 107K+ people singing Mr. Brightside a capella is a thing.

Flights are easy, though can be expensive on Delta (it is a DL hub). Tickets will be available--there are north of 107K of them--but they may cost a bit. The good news is that unlike some years, there are several big-draw games on the home schedule (Texas, USC, Oregon, and MSU), which might spread out demand a bit among the "one game a year" crowd. If you do not have mobility issues, parking in town as @mgarbowski recommends is a very good idea. Conscessions at the stadium leave a lot to be desired. For a night game, eat dinner in town before going down. For an earlier kick, eat after the game in town while traffic subsides.

One warning: those late September games can be deceptively hot, especially if it is a noon kick. Wear sunscreen and drink lots of water. Game time will depend on which network has first pick that weekend, because whoever it is will probably take USC @ Mich as the headliner for that week. The other compelling B10 home games on that slate are ILL @ Neb, Iowa @ Minn, and NW @ Wash. OSU has a cupcake, but they always draw well on TV, so they may be in the mix too. And I'm pretty sure the Washington game won't be the "noon" (EDT) kick.

If you don't do Michigan, I'd pick Minnesota as the next best game day experience, but that's just based on reputation/seeing the crowd on a broadcast. I haven't been to either Minnesota or Maryland, but Minnesota's new stadium looks very nice.

 

[longboard55]

Sounds like Michigan, we will get air and pray for tickets under $300

 

[Brian Noble]

pray for tickets under $300

I think that's possible. It might depend on how well USC travels for this. For reference, Ohio State this last year was around $600 for a get-in price, but that was for All The Marbles.

 

[mgarbowski]

I agree with Brian that you should be able to get tickets for <$300. Last year I got Ohio State tix for $360 each on the secondary market including fees by jumping on them in June. I gambled correctly that both teams would be undefeated and prices would only go up, which they did. Though USC is a prime opponent, it should easily cheaper than Michigan vs Ohio State, even with a National Championship premium factored in. Plus, as Brian noted, there are multiple enticing home games this year.
I might not jump to buy on secondary markets in June for this game, as I am guessing demand will be highest when first available, then drop a bit, increase again approaching the game, and then drop 2 hours before game time. I don't have the steel nerves to wait until the last minute panic selling so I'll probably try in July-August.

One warning: those late September games can be deceptively hot, especially if it is a noon kick.

Yeah, my younger daughter passed out from the heat at her first game as a freshman. Security and stadium first aid handled it very well.

 

[GDUL]

This will be my 51st season attending UM football. I have taken many out-of-state coworkers to games with me over the years and to a person, all have said that it was an experience that they really enjoyed. As others have said, try to get to Revelli Hall on E Hoover Ave early to watch the marching band step performance, the band line up, and the march to the stadium. There are lots of places to park and eat. My favorite is Casa Dominick's on Monroe St near S. State St so it's a pretty easy walk to the stadium from there. If you go, try the Italian sub sandwich.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

It appears Michigan is the place for you. Not to highjack your thread, but I'd love to hear more about Minnesota. We're planning to travel there to watch them play the Tar Heels in August.

 

[longboard55]

I agree with Brian that you should be able to get tickets for <$300. Last year I got Ohio State tix for $360 each on the secondary market including fees by jumping on them in June. I gambled correctly that both teams would be undefeated and prices would only go up, which they did. Though USC is a prime opponent, it should easily cheaper than Michigan vs Ohio State, even with a National Championship premium factored in. Plus, as Brian noted, there are multiple enticing home games this year.
I might not jump to buy on secondary markets in June for this game, as I am guessing demand will be highest when first available, then drop a bit, increase again approaching the game, and then drop 2 hours before game time. I don't have the steel nerves to wait until the last minute panic selling so I'll probably try in July-August.


Yeah, my younger daughter passed out from the heat at her first game as a freshman. Security and stadium first aid handled it very well.

The problem is coming off a Natty you will be getting loads of bandwagon fans. Tickets will be super tight. Not sure how many they will give to USC

 

[EACarlson]

@tarheelmjfan On or very near the MN campus is Al's Breakfast if it's an 11am game and Stub & Herbs if it's a later game or afterwards. The Surly Beer Hall is about a half mile east of the stadium with a very good menu and what is probably the best craft beer in MN. There is a train that runs between DT Minneapolis and DT Saint Paul that goes right through Campus and drops you off right at the stadium. Don't know much about the pre-game atmosphere, I haven't been to a football game since they moved back to campus. If you're coming in August, there may not be much since classes may not have started and campus will be ghost town in that case. My recommendation would be to get a hotel in DT Minneapolis close to the rail line. You can then either take the train from the airport downtown or rent a car and drive there. You don't want any part of driving anywhere near campus within about 4 hours of game time. The train in the Twin Cities is a little goofy, it goes from the airport to Minneapolis and then a different train goes from Minneapolis to St Paul. While the airport is about equidistant from both downtowns, the train trip to Minneapolis is about 30 minutes and the trip to St Paul is about two hours.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for the great info. We looking forward to seeing the area.

@tarheelmjfan On or very near the MN campus is Al's Breakfast if it's an 11am game and Stub & Herbs if it's a later game or afterwards. The Surly Beer Hall is about a half mile east of the stadium with a very good menu and what is probably the best craft beer in MN. There is a train that runs between DT Minneapolis and DT Saint Paul that goes right through Campus and drops you off right at the stadium. Don't know much about the pre-game atmosphere, I haven't been to a football game since they moved back to campus. If you're coming in August, there may not be much since classes may not have started and campus will be ghost town in that case. My recommendation would be to get a hotel in DT Minneapolis close to the rail line. You can then either take the train from the airport downtown or rent a car and drive there. You don't want any part of driving anywhere near campus within about 4 hours of game time. The train in the Twin Cities is a little goofy, it goes from the airport to Minneapolis and then a different train goes from Minneapolis to St Paul. While the airport is about equidistant from both downtowns, the train trip to Minneapolis is about 30 minutes and the trip to St Paul is about two hours.

 

[mgarbowski]

Tickets will be super tight. Not sure how many they will give to USC

We'll see. You may be right but I still think <$300 per is possible. But I also want to mention that visiting fans should not worry about being in the visitor's section at the Big House. I've been to 3 games against Ohio State and each time there was a significant sprinkling of Ohio State fans all over the stadium, including some near me. People just sit wherever they can get tickets on the secondary market, and I've never seen any incidents. If Oh. St. and UMich fans can sit side by side and not fight, there's no reason for fans of any other team to be concerned. If you want to come, wear opposing team gear and cheer when things go well for them, it's OK probably anywhere but the band and student sections, where you can't get in anyway.