Mailbag question: What to do on Saturday
First off, I want to say thanks for all the updates on the team, it’s very nice to read your blogs and check out the pictures on your site, it has become a daily stop for me.
I’m coming up to my first spring game and I’m bringing my son who is 7 years old. My best friend is also coming up to his first and bringing his boy who is 4 years old.
We are hoping to arrive and be parked by 7am. My question is where do we go from there (try parking in AA Pioneer lot) to get in line to tour the locker room, my son is too excited about it, and I won’t lie, I’m pumped up too. I just want to make sure that our trip is not in vain and we can get those little guys in there.
If you have some tips, locations, etc about that locker room tour I would greatly appreciate it, I want to do everything I can to keep the little guys’ hopes up and have them transpire on Saturday morning.
Thanks a lot for the information! In addition, any way these little guys are going to be able to meet any players, alumni?
Josh from Morenci, Michigan
U of M fan for life~
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Thanks for the question and comments.
First, let me say that you should have a good time no matter what happens on Saturday, because it is a FREE event and a chance for the youngsters to see all kinds of things, as well as chance for grown-ups to get away for a few hours from their daily lives, especially in this economy.
The stadium gates will not open until 9:30am, so you will have to walk around the stadium. Pioneer high school is located by gate 4 (they are charging $5.00 for parking), so walk around and go to the other side of Crisler Arena (it is free to park there) (near gate 2), and proceed north on the map where gate 1 is located (map below). From the Crisler Arena parking lot, you will be able to see the new fieldhouse, along with being able to make out where the softball and baseball fields are located. It’s not a long walk.
Here is the best way to remember where each gate is: Gate 1 is the tunnel entrance or Crisler Arena parking lot; Gate 2 is the golf course area; Gate 4 is Pioneer high school; Gate 8 is heading toward downtown Ann Arbor; and Gates 9 and 10 are heading toward campus.
As you probably noticed, there is no Gate 3, 5, 6, or 7. The construction teams use Gate 3. I’m not sure if they will actually make that into a game day entrance once the project is completed, but you have to assume they will get fans into Michigan Stadium easier. I’m not sure about Gates 5, 6, and 7; those could be located on the “old press box” side, which I believe they will use for more entrances into the stadium once the renovations are completed.
Will fans be allowed on the field afterwards to talk to the players as in the past? Not sure and have not heard, but I almost doubt it with the people they are expecting or hoping to attend, but you should be able to see the team afterwards if you go towards the tunnel after the spring game and see them coming out of the locker room.
For those who wish to see, or possibly meet the alumni who will be participating in the Alumni Game, the players will probably be around the tunnel area during the locker room tours by at least around 9:00 AM. I am sure they will be hanging around afterwards as well.
The locker room tour starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 10:00 AM. Be ready for long lines. What you need to do is venture towards Crisler Arena where the Junge Center is located. Section 1 is the tunnel entrance, where the locker room area is located.
You should also note that the flag football game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM and is supposed to last 1 hour. The entire squad will be introduced beforehand.
The Spring Practice starts at 12:00 PM. They are supposed to have the band, the cheerleaders, and the dance team there, so it seems as if they are going to try to duplicate a regular season game atmosphere. I believe they are going to feature the “M Go Blue” banner and the usual game-day entrance of the football team.
After the spring “practice” there are still many things to do in Ann Arbor. For instance, you can take your family to a baseball or softball game.
Michigan’s Softball team is one of the best in the country year in and year out, and they face Minnesota at 3:00 PM at Alumni Field. If you have never been there, it is one of the best college softball parks in the country. It was renovated last year and is a great place to enjoy some good softball while rooting for the Maize and Blue.
Michigan Baseball has come a long way in a short period under Coach Maloney, although they are struggling a little bit this year with a young team that lost many great prospects to the major leagues. The baseball team takes on Illinois at 3:05 PM at Ray Fisher Stadium. If you have not had a chance to see this ball park, it is also one of the better college baseball parks in the country. Renovations were completed last year to the Wilpon Complex, which houses the baseball and softball parks.
My best advice to take some time, drive around the whole campus and just enjoy the atmosphere and the activities of the day. If you have a shortened schedule, at least tour the athletic campus. It has really changed in the past couple of years. The weather forecast is cooperating so far, and you might as well enjoy your time in Ann Arbor, and enjoy all the activities that will be offered this Saturday.
To see what the official site has for this event please visit: http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=173794
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Written by ErocWolverine
