Your A to Z guide for the Wolverine football home opener against East Carolina

Fans cross Stadium Boulevard as they tailgate before Michigan hosts Michigan State in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI - College football off-seasons feel like an eternity. The last time toe hit football in a University of Michigan game was 243 days ago.

Last season saw a litany of accomplishments: a 13-1 record, a second straight Big Ten title, another College Football Playoff berth and a road blowout of rival Ohio State. The off-season also saw a few controversies, from an offensive coordinator’s firing to head coach Jim Harbaugh’s ongoing saga with the NCAA.

On Saturday, Sept. 2, fans get to put that all in the rearview mirror as the Wolverines kick off the 2023 season against the East Carolina Pirates in Michigan Stadium.

Big House visitors need to know options for traffic, parking, tailgating and more. Here’s everything to know for this first football Saturday.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up during the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 1, 2023.Neil Blake | MLive.com

The essentials

Kickoff: Noon

Where: Michigan Stadium

The teams: East Carolina (8-5 in 2022) at No. 2 Michigan (13-1 in 2022).

Line: Michigan -36.5

TV: Peacock

Betting: Michigan football a big betting favorite in opener vs. East Carolina

Michigan cheerleaders rev up the crowd during the first half as No. 5 University of Michigan football faces off against No. 10 Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor. (Jake May | MLive.com)

Who needs tickets?

While the game is sold out through the Michigan athletics website, the secondary market has many options.

You can still find tickets for around $50 from Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster.

Read more: Still time to get tickets to Michigan Wolverines opener against East Carolina for around $50

Weather forecast

It’s forecasted to be a perfect Labor Day weekend in Ann Arbor. Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 83 degrees on Saturday, with mostly sunny skies, according to the National Weather Service.

Avoiding street closures

Prepare for detours around Michigan Stadium, as there are street closures for all seven home games this fall.

Main Street and Keech Avenue by the stadium are closed three hours before each game to the end of the game. The only exception is southbound Main Street, which closes one hour before each game.

See the street closure plan.

Finding parking

Many lots around Michigan Stadium are permit-only, but there are also numerous lots for guests looking for game-day parking.

Football parking opens between 6 and 8 a.m. on game day. Vehicles should vacate all lots within two hours after the game or they will be towed. The university provides a comprehensive list of parking locations and pricing information. Check out this map for an overview of parking options near Michigan Stadium.

RV parking

The longstanding tradition of RV parking at Pioneer High School ended last year, but there are still options for RV drivers on Sept. 2 and beyond.

The Brown Lot by the Varsity Tennis Center opens at 7 a.m. for the noon game and can be accessed by on-site, gameday only permits. Do not park there overnight unless you want to risk being towed.

The nearby Maize Lot near the Track and Field Stadium on the South Athletic Campus opens at 7 a.m. Permits can be purchased on-site only on gameday. Do not park there overnight unless you want to risk being towed.

The Blue Lot across Stadium Boulevard from the University of Michigan Golf Course allows access with a Blue Lot RV permit. Blue Lot passes are sold to season ticket holders.

Questions about RV parking can be answered by calling university athletic operations at 734-647-1218 or Ann Arbor Public Schools/Michigan Event Parking at 734-358-7275.

Fans of both teams enjoy a massive game of flip cup organized by Trip Jackson and his group of U.S.C.G. guardsmen as they tailgate at the Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club before Michigan hosts Michigan State in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Fans play four rounds up and down the ever-growing line of tables as part of a 30-year tradition.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Tailgate time!

While Ann Arbor police are on the lookout for walkers carrying open containers of alcohol, there are plenty of tailgate options for stationary drinkers.

You’ll find multiple party clusters, particularly in the lots around Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center. You can frequently find former players like quarterback John Wangler or former announcer Jim Brandstatter around these parts.

These lots require special permits to access by car, but feel free to walk up to meet friends.

The rest of the crowd

For most tailgaters, Pioneer High and Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club are your best choices to set up shop.

The Pioneer High School parking lot on the corner of Stadium Boulevard and Main Street opens at 6 a.m. for car parking. Those passes cost $66.

The high school lot attracts alumni and fans from all over the state. Expect to see a smattering of East Carolina Pirates storm this lot.

The golf course off Stadium Boulevard packs in thousands of fans from across the world. Admission is $60 per vehicle for non-conference games and $70 for conference games, though motor homes, buses, large trucks and other large vehicles are prohibited.

Charcoal grills, fire pits or deep fryers are not permitted. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. for general admission for all games except night games, when they open at noon.

Take a hike

Many homes, businesses and churches offer less expensive parking within a mile of the stadium for those OK hoofing it.

These areas are great for smaller barbeques, plus, you get to walk off the calories.

Students tailgate before the beginning of the home opener between Michigan and Cincinnati at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 2017.MLive file photo

What to bring and what not to bring

There are some items you can bring in to Michigan Stadium and some you cannot.

Permitted Items include foam seat pads, small non-pocket seat cushions, binoculars (cases not permitted), cell phones and pagers, small cameras and radios, blankets and rain apparel.

Prohibited items include all bags, including purses and fanny packs’ bottles of any kind; alcoholic beverages; aerosol and spray cans; animals; apparel with profane language; containers of any kind; flags; food; irritants; projectiles; strollers; video cameras; umbrellas and weapons.

Final note

This is Team 144 for the Michigan Wolverines football team, which started playing in 1879. For such a historic program, the Wolverines have won only one national championship (1997) since the 1940s.

Many football pundits think Harbaugh and company break through with a title this year. Expectations are higher than any season in recent memory.

All this is to say -- enjoy yourself and start off a fun season right.

Read more on Wolverine football from MLive:

Michigan football mega preview: Key players, storylines, depth chart for 2023

Michigan offensive line fights through ‘growing pains’ to find best five

Michigan OC Sherrone Moore to serve 1-game suspension

Michigan RB Blake Corum, post-injury: ‘Whatever they need, I’m ready’

Michigan football names six captains for 2023 season

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