The University of Michigan football program will open Michigan Stadium to fans on Saturday, April 18, for a free Michigan spring game that includes an open practice and scrimmage. The Wolverines are scheduled to take the field around 2 p.m. after gates open at 1 p.m.
The Maize and Blue scrimmage is presented by Original Roofing Company and is free and open to the public. Select gates 2, 4, 8 and 10 will be open for fans, while Gates 3 and 9 will be available for patrons who need entry with medical bags or for childcare needs. The typical prohibited items list will be strictly enforced, and no bags will be allowed into the stadium for the practice. All attendees and items are subject to search.
The timing matters because the spring practice lands on Saturday afternoon at the Big House, with the program set to draw fans, media coverage and a full gameday setup all at once. Big Ten Network will televise the practice and scrimmage on its digital platform at 2 p.m., while the LEARFIELD Michigan Sports Network will air live on WCSX Radio at 94.7 FM in Detroit with Doug Karsch on play-by-play and Jon Jansen as color analyst.
The event also comes with a full set of logistics around the stadium. University of Michigan-owned lots will open at 9 a.m. and be free to the public, with a limited number of free disability spots available in Lot SC-6. The school district will charge $36 for parking only, no tailgating and no RVs will be permitted, and fans can reserve a spot at MichiganGamedayParking.com. All restrooms will be open, Sodexo will operate eight permanent and eight portable concession stands, and M Den stores inside Michigan Stadium, including locations on the north end and in Crisler Center by the Gate 2 entrance, will be open for merchandise sales.
Michigan has turned the spring game into a controlled preview of the football season, but the open access comes with clear restrictions and a tightly managed schedule. Complete coverage and interviews with members of the football program will follow on MGoBlue.com and the team's football social and digital channels after the scrimmage ends.