November 11, 2017
Crisler Center (Capacity: 12,707)
Ann Arbor, MI
Michigan Wolverines vs North Florida Ospreys
Final Score: 86 – 66
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Google Maps saved the day as the app diverted me around 30 minutes of traffic to get me to the Crisler Center in time after leaving a game from Flint. Located in Southeast Michigan about 45 minutes from Detroit, the city of Ann Arbor is surprisingly the 6th largest in the state (population around 115,000) as it has the feel of a large college town. The University of Michigan certainly is a significant component to A2 as much of the city’s economy is centered on it and the school’s resources help to bring many other types of companies and services. Michigan is one of the leading research universities in the country and it is a Top 40 school, also classified as a Public Ivy. It is a big one too with 13 different departments (colleges/schools) and over 43,000 students. The Wolverines basketball team is a successful program with 14 Big Ten titles and 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. Seven of those remarkably ended in the Final Four. Michigan did win the 1989 Championship and a couple years later, they made it to the title game in back-to-back appearances with the Fab Five. However, those records were vacated due to the Ed Martin significant money loaning scandal. After subsequent teams struggled because of the sanctions, Michigan basketball finally recovered in 2009 as they made a trip back to the Big Dance after a long absence. Under the respected John Beilien, the Wolverines have made it 7 out of the last 8 years, including a trip to the championship game in 2013. Games are played in the Crisler Center. Built in 1967, but significantly renovated in 2012, Crisler is a sparklingly clean arena with a great concourse.
Prestige Ranking: 3.5 out of 5
Location
Crisler Center is right next to Michigan Stadium, a little over a mile south of both downtown and campus. It’s a short drive or lengthy walk and it is well worth checking out both areas. The center of Ann Arbor has plenty of great local shops and restaurants with the amount of variety likely giving somebody a new place to eat every night for a couple months. The bustling center of town eventually leads into the primary campus. A self-walking tour should include the Burton Tower, Law Quad and The Cube. There are also several highly-acclaimed museums in multiple fields. Closer to the arena, there is a lack of options for visitors as the immediate area features a golf course, high school and other athletic facilities.
Location Ranking: 8 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
I-94 is the main route to Ann Arbor, but there are several other highways with good access that lead into town. 94 is certainly preferred since that avoids the need to go through the typically congested downtown. It is a simple arrival to the arena, located on State Street off Exit 177, but on-site parking is limited because of the amount of space reserved for permit holders. The general public is forced to the outskirts and I found the $10 campus lots to be a similar distance to the arena than the free Pioneer High School parking lots were. So, it was off to the high school and a 5-minute walk to the facility. Traffic getting out was well coordinated and I had no problem exiting. The traffic officer on a sound system at the Stadium/State intersection was excellent.
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 7 out of 8
Exterior
Recent renovations and close proximity to Michigan Stadium make the exterior of this oval building have a piecemeal look to it. Sitting on top of a brick base is an off-white and silver UFO top. The entrance near Michigan Stadium has a simple door entry with silver arena lettering just above. Those that come from the back of the building will see more of a glass entranceway as the Crisler Center and Player Development Center combine.
Exterior Ranking: 6 out of 10
Concourse
So clean. So modern. So sharp. So beautiful. The gleaming concourse that circles the arena looks clean enough that you could eat off the floor. It is a tall and relatively wide space with light coloring and Michigan displays all over the place. The entire concourse is behind the main seating, so the interior is only viewable when passing one of many corridors that empties into the seating bowl. In the Northeast entrance (where I didn’t go through) is the Grand Entrance as patrons take stairs or escalators into the arena. While it’s not “Grand” because of space, it is a beautiful entrance because of the forthcoming Block M waterfall at the top and an interactive display on the great Cazzie Russell. The nearby area is full of things to admire and deeper into the arena, families can find a great Kids Zone.
Concourse Ranking: 4 out of 5
Food
There was not anything particularly outstanding with the food, but there was a nice variety at each stand. Items worth a try include: Steak Quesadilla, Meatball Sub, Caesar Salad, Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese and Fresh Soft Pretzels. Michiganers also could try a local Coney Dog.
Food Ranking: 6 out of 8
Interior
The inside of the arena maintains a clean look and the design is simple with a slightly elongated O shape. A middle walkway separates the single-tier 100 and 200 sections, while portions of the walkway are quartered off for the creation of Champions Boxes. This seems nice because it means no deck of suites and a potentially closer bowl to the court. However, the lack of an upper-deck here made the higher rows in the 200 sections feel a good bit away from the court (plus, the last few rows became obstructed by the ceiling). Dark blue seats were wide and very comfortable. I always found Crisler to be on the darker side from a television perspective and that is indeed true, but mainly just in the upper section. Still, it was not too bad. Behind the benches is a partitioned, bucket bleacher section where the student “Maize Rage” do their thang during the game.
Interior Ranking: 8.5 out of 14
Scoreboard
The scoreboard is highlighted by four video screens that are as clear as one would expect here. A circular design is above and below, with a brightly maize-colored Crisler Center sign. More video screens are located at the top of the scoreboard and during the game, these display live player stats. Additional screens in this area allow for the display of a few advertisements. I’ve never been a huge fan of the stacked scoreboards, but it does work well here.
Scoreboard Ranking: 4 out of 4
Displays
After the aforementioned waterfall and Cazzie display, the adjacent area is worth spending some time in as fans will find plenty of well-done, interactive displays. Not just for basketball, but all of Michigan athletics get honored and admired in this area. Also included is an individual Hall of Honor. The rest of the concourse has a wall dedicated to each sport and next to plaques for the best athletes, visitors can navigate a touch screen to learn all about the history and current information on that sport at Michigan. This is the first of its kind that I have seen and it is great. Also, bonus point for the Big Ten Championship trophy display in an area that is perfect for a picture. Inside the arena, Michigan is above having minor achievement banners as only Big Ten championships, NCAA Final Fours and NCAA/NIT Championships are honored. There are also five retired numbers hanging from the rafters. Notable is the missing Fab Five years as those vacated seasons mean banners come down.
Displays Ranking: 6 out of 6
Cost
As mentioned earlier, the best parking option is free and at Pioneer High School. It’s not much different than the $10 or $20 lots, only slightly closer to the arena. For tickets, just upper-level seating is available and the prices are on a game-by-game basis. Opponent quality leads to choices: $15, $20, $25 and $30. I thought that was fair and it compares quite favorably with the rest of the conference. A program was only $1. The only pricey part of the experience was the concessions, which were the same with what I saw the night before at Yost: $5 for a Hot Dog, same for a 24oz soda, $7 for French Fries or Nachos.
Cost Ranking: 7 out of 8
Fan Support
Many Power 5 conferences suffer from lack of attendance during the non-conference season and that was the case here. Less than half the building was filled and the Crisler Center made for the least entertaining atmosphere out of the three Wolverine facilities that I have visited. Michigan is in a second tier within the conference in terms of basketball popularity and their annual attendance standing is 9th or 10th, though that is more reflective of building size and a base of season-ticket holders, many of whom fail to show early in the season. I even dug into pictures from big weekend conferences games last year to still find empty seats sparingly amongst the crowd. Except at Wisconsin, you just can’t have football and basketball both be extremely popular at a school and that is the case for Michigan.
Fan Support Ranking: 5.5 out of 8
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is good and the crowd was able to generate noise to make the building loud a few times. The students did fill their entire (albeit small) sideline section and though they were not as involved or creative as their counterparts at Yost, I was happy with what they brought. Expect to hear all of the great tunes that the Michigan band is known for: “Victors”, “Let’s Go Blue” and the entertaining dance that always accompanies “Can’t Turn You Loose”. I paid attention how the atmosphere was later in the season and was pleased to watch a lively and loud building, even for a mid-week game against Maryland. Several other Big Ten arenas will offer a better game day atmosphere than Crisler, but in the context of the entire sport, it is still a pretty good place to visit.
Atmosphere Ranking: 10 out of 14
Other Stuff
The arena is named after Fritz Crisler, former football coach and longtime Michigan AD. The team outgrew their former confines at Yost Fieldhouse and the new arena was given the nickname “The House That Cazzie Built” as Cazzie Russell brought big crowds…..A renovation in 2012 not only changed a lot inside the building, but it also led to the development of a separate Player Development Center, a facility housing offices, practice courts and training areas…..Ohio State is definitively Michigan’s chief football rival and though they have a basketball rivalry, Michigan State is likely the Wolverines main antagonist.
Game
It was the season opener for both teams and they combined to put together an entertaining affair. The first 30 minutes were close and North Florida was getting solid all-around play. Then, Michigan broke the game open with a 17-4 run and that was that as the Wolverines won by 20. Mo Wagner finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Duncan Robinson and Charles Matthews eclipsed the 20-point mark.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
