You’ve probably seen the aerial shots during a Saturday broadcast. A massive, pulsing crater of maize and blue nestled into the Ann Arbor landscape. It looks permanent, almost like it was carved out of the Michigan earth by some ancient glacier rather than built by humans.
Michigan Stadium is a beast.
Honestly, calling it a "stadium" feels a bit like calling the Grand Canyon a hole in the dirt. It is a cathedral of American sport. As of early 2026, it remains the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere, and if you've ever stood on the corner of Main and Stadium Boulevard, you know the gravity it pulls.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Size
People see the "official" capacity—currently 107,601—and think that's the ceiling. It’s not. Not even close.
Basically, the University of Michigan treats that number like a suggestion. On any given Saturday against Ohio State or Michigan State, they’ll squeeze in 110,000 or 111,000 people. Back in 2013, they packed 115,109 fans in for a night game against Notre Dame.
How do they do it? Bleachers.
Unlike modern NFL stadiums with their wide, cushioned plastic seats and individual armrests, the Big House is a world of aluminum benches. You get a number. Your neighbor gets a number. If everyone breathes in at the same time, you might have enough room to clap. It’s intimate, loud, and slightly claustrophobic in the best way possible.
The sheer scale of the place is actually a bit of an optical illusion. Because nearly three-quarters of the stadium is built below ground level, you can walk right up to the gates and not realize you’re standing on top of a 100,000-seat canyon.
The Buried Crane and the Quicksand
There is a legend every freshman learns during orientation. During construction in 1926, the soil was so soft and swampy—basically quicksand thanks to an underground spring—that a crane allegedly sank right into the muck.
The story goes that it was too expensive or impossible to pull out, so they just built the stadium on top of it.
Is it true? Historians at the Bentley Historical Library are a bit skeptical, but the fact remains that the ground was a nightmare. Fielding Yost, the legendary coach and mastermind behind the project, had to fight tooth and nail just to get the thing finished.
He wanted a capacity of 140,000. The regents, who were much more conservative with the checkbook, forced him to settle for 72,000.
Yost, being a bit of a visionary (and perhaps a bit stubborn), built the foundations to support over 100,000 seats anyway. He knew. He just waited for the rest of the world to catch up.
The Mystery of the Extra Seat
If you look at the official capacity history, you’ll notice something weird. Since 1956, every single capacity update has ended in the number one.
- 101,001
- 107,501
- 109,901
- 107,601
That "-01" is for Fritz Crisler. He was the athletic director who oversaw the 1950s expansions. The tradition is that there is one seat in the house reserved for him.
Where is it? Nobody knows.
Seriously. There isn't a plaque. There isn't a golden chair. It’s a phantom seat, a piece of lore that keeps the stadium’s history alive. Some say it's in the press box; others think it’s somewhere in the end zone. Regardless, it ensures that Michigan Stadium's capacity is always just a little bit higher than anyone else's.
Why it Doesn't Feel Like a 100,000-Seat Stadium
One of the most common complaints—or observations, depending on who you ask—is that the Big House isn't as loud as places like LSU’s Death Valley or Seattle’s Lumen Field.
There’s a scientific reason for that.
Because the stadium is a shallow bowl mostly underground, the sound waves tend to go up instead of in. Unlike the "Toilet Bowl" design of newer stadiums with massive overhanging tiers that reflect noise back at the field, the Big House lets the sound escape into the Michigan sky.
But things changed in 2010.
The university added those massive luxury towers on the east and west sides. Those glass and brick walls finally gave the sound something to bounce off of. If you were there for the 2021 game against Ohio State when the snow started falling and the crowd realized they were finally going to break the streak, you know: it gets plenty loud.
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The 100,000 Streak
Since November 8, 1975, every single home game at Michigan Stadium has had a crowd of at least 100,000 people.
Think about that. Through the losing seasons of the late 2000s, through the blizzard games, through the noon starts against teams nobody had heard of. The fans showed up.
The only thing that broke the streak was a global pandemic in 2020. But even then, the school counts it with an asterisk because fans weren't allowed to buy tickets. As of 2026, that streak is well over 300 games and shows no signs of stopping.
It’s Not Just for Football Anymore
In recent years, the Big House has turned into a massive multi-use venue.
In 2014, they hosted Manchester United vs. Real Madrid. Over 109,000 people showed up for a soccer match. It’s still the record for a soccer game in the United States.
Then you have the NHL Winter Classic. Seeing the Detroit Red Wings play the Toronto Maple Leafs in a snowstorm in front of 105,491 people is widely considered one of the coolest (literally) moments in hockey history.
More recently, the stadium has opened up to massive concerts. In 2025, Zach Bryan broke the ticketed concert record here, proving that the demand for 100k-plus seats exists far beyond the gridiron.
Navigating the Big House: Real Insights for Your Visit
If you're planning to go, don't just show up at kickoff. You'll miss the best parts.
- The Entrance: The players don't come out of a tunnel in the end zone. They come out of a tunnel at the 50-yard line. They jump and touch the "Go Blue" banner. It’s a tradition that goes back to the Bo Schembechler era, and the energy in that specific corner of the stadium is electric.
- The "M" Buildings: The golf course across the street is the legendary tailgating spot. If you want the real experience, that’s where you go. Just be prepared for mud if it’s rained recently.
- The Seats: I’ll say it again—bring a seat cushion. Those aluminum benches are freezing in November and hard on your back in September.
- Traffic: Ann Arbor basically shuts down on game day. If you aren't within walking distance, use the shuttle services from the local malls. Driving to the stadium is a trap.
The 2026 Outlook
With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, Michigan Stadium is poised to host some of the biggest games in its 99-year history. We are seeing a shift where these "bowls" are becoming year-round entertainment hubs.
But despite the new scoreboards and the luxury boxes, it still feels like 1927 inside. The brickwork is original. The "M" at midfield is iconic.
It’s a place that respects its past while holding 110,000 people in the palm of its hand.
Your Next Steps
If you want to experience the Big House without the $300 ticket price for a rivalry game, look into the Spring Game (usually in April) or a Stadium Tour. The tours are surprisingly affordable and let you walk down the tunnel and stand on the FieldTurf.
If you're going for a game, check the official MGoBlue site for the "Maize Out" or "Blue Out" schedule. You don't want to be the one person wearing red in a sea of 110,000 people in maize.
Finally, if you’re a history buff, stop by the Bentley Historical Library on North Campus before the game. They hold the original blueprints and Yost's notes. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation for the concrete crater across town.