CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

The Big House

Michigan Stadium

Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI, home of Michigan. Capacity 107,601. Opened October 1, 1927.

Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI

Largest stadium in college football107,601 seats

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MIPhoto: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Capacity
107,601
Opened
1927
Surface
FieldTurf
Roof
Open air
Elevation
838 ft
Home team
Michigan
Michigan here
141–⁠36 games on file since 2001
College GameDay
16 times

Since it opened: Michigan is 473–⁠137–⁠14 in home games from the 1927 season on. Our source names a game’s stadium only from 2001, so that count takes every earlier home game not marked neutral and may include a few played elsewhere.

Biggest games here

From the games on file here, 2001 on: title and postseason games, meetings of two ranked teams, upsets by our pregame Elo ratings and the biggest swings in CollegeFootballData.com’s excitement index.

Capacity through the years

From 84,401 seats in 1927 to 107,601 today, across 11 documented figures. Sources disagree on four stretches, drawn in orange; the table says which figure we use and why.

Michigan Stadium capacity by season, 1927 to 202680k90k100k110k120k1940196019802000202084,401107,601
Every figure and its sources
192784,401Sources disagreeWikipedia gives 72,000. Michigan’s own history and facilities pages: the stadium opened with 84,401 seats after Yost added 10,000 temporary ones; 72,000 was the capacity planned before that. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)
1928–⁠194885,753Sources disagreeWikipedia gives 85,752. Michigan’s stadium history gives 85,753 from the 1928 season; Wikipedia’s 85,752 cites no source. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)
1949–⁠195597,239Official source
1956–⁠1972101,001Official source
1973–⁠1990101,701Official source
1991102,501Sources disagreeWikipedia gives 101,701. Michigan’s history dates the two added rows to the May 1991 renovation, before the 1991 season; Wikipedia starts 102,501 in 1992. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)
1992–⁠1997102,501Official source
1998–⁠2007107,501Official source
2008–⁠2009106,201Single source
2010–⁠2014109,901Official source
2015 on107,601Sources disagreeWikipedia gives 109,901; Wikipedia gives 107,600. Michigan’s August 7, 2015 announcement set 107,601 before that season; Wikipedia’s list agrees, while its headline figure (107,600) drops a seat and its 109,901 runs through 2015. (Our reading, not yet reviewed.)

How we know

  • 1927
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the 1927 opening): 84,401 for 1927, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium (facilities), University of Michigan Athletics (history section): 84,401 for 1927, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 72,000 for 1927; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
  • 1928–⁠1948
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on 1928): 85,753 for 1928–⁠1948, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 85,752 for 1928–⁠1948; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
  • 1949–⁠1955
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the 1949 plans): 97,239 for 1949–⁠1955, no dates given, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 97,239 for 1949–⁠1955; read 2026-10-09
  • 1956–⁠1972
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the press box): 101,001 for 1956–⁠1972, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 101,001 for 1956–⁠1972; read 2026-10-09
  • 1973–⁠1990
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on 1973): 101,701 for 1973–⁠1990, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on 1973 (figure)): 101,701 for 1973–⁠1990, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 101,701 for 1973–⁠1991; read 2026-10-09
  • 1991
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 101,701 for 1973–⁠1991; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the 1991 renovation): 102,501 for 1991–⁠1997, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the 1991 renovation (date)): 102,501 for 1991–⁠1997, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
  • 1992–⁠1997
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the 1991 renovation): 102,501 for 1991–⁠1997, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on the 1991 renovation (date)): 102,501 for 1991–⁠1997, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 102,501 for 1992–⁠1997; read 2026-10-09
  • 1998–⁠2007
    • Stadium History, part II, University of Michigan Athletics (paragraph on 1998): 107,501 for 1998–⁠2007, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 107,501 for 1998–⁠2007; read 2026-10-09
  • 2008–⁠2009
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 106,201 for 2008–⁠2009; read 2026-10-09
  • 2010–⁠2014
  • 2015 on
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly)): 109,901 for 2010–⁠2015; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • U-M Announces New Seating Capacity for Michigan Stadium, University of Michigan Athletics (first paragraph): 107,601 for 2015 on, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium (facilities), University of Michigan Athletics (history section): 107,601 for 2015 on, no dates given, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09
    • Venues, CollegeFootballData.com (Michigan Stadium (venue 3558)): 107,601 for 2015 on, no dates given; read 2026-10-09
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity): 107,600 for 2015 on; read 2026-10-09 (differs)
    • Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia (infobox, capacity (Formerly), cited to U-M’s 2015 announcement): 107,601 for 2015 on, repeating University of Michigan; read 2026-10-09

A list that ends one range in the year the next begins (“1969–⁠1972”, then “1972–⁠1976”) is read as a change that year.

Official source: the school’s own publication. Independently corroborated: two or more sources that don’t copy each other. Sources disagree: we show both and say which we use and why. Single source: one source only. Documented for 100 of the 100 seasons since 1927; 35 disputed (as of 2026-10-18). All the evidence.

Crowds season by season

Average and biggest crowd at Michigan Stadium by season, 2001 to 202680k100k120k2001: 109,908 a game over 6 games; biggest 111,5712002: 110,576 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,5422003: 110,918 a game over 7 games; biggest 112,1182004: 108,517 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,6092005: 110,915 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,5912006: 110,026 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,3492007: 110,264 a game over 8 games; biggest 111,9412008: 108,571 a game over 7 games; biggest 110,1462009: 108,933 a game over 8 games; biggest 110,9222010: 111,825 a game over 7 games; biggest 113,0902011: 112,179 a game over 8 games; biggest 114,8042012: 112,252 a game over 6 games; biggest 113,8332013: 111,592 a game over 7 games; biggest 115,1092014: 104,909 a game over 7 games; biggest 113,0852015: 110,168 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,8292016: 110,468 a game over 8 games; biggest 111,8462017: 111,589 a game over 6 games; biggest 112,4322018: 110,737 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,7472019: 111,459 a game over 7 games; biggest 112,0712021: 108,763 a game over 7 games; biggest 111,1562022: 110,246 a game over 8 games; biggest 111,0832023: 109,971 a game over 7 games; biggest 110,6152024: 110,548 a game over 8 games; biggest 111,1702025: 110,842 a game over 6 games; biggest 111,3732026: 110,978 a game over 4 games; biggest 111,240200120062011201620212026

Biggest crowds on file

115,109Notre Dame at Michigan2013
114,804Notre Dame at Michigan2011
114,132Ohio State at Michigan2011
113,833Michigan State at Michigan2012
113,718Nebraska at Michigan2011

Bars are each season’s average crowd, dots its biggest (the record in orange), the dashed rule today’s capacity. Attendance is on file for most games from 2001 on.

The pregame shows here

ESPN’s College GameDay has broadcast from Michigan Stadium 16 times, first in 1994; Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff nine times.

Sep 12, 2026Big Noon KickoffMichigan 17, Oklahoma 10
Nov 29, 2025College GameDayOhio State 27, Michigan 9Ferry Field
Nov 29, 2025Big Noon KickoffOhio State 27, Michigan 9
Oct 4, 2025Big Noon KickoffMichigan 24, Wisconsin 10
Sep 7, 2024College GameDayTexas 31, Michigan 12Ferry Field
Sep 7, 2024Big Noon KickoffTexas 31, Michigan 12
Nov 25, 2023College GameDayMichigan 30, Ohio State 24Ferry Field
Nov 25, 2023Big Noon KickoffMichigan 30, Ohio State 24
Oct 15, 2022Big Noon KickoffMichigan 41, Penn State 17
Sep 24, 2022Big Noon KickoffMichigan 34, Maryland 27
Nov 27, 2021College GameDayMichigan 42, Ohio State 27Pioneer High School
Nov 27, 2021Big Noon KickoffMichigan 42, Ohio State 27
Nov 30, 2019Big Noon KickoffOhio State 56, Michigan 27
Oct 13, 2018College GameDayMichigan 38, Wisconsin 13Ingalls Mall
Oct 17, 2015College GameDayMichigan State 27, Michigan 23The Diag

The latest 15 of 25.

College GameDay’s sites from Wikipedia’s list of College GameDay locations (CC BY-SA). Big Noon Kickoff’s from Wikipedia’s list of its sites (CC BY-SA).

Weather on game day

Coldest kickoffs

Hottest kickoffs

Snow at kickoff

Coldest game days before 2004

Hottest game days before 2004

Snow on game day

Kickoffs: the NOAA report nearest kickoff from the closest weather station (NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database). Game days: the day’s high and snowfall at the NOAA station nearest the stadium, for Michigan’s home games before 2004 (NOAA GHCN-Daily, public domain).

The stadium’s history

Opened
October 1, 1927
Architect
Bernard L. Green
HNTB (2010 expansion)
Surface over the years
FieldTurf (2003–present)
Natural grass (1991–⁠2002)
Artificial turf (1969–⁠1990)
Natural grass (1927–⁠1968)
Expanded
1928, 1949, 1956, 1973, 1992, 1998, 2010
Renovated
2010
Record crowd
115,109 (Michigan vs. Notre Dame, September 7, 2013)

From the stadium’s Wikipedia article, Michigan Stadium.

From above

50 mN ↑
The stadium’s footprint, north up: about 230 by 250 meters (750 by 800 feet), the field in green. Outline from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Recent games here

Oct 17, 2026Michigan 21, Penn State 18
Sep 26, 202617Iowa 20, 18Michigan 19
Sep 19, 202619Michigan 52, UTEP 17
Sep 12, 2026Michigan 17, 11Oklahoma 10
Sep 5, 202616Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12
Nov 29, 20251Ohio State 27, 15Michigan 9
Nov 1, 202521Michigan 21, Purdue 16
Oct 18, 2025Michigan 24, Washington 7
Oct 4, 202520Michigan 24, Wisconsin 10
Sep 13, 202523Michigan 63, Central Michigan 3
Aug 30, 202514Michigan 34, New Mexico 17
Nov 23, 2024Michigan 50, Northwestern 6

Around the stadium

Beer sales
Sold to all fans · Official source

Found by several AI researchers searching the web, then kept only where the page loads and says so in words naming the program; every quote is checked again each time the data is rebuilt. Official source: the school’s own page. All of them.