Ann Arbor is a college town, and this fact is perhaps no more prevalent than on game day (particularly football where the stadium fills to the largest capacity in the entire nation). UM has one of the most accomplished and competitive athletic programs in the nation. No visit is complete without taking in at least one Michigan sporting event. The football program has won more games in its history than any other Division I FBS program, and sells out every game at "The Big House", capacity 109,901. The men's ice hockey program is a national powerhouse, winning an NCAA record 9 national championships, and packing a boisterous 6,377 sellout crowd into historic Yost Ice Arena. Michigan also has a strong tradition in men's basketball, swimming, baseball, softball, field hockey, gymnastics, cross country and track. Other teams include women's basketball, golf, men's and women's lacrosse, rowing, soccer, diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan, including 13 men's teams and 14 women's teams. Teams compete in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference, with the exception of women's water polo. The program colors are maize and blue, and the winged helmet is a recognized icon of Michigan athletics.
Most of the shops and restaurants line State, Liberty, and Main streets, with the quality becoming more upscale as you approach Main. The other popular student hangouts are along South University street. A few blocks north of downtown is the historic Kerrytown district, full of remodeled old homes and pleasant shopping.
A restored 1928 cinema, complete with two organs, one of them a vintage 1927 pipe organ. The theater shows mainly independent and foreign films, with special classic-film showings throughout the year. The organ is often played before performances, and during the Michigan Theater's special silent-film showings. The main auditorium also hosts other events throughout the year, particular musical groups and comedy shows, many fairly well-known.
An art-deco cinema from 1942, the State Theater works in conjunction with the Michigan Theater, and often plays films that have stopped showing at the Michigan.
A nonprofit, intimate music club with 400 seats, which usually hosts folk/rock performers. Private club liquor license (membership required for liquor purchase).
The Big House
Nicknamed the "Big House", the U-M stadium is the largest football stadium in America, with a seating capacity of 109,901. Home games are played in autumn on the well-known "Football Saturdays", when thousands of visitors clog the Ann Arbor streets to watch the Wolverines (or their opponents) play.
The Law School's "Quad", nationally renowned for its serene environment and beautiful Gothic-style architecture, is just south of the center of campus. Built in the early 20th century, the Quad consists of Hutchins Hall — the main law school building — the reading room and the U-shaped Lawyer's Club. The reading room (open to visitors) is an enormous cathedral-like building with stained glass windows featuring the colors of major universities in the US and around the world. The underground law library is naturally lit by enormous windowed shafts just beyond the Quad. The Quad is a grassy open space ringed by trees and seasonal flower beds. During the warmer seasons, students relax and toss the ball around, or sit and study in the Quad, making it an integral part of the Law School. Many locals consider the Law Quad to be the most beautiful part of Ann Arbor.