Safety at Michigan Stadium
Updated for 2025 Season
Athletic officials and law enforcement personnel have completed emergency response plans for a variety of situations at Michigan Stadium. We hope these emergencies never occur, but we are prepared if they do. This information will help you know what to do to contribute to a safe environment for all. Click on a header to learn more.
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Based on the nature of a specific event or emergency, directions to fans and staff will be communicated via public address announcements and video scoreboard messages. Emergency sheltering locations may include Crisler Center, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and other nearby Athletics facilities. Fans are requested to listen to announcements and remain seated until instructed otherwise.
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In order to ensure a safe environment for all those attending events at the University of Michigan, we want to remind you about two key provisions of the University of Michigan Regents Ordinance:
- No person shall throw, project or drop any projectile or object that could cause injury, damage or interference in the spectator or playing area.
- Unauthorized entry onto the playing surface before, during or after the event is prohibited.
Violation of these articles of the University ordinance, or any other University policies or rules, will be subject to all penalties and fines permitted under those policies, rules, ordinances and any other applicable law.
The possession and operation of unmanned and/or remote controlled aircraft (drone) is prohibited at Michigan Stadium and surrounding area. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates the rules pertaining to operations in this airspace may be subject to certain criminal penalties.
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Fans are encouraged to bring ONLY necessary items to football games at Michigan Stadium. All subjects and items are subject to search.
Permitted Items
- Binoculars - CASES are not permitted
- Blankets and rain apparel - UMBRELLAS are not permitted
- Cell phones and pagers
- Foam seat pads
- Handheld posters & signs without profane or abusive language, poles, or sticks - must not block another guest’s view nor be affixed to any structure or part of the venue
- Small cameras (those with a lens shorter than 6 inches) and radios
- Small non-pocket seat cushions without storage slots
- Walking canes
If you have any specific questions on permitted items, please contact the Athletic Guest Services Office at guestservices@umich.edu. We appreciate your cooperation with these security measures. Enjoy the game!
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Prohibited Items
- All bags (including purses, clear bags, fanny packs)
- All bottles (including all types of water bottles - glass, plastic, aluminum)
- Alcoholic beverages or illegal substances
- Aerosol and spray cans
- Animals (except service animals for persons with a disability)
- Apparel or signage displaying profane or abusive language
- Containers of any kind (including coolers, cups, cans, flasks)
- Drones and/or remote controlled aircraft
- Flags and flagpoles
- Food of any kind
- Irritants and artificial noisemakers
- Projectiles (including footballs, Frisbees and beach balls)
- Seat cushions containing any type of metal or those with pockets, storage slots, seat backs, arm rests, or attachments of any kind
- Strollers and infant car seats
- Tobacco (including lighted smoking devices, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and non-combustible tobacco products)
- Video cameras, tripods and selfie sticks
- Umbrellas
- Weapons
- Any other item that may obstruct or impair the view or enjoyment of another attendee
Changes in national and regional security levels may affect security procedures at Michigan Stadium. All bags (including purses and fanny packs) are prohibited from being carried in and fans are encouraged to bring ONLY necessary items to football games at Michigan Stadium. All persons and items are subject to security screening and inspection.
Guests entering with medical or childcare needs (e.g., medical prescriptions, diapers for a baby, etc.) must enter through one of the designated bag exception gates - Gate 3 at the south end of the stadium or Gate 9 West at the north end of the stadium - to have their items inspected and tagged. Guests entering the suite towers with medical or childcare needs will have their items inspected and tagged at their point of entry. One bag will be permitted for the guest with medical/childcare needs and it must be an appropriate size for the items needed.
Please note that requests for the use of seatbacks at any Athletic Department venues go directly to the Disability Equity Office for review. If you have a medical need to use a seatback, please use the ADA Initial Contact Form to submit your first request. Under "Reason for Contact" choose "Stadium Seatback Accommodation Request." You can submit medical documentation and a photo of your seatback at the bottom of the form under "Upload supporting document(s)." After submitting your request, the Disability Equity Office will follow up with you to collect any additional information that may be needed.
If you have submitted a request through the ADA Initial Contact Form in the past, you will need to email DisabilityEquity@umich.edu with your request. In that email, please attach a new/current doctor's note, photos of the seatback, seatback dimensions (height x width x depth), seat location, and the seat information for those in your party.
Seatbacks will not be approved if they encroach upon the adjacent seats or impede egress for the adjacent rows.
If you have any specific questions on permitted items, please contact the Athletic Guest Services Office at guestservices@umich.edu.
We appreciate your cooperation with these security measures.
