THE FACTORY! Road to CFB Visits An Eastern Michigan Football Game Day
In 2017, I decided that visiting empty college football stadiums wasn’t enough. A brief—and, in all honesty, not-very-well-thought-out—journey transformed into a much larger on-taking to experience all of the college football. Just hours before Eastern Michigan kicked off its 2017 season against Charlotte, my college roommate and I hopped in the car and headed to Ypsilanti, Mich., for an EMU Eagles game day.
Nine years and 58 FBS game days later, I decided to return to Rynearson Stadium. The earliest days of Road to CFB (laughably, I named it Road to 126 as if (a) there were 126 FBS programs at the time and, (b) that number wouldn’t change) were kind of a mess. I did almost no research, didn’t really know what I was looking at, and I came away from that game day with four total pictures (two of which were saved Snapchats). In order to give The Factory and Ypsi their fair due, a return trip was necessary.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles hosted newly-minted conference rival Sacramento State in Week 0 of the 2026 season — Sac State’s first game as a member of the FBS. This game was a perfect encapsulation of modern college football, having lost the plot so badly that Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State were Mid-American Conference rivals.
What can you expect on your next trip to Ypsilanti? Read on for my full guide on an Eastern Michigan football game day below.
Pregame In Ypsilanti
To say that all of the best pregame spots for Ypsilanti are in neighboring Ann Arbor would be a true disservice to Ypsilanti itself. There’s a quaint downtown that sits in the footprint of a former train depot with plenty of coffee shops and bars. Parking is free on the weekends and the town itself moves at a slower pace. While not really all that walkable to the stadium (it’s 2.1 miles each way), downtown Ypsilanti is worth a pregame visit. I chose to park on a neighborhood side street and walk to Corner Brewery, just off the main strip. Corner Brewery features a nice beer garden and a lengthy list of local brews. I highly recommend trying their smoky amber, especially if you come from out of state like I did.
Smoky Amber is supposedly a Frankenmuth, Mich., speciality and is well-known in this region. While I couldn’t get down a full half-liter—I opted for the Oktoberfest instead—it’s 100% worth a sample.
Hand up, I did take the fiancée to Ann Arbor earlier in the day. This is more appropriate for a Michigan game day write up, but I’d recommend getting the jalapeño basil aioli at Regent’s that comes with the french fries. Delicious.
Spend plenty time at local Ypsilanti eateries and breweries. Unless you have a tailgate set up (and EMU is very scant on its tailgating opportunities), there’s transparently not a whole lot to do on stadium grounds pregame. For Week 0, EMU did put on a great Welcome Back pep rally inside the George Gervin Center, its adjoining basketball area. At its conclusion, fans gathered near Gate 2 (the main gate on the home side) for the team walk 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff. Fans stuck around for a drum line performance on the main lawn while alumni, VIP guests, and students enjoyed exclusive tailgate opportunities.
Inside the George Gervin Center is the ticket office, the team’s Hall of Fame members, and air conditioning.
Stick to the home side of the stadium, as grounds outside the away side are desolate. Even the gates built in to the southeast corner of Rynearson Stadium aren’t operational. A huge benefit to that quieter side of the stadium are ample free parking opportunities just steps from the stadium with very easy egress to State Route 23 and, by connection, i-94. Parking is free pretty much everywhere, but I found the lots on the away side are much less congested and easier to leave from.
Blackout At THE FACTORY
Programs the scope of Eastern Michigan need to really try to get fans in the stands. As a result, an Eastern Michigan football game day is affordable and easy. The school also opts for a unique concessions setup, ditching traditional stands almost entirely, instead setting up a dozen food trucks. Available options include authentic Mexican, Little Caesars, Chick-fil-A, and even a High Noon truck. Food options are more expensive than their restaurant counterpart, but not as outrageous as stadium pricing can get.
Beers in the stadium range from $10-12. Domestic cans are $10 while the EMU-partnered craft called Water Tower Power runs for $12. It features a great can design, but tastes like repurposed Bud Light. I’m a sucker for athletics-sponsored brews, but this one tumbles far down the power rankings (that article TBA — I’m sure it’ll surface one day).
Rynearson Stadium recently sunk some money into improvements, notably removing the track and re-surfacing the playing field thanks to a generous donation from NFL star and ring of honor alum Maxx Crosby. EMU moved its outer gates out on the home side, expanding the concourse and allowing for more vendors and food trucks inside. It’s a decent set up that stretches from the northwest corner and swings around past the George Gervin Center. But walk beyond that to the visitor stands, and things get desolate quick.
Rynearson Stadium’s away stands are largely tarped off (opting for THE FACTORY branding) and, underneath, it’s a ghost town. No stands, no concessions. At least restrooms are open. There’s storage, including EMU’s old grey turf still cut up, and the crumbling walls and rusting railings are really, really evident. It’s really quite sad to see any part of an FBS stadium in this disrepair.
Bottled water, however, comes at a premium ($5) unless you order it from the taco truck for just $2.
Eastern Michigan Football Game Day Traditions
On a national scale, teams from the MAC aren’t typically considered bastions of tradition. In order to stand out, these teams have to get creative. Last year, Bowling Green succeeded with Pudge the Cat. Akron debuted the turnover tire. Eastern Michigan struck gold with two traditions: the MACcoon and the cinder block wall.
MACcoon originally stemmed from a viral YouTube comment that made a play on the grittiness and endearing follies of the MAC; head coach Chris Creighton fashioned part of the joke, which talked about a raccoon, into EMU’s new turnover chain. The cinder block wall tradition began in 2014. Before each home game, captains knock down the wall (pictured above) with sledgehammers to represent the toughness and conquering adversity within the program. It’s been a fan favorite ever since and has resulted in some… notable editions.
At the conclusion of the National Anthem, you’ll want to direct your attention to the away stands, as Eastern Michigan releases a bald eagle that flies across the field and to its handler across the way. Auburn, of course, is notable for its War Eagle that swoops around Jordan-Hare Stadium in a bit more dramatic show. However, if you sit near the 20-yard line on the road side, just watch your head for swooping eagles.
Eastern Michigan’s final notable tradition comes after the game ends. The EMU Marching Band returns to the field for a postgame concert, a popular tradition among college football fans across the country.
Of course, EMU also sports gray field turf. In the program, it represents toughness and gritty nature. On TV, it’s a nightmare to watch (especially when the Eagles wear their gray uniforms). But in person, the contrast is much starker and it’s not overly distracting. It takes pregame and a drive or two to settle in, but eventually it just fades into the background.
Eastern Michigan 28, Sacramento State 17
Sacramento State played its first game as a member of the FBS and MAC this night. The program was desperate for that promotion, following in the steps of successful programs like Jacksonville State, James Madison, and Liberty. However, the Hornets couldn’t secure a conference invite and the NCAA even turned down their application in 2024. When North Dakota State got its call-up, Sac State again petitioned to join.
The deal it proposed and ultimately accepted is abhorrent. Sac State agreed to front the entire $23 million fee ($5M to move up to FBS, $18M to join the MAC both paid in full), plus it forfeits all TV revenue for the length of the deal (through 2031), plus it takes on all travel expenses, both for itself and for visiting teams. Ouch.
And Sac State missed its prime move-up window. The team lost head coach Brennan Marion to Colorado this offseason and, with him, his exciting Go Go offense. The team finished 3-9 in the FCS just two seasons ago and now pieces together a roster full of unproven transfers. The players are huge (one lineman stands 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds) but the talent, especially on the offensive line, just isn’t there. Sac State was rolled worse than the final score indicates. At halftime, it had -21 rushing yards.
A strip-sack turned fumble-six gave Sac State its first FBS touchdown, but Eastern Michigan dominated the line all day long. A sleepy 0-0 start turned into a 21-10 halftime deficit (again, thanks to that late fumble-six; take that away and it’s 21-3) and, eventually, a 28-17 win for the home Eagles.
Brace yourself after the opening kickoff and after each extra point. The Eastern Michigan ROTC blasts off one of the most powerful touchdown cannons I’ve experienced. Only rivaling its BOOM is Pistol Pete’s gun at Oklahoma State. It rattles you every time.
Eastern Michigan Football Game Day Picks
- For local beers: Corner Brewery. They have a big menu packed with local delicacies (smoky amber, cherry-based beer) and unique brews you won’t find elsewhere. I recommend the beer garden. Downtown Ypsi is about a quarter-mile walk through neighborhood streets, making this an ideal starting location.
- Best pregame meal spot: I’m sorry, EMU folks. Ann Arbor features a wide selection of great restaurants. I picked Regent’s and I’d recommend that for anybody coming from far out of town. It’s a 20-minute drive up Route 23.
- Top Game Day tip: Parking is FREE just about everywhere. navigate to the northeast side of the stadium (the visitor’s side) for more lowkey lots with less traffic and a very quick egress to the highway. You don’t need to be in place three hours early to get a good spot.
- Under-the-radar: Eastern Michigan is jam-packed with unique pregame traditions inside the stadium. Find a spot down low on the visitor’s side (seating isn’t usually an issue) and take in the cinder block wall entrance and eagle flight. This is a nice, cheap game day that’s family-friendly.
Eastern Michigan Football Game Day Grades
Note: My opinions have changed over the last decade (shocker!).
Stadium: D-. Wide concourses and a variety of seating options make this an easy-to-navigate stadium. However, the press box hasn’t been touched since open, the stands are quite literally crumbling, the away side is a ghost town that’s used for storage, and half of the visitor’s stands are tarped off (the side that broadcast cameras face…). The gray turf is unique but not my favorite. At least it doesn’t have a track anymore!
Tradition: C-. Surprisingly dense pregame! EMU embraces the quirky nature of its stadium, program, and conference under Creighton. Once the FBS’ worst program (for decades), EMU fields some competitive teams and has plenty of easter eggs to take on during pregame fanfare. However, it lacks in-game traditions, the student section is scant and leaves at halftime, and most of the tradition is newer-age attempts.
Atmosphere: F. Everything aligned in Week 0 — a gorgeous 77º evening, conference matchup, new FBS program, and promise among a veteran returning roster. Despite all of that—despite $12 sale tickets, free parking, reasonable concession prices, a prime time kickoff, students already on campus, t-shirt giveaways—just 9,400 fans were reported and about 75% of them made it in. So image what that atmosphere must be like on a November Tuesday when it’s 28º at kick.
Tailgating: D-. The parking lots across from the home side of Rynearson Stadium fill up with cars and there’s some sporadic tents and tailgates down. The student tailgate sucked up most of the Greek Life and the rest of the tailgating opportunities are exclusive. This just isn’t a tailgating school.
Fans: C. This is a great family atmosphere. Fans are kind, knowledgeable, and aware of their surroundings. There weren’t any issues, game day staff is friendly, and the crowd as a whole keeps a good demeanor. Families littered the stands with children of all ages and the student section kept things civil. I’m not sure I’d call this fanbase overly dedicated or passionate—we could surely use a few more of them in person—but it’s an agreeable and inoffensive bunch.
Extracurriculars: C. Ypsilanti has some bars and restaurants, but they’re a hike from campus. Most of the attraction comes just to the west in Ann Arbor and the nearest metro, Detroit, is a good 40-minute drive. Call me bitter as a life-long northeast Ohioan, but Southern Michigan just lacks interesting things. It could certainly be worse, but there’s not one thing circled as a massive must-do.
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