Rynearson Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

Flying in? Your airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). The driving distance from DTW to Ypsilanti is 17 miles, and it takes approximately 19 minutes to drive — assuming no game-day I-94 snags, which is optimistic on a Saturday. Take I-94 west toward Ann Arbor, exit at Huron Street or Hewitt Road, and you're basically there. Budget 30–40 minutes from the airport to account for traffic near the exit.

For transit, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA), branded as TheRide, is the public transit system serving the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area . The main hubs are the Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor and the Ypsilanti Transit Center in downtown Ypsilanti. Rynearson Stadium is listed as a stop on TheRide's route maps , connecting through the Ypsilanti Transit Center. The fare is $1.50 for fixed-route bus service, and transfers are free and valid for 90 minutes. Check TheRide.org for current schedules — service frequency on game days can vary.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) from Ann Arbor to the stadium runs about 15–20 minutes in normal traffic. Drop-off is typically along Hewitt Road on the north side of the complex. There's no designated rideshare drop zone marked officially, so just have your driver pull to the Hewitt Road curb and walk in from there.

There is free parking right across Hewitt Road and in the GameAbove Center for season ticket holders. For everyone else, parking is available in the North and West stadium lots, and it's typically around $10 for general admission cars. That's genuinely cheap — don't let it trick you into arriving late, though. The lots fill in patterns: the North lot (closest to the Incarnati Athletic Center end zone) fills first, mostly with season ticket holders and tailgaters. The West lot across Hewitt is your best shot for a spot if you're arriving 90 minutes before kickoff.

Tailgating happens in the lots and it's low-key and friendly — this isn't a scene where people have been pre-gaming since 8 a.m. For big home games (homecoming, rivalry matchups), the university puts out a specific parking and tailgate plan, so check EMU Athletics before you go. Overflow parking exists in adjacent athletic complex lots, and the walk from even the farthest lot to the stadium gate is under 10 minutes.

Rynearson Stadium is located on the western edge of Eastern Michigan's campus, and there isn't much in the immediate vicinity except other athletic fields and some apartment complexes. So don't try to walk from your hotel to the game — it won't work well unless you're specifically at the Eagle Crest Marriott on the EMU campus itself, which is your most convenient option and surprisingly comfortable for a university hotel.

If you want more life around you, book in downtown Ypsilanti (Depot Town area) or in Ann Arbor, which is a 10–15 minute drive or Uber. Ann Arbor has the full range of hotel options — boutique spots near downtown, standard chains off the highway exits — and you'll be better positioned for pre-game dining and bars. Staying in Ann Arbor and ridesharing to the game is a legitimate and popular strategy. Budget travelers should look at the Hampton Inn or Comfort Inn along Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti, which puts you midway between the campus and downtown.

The Wurst Bar (705 W Cross St) is the correct answer to most questions about where to go in Ypsilanti. Only in Ypsilanti will you find The Wurst Bar with the best food and drinks — the full-service bar features daily beer specials and happy hours, plus a tasty menu with bar foods and entrees like loaded tots and gourmet bratwurst. It's about 1.5 miles from the stadium, so plan on a rideshare, but it's absolutely worth it as your pre-game anchor.

Sidetrack Bar & Grill (56 E Cross St, Depot Town) is the other essential Ypsi bar. Come for great burgers and more, the widest selection of beer, and wild views of the oncoming trains in Ypsi. It's in the Depot Town neighborhood, a 10-minute Uber from the stadium, and a much more atmospheric area than the immediate vicinity of the stadium.

734 Brewing Company is worth knowing about if your group skews craft beer. Stop in for an Ypsi-made brew at 734 Brewing Company serving craft beer, flavored seltzers and Nostalgie spirits, and catch a weekly event like karaoke or DJ sets.

The Big Boy on Hewitt — yes, the classic chain diner — is actually your closest walking option to the stadium. The closest restaurant to the stadium is probably the family-friendly Big Boy, your classic American diner that does not serve alcohol, and you can walk there from the stadium. It's not glamorous, but if you need a pregame meal within walking distance, this is your realistic option.

Gates to Rynearson Stadium typically open between 90 minutes to 2 hours before event time. For football, plan on gates opening 90 minutes before kickoff — get there early if you want to watch warm-ups or find your bearings, because the stadium layout takes a minute to figure out.

On bags: clear bags are strongly recommended, and a small non-clear clutch around 4.5" × 6.5" is generally acceptable. Outside food is typically permitted, but cans, glass bottles, thermoses, and alcoholic beverages are not. Always verify the current policy at emueagles.com before you travel, as these things change.

Rynearson Stadium is designed as a near-horseshoe, with stands on both the east and west sides that curve slightly toward the south end. The Convocation Center sits in the gap at the south end and looks impressive with its glass fronting and giant lettering. Away fans are directed to the east side visitor bleachers — look for signage near the south end entrances.

One heads-up: if you're there to support the visiting school, make sure to grab food and beers before heading over to the visitors side. There was a Little Caesars food truck parked in the endzone near the GameAbove Center, but that's the closest place to get food on the visitors side — the concession stands built into the cinder block structure of the visitor stands were not open. Stock up on the home side first.

Rynearson Stadium offers ADA-compliant accessible seating on both the east and west sideline areas, generally in the lower sections near the field level and at concourse level where grade allows. Accessible parking is available in the stadium lots — look for designated ADA spaces in the North and West lots closest to the main entrances, and arrive early as these spots fill quickly on higher-attendance games.

TheRide's A-Ride is a shared, reservation-based accessibility service for persons with disabilities, and trips are provided in accessible lift-equipped buses — a useful option for getting to and from the stadium without navigating parking. Additionally, all AAATA buses are equipped with a ramp and can accommodate two wheelchair users. For in-stadium accessibility questions — including assistive listening devices and sensory accommodations — contact EMU Athletics in advance at emueagles.com, as the official accessibility policies are best confirmed directly with the venue before game day.

The visitor bleachers only have about half of the available seating actually open — they put tarps over the seats on the upper portion of the structure with EMU logos. In practical terms, this means the available away seats are in the lower sections of the east sideline, which actually gives you a pretty decent low-angle view of the field.

Most EMU fans also sit on the east side, so that side gets about one-quarter full. The student section is on the east side under the press box, adjacent to the band. If your visiting fan group is large, get your tickets sorted in advance — the visitor block is limited. The west side (press box side) has the better elevated view overall, but that's where the home premium seating is. The west side press box stands offer the best elevated views — but as a visitor, you won't be sitting there. Your east sideline seats in sections 1–10 are fine: you'll see the gray turf up close, which is honestly part of the reason to come.

Rynearson Stadium has partnered with Eastern Market Brewing Company, which has a beer stand under the grandstands, and also has a couple of food trucks including one from Little Caesars. Expect to pay roughly $8–10 for a beer and $8–12 for a food item. The important insider note: if you're supporting the visiting school, make sure to grab food and beers before heading to the visitors side — the nearest food option on that side is a Little Caesars truck near the end zone, and the built-in concessions in the visitor stands may not be operating.

Ypsilanti is not a hostile road trip. Even though attendance is usually very small, there is a decent bit of crowd noise at Rynearson Stadium, and the staff does lots of fun things to enhance the experience. The EMU faithful are more interested in showing you a good time than making you miserable. The traditions are legitimately fun: a live eagle flies over the stadium as the final bars of the National Anthem are played , and there is cannon fire after every score. One thing that catches first-timers off guard: the gray turf looks unreal on a sunny afternoon. The 2014 installation of the "EMU Gray" FieldTurf surface made this only the second FBS team to play on a non-green field , and it photographs like a different planet. Bring your phone charged — you will take pictures of it. The sightlines from the visitor east-side seats are honest and unobstructed. You're not in a corner, you're not behind a post. It's a straightforward bleacher experience, which for a MAC road game is exactly what you want.

By bus: TheRide service back toward the Ypsilanti Transit Center and Ann Arbor runs on normal fixed-route schedules after the game — there are no dedicated post-game shuttles for EMU football the way a bigger program might offer. Wait times can stretch 20–40 minutes depending on timing and the day's schedule. Check TheRide.org for the last bus time before the game, and set an alarm. If you want to catch a bus, leave your seat with about 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

By car: The North and West lots clear in roughly 20–30 minutes after the final whistle for a typical-attendance game. This is not a 30,000-person sellout crowd — most games draw well under half capacity, so egress is nothing like a Big Ten school. Exit onto Hewitt Road heading south toward Washtenaw Avenue, which will get you to I-94 in under 10 minutes. If you parked in the West lot, head south on Hewitt first.

By rideshare: Uber and Lyft surge is real but moderate — expect 1.5x on a typical game night, more for a big MACtion prime-time game. Walk a block or two away from the stadium toward Cross Street or Washtenaw Avenue for a faster, cheaper pickup. Sitting in the stadium parking lot with an app open will get you the worst of the surge and the slowest pickup.

The one opinionated tip: Drive or rideshare to The Wurst Bar or Sidetrack immediately after the game instead of sitting in the lot. The bar fills slower than the roads empty, the beer is better, and you'll leave Ypsi in a genuinely good mood regardless of the final score.

How do I get to Rynearson Stadium without a car?

TheRide (AAATA) is the public transit system serving the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area. Take a bus from the Ypsilanti Transit Center — Rynearson Stadium is listed as a destination on TheRide's system maps. Rideshare from downtown Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor is also easy and inexpensive (usually $10–20).

What is the Rynearson Stadium bag policy? Clear bags are strongly recommended. A small non-clear clutch around 4.5" × 6.5" is generally acceptable. Always verify the current policy directly at emueagles.com before game day, as policies can change season to season.

How much does parking cost at Rynearson Stadium?

Parking is available in the North and West stadium lots and is typically around $10 for general admission cars. Arrive at least 90 minutes early to get a spot in the closest lots.

What are the best seats for away fans? The visitor section is on the east sideline. Lower east sideline sections (rows close to the field) give you clean sightlines and a close-up look at the famous gray turf. Buy in advance — the visitor block is limited in size.

What time do gates open?

Doors to Rynearson Stadium typically open between 90 minutes to 2 hours before event time. Plan to arrive at least 90 minutes early.

What airport should I fly into? Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). The driving distance from DTW to Ypsilanti is 17 miles , making it about a 20–30 minute drive depending on traffic.

Is there food available on the visitor side of the stadium? Limited. There was a Little Caesars food truck near the end zone in front of the GameAbove Center on the visitors side, but the concession stands built into the visitor stands were not open. Eat before you cross to the visitor bleachers.

What is the playing surface at Rynearson Stadium?

Originally a grass field, the field has been artificial since 1991 and was upgraded to FieldTurf in 2005. The original FieldTurf was replaced prior to the 2014 season by a new gray FieldTurf surface. A full turf replacement was completed in 2024 , so the gray "Crosby Field" surface is brand new.