On Saturday, Manchester United’s pre-season preparation continued in America as they faced Liverpool in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Over 100,000 fans watched the match at Michigan Stadium, home to the University of Michigan Football team since 1927.
Whilst Michigan Stadium is normally a venue for college football and graduation ceremonies, this is the second time that Manchester United have played there. In 2014 United played Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly which saw 109,318 fans attend, setting a record attendance for soccer in the United States.
More commonly known as the “The Big House”, Michigan Stadium is currently the second largest stadium in the world and largest in the United States. During this past college football season, the University of Michigan football team averaged 111,589 per home game, more than any other team in college football.
Whilst four other universities in the NCAA boasted average attendances over 100,000 fans per game, the University of Michigan proudly states that they have played in front of 100,000 plus fans for a record 279 straight home games, a record dating back to November 1975.
Michigan Stadium is a great glimpse into the scale of facilities on offer to student-athletes in America. Whilst those on the football team have the opportunity to play at the largest stadium in the U.S., all student-athletes at Michigan have the chance to train and compete in fantastic facilities, many of which rival those on offer at the professional level.
In early 2018, the University of Michigan opened a new $168 million, 280,000 square foot facility on campus, further demonstrating their commitment to athletic excellence. The facility will benefit their 900 student-athletes, helping to each fulfil their sporting potential during their time on campus. The facility features underwater bikes, hydraulic tracks and a rehab pool.
Take a tour of Michigans impressive new training facility
