Parking & Entrance Protocols Announced For 2021 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 22, 2021

To provide for the convenience and safety of spectators attending the Michigan High School Athletic Association 11-Player Football Finals on Nov. 26 and 27 at Ford Field in Detroit, attendees are being advised of a variety of items related to transportation and security – including policies regarding parking, seating and types of bags allowed into the stadium.

Parking will be available in Ford Field facilities and lots to the east and north of the stadium and costs $6. A map identifying the designated Ford Field lots (4, 5 and 6) and parking deck can be found on the Football page of the MHSAA website. (There also are a number of privately-operated parking facilities close to Ford Field, but their pricing may differ.)

Fans also are advised that the consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Ford Field parking facilities and lots, and smoking – including use of electronic cigarettes and vaporizers – is prohibited inside the stadium. Tailgating, including the setting up and use of grilling equipment, also is not allowed.

Tickets are priced at $20 and allow a fan to see all four games in a single day. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or from participating schools. Spectators leaving the stadium will be required to purchase another ticket for re-entry. Infants able to be held in arms will be admitted without charge for this event. There will not be a public Will Call window. The only ticket presale is through schools playing in this weekend’s event.

Spectators may enter Ford Field at Gates A & G. Upon arrival in the building, fans will find their designated seating areas on the South side of the field if their team is the designated home team for their contest and on the North side for the designated visiting team. Home teams this weekend are Rochester Adams, Warren De La Salle Collegiate, Detroit Martin Luther King, Chelsea, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Lansing Catholic, Pewamo-Westphalia and Hudson. Brightly-lit video boards above the seating areas will display the names of the participating teams each day, and fans should sit on the side of the stadium where they see their school’s name. For general fans, the entire lower bowl of Ford Field will be open for the event.

Security measures also will be in place to help assure spectator safety. Fans will be subject to metal detector screening, and Ford Field personnel reserve the right to request patrons open their coats, bags and other item-carrying vessels for visual inspection and deny entrance to individuals who do not cooperate. Spectators should remove cell phones, cameras, keys and other large metal objects before passing through the metal detectors.

Items which fans will be prohibited from bringing into the building include, but are not limited to, the following: 

*  Purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs, cinch bags, grocery & paper bags; duffle bags, computer bags or luggage of any kind. 

*  Aerosol cans (hairspray, mace, pepper spray, etc.) 

*  Animals (except service animals to aid guests with disabilities) 

*  Balloons (air or helium) 

*  Balls (beach balls, footballs, etc.) 

*  Banners or large flags

*  Cameras with lenses longer than five inches or any detachable lens. Selfie Sticks also are prohibited.  

*  Decals, stickers, confetti or glitter 

*  Drones and/or remote-controlled aircraft

*  Electronic equipment including laptop computers, video recorders (hand-held video cameras are allowed), tripods and wearable video cameras including Go Pros.

*  Fireworks 

*  Food, beverages – including water – or liquids (cans, bottles, boxes, flasks, etc.) 

*  Illegal substances 

*  Knives, pocketknives, box cutters, scissors, etc. 

*  Laser pointers 

*  Markers (permanent) and/or paint 

*  Noisemaking devices (bells, horns, kazoos, whistles, etc.) 

*  Objects that can be used as missiles or projectiles (sticks, poles, bats, clubs, Frisbees, etc.) 

*  Seat cushions 

*  Strollers and infant car seats or carriers 

*  Umbrellas (large size)

*  Weapons 

*  Wrapped gifts

The following items may be permitted after inspection

*  Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc or similar). An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at the Gate.

* Infant items in a clear bag (bottles and formula) only if accompanied by a child

* Binoculars and binoculars cases not exceeding 4½ inches by 6½ inches may be brought in via one of the plastic bag options.

*  Cameras and small camera cases (lenses may not measure longer than five inches or be detachable, and no tripods or extension cords)

*  Small radios (no larger than the size of a football and used with an earpiece)

*  Small, compact umbrellas (must be placed securely under seat)

*  Posters and signs without poles or sticks, or larger than what one person can hold. 

*  Tablets (iPads, Kindles, etc.)

The complete list of prohibited items can be found on the Detroit Lions website. Prohibited items that are discovered during security inspections at stadium entrances must be returned to the owner's vehicle or discarded. Items will not be held for later pickup. 

Fans are reminded that all image taking (still and video) may be only for personal, non-commercial use. 

Kick Off Your 2022-23 with MHSAA.com's New Look, Enhanced Experience

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 1, 2022

Welcome to what we hope will be your best – and most welcoming experience yet – on MHSAA.com.

As part of the kickoff of the 2022-23 school year, the Michigan High School Athletic Association is reintroducing this redesigned website filled with enhancements we hope better tell the ever-inspiring story of school sports – while making it easier for visitors to learn how they can be part of these stories as they unfold.

Driving this new fan-focused MHSAA.com are the following:

  An opportunity to tell your stories, front and center. You’ll see them immediately on the front page of the website and on pages for all of our sports and schools. After 10 years, our “Second Half” website is gone, with that coverage of schools all over Michigan now moved to MHSAA.com.

  The ability to make schedule and tournament information easier to find. The navigation at the top of the site is designed to get you places in fewer clicks. And our pages for every sport will be updated frequently throughout the season and especially at tournament time with information on how to attend and watch your favorite teams compete.

  The probability you’re connecting with the MHSAA on your phone. The majority of our web traffic – 70 percent, in fact – is via a mobile device, and our website will be much easier to navigate moving forward.

Much of this will look familiar – just different, and hopefully more organized and easier to navigate.

Are we missing anything? To answer that question in advance, “Yes.” We will be working throughout the coming months to backfill much of the historical data that has made MHSAA.com a home for high school sports, while also positioning those results, records and more in a way our millions of visitors will be able to better enjoy them.

So please, stop by frequently and stay a while. What’s the best place to start? Check out the “I AM …” link at the top of this page, and dive in.