The word "blue" was written in the sky over Michigan Stadium before the game.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Nearly three hours before game time, Bruce Adams was ready to be in Michigan Stadium.

“It’s going to be exciting,” the 25-year season ticket holder said from his tailgate party. “It’s the first game of the season. It’s the opening of the new stadium. It even feels like fall. What else can you ask for?”

Adams’ feelings were echoed over and over by fans gathered around grills and cars in the area surrounding Michigan Stadium as game time approaches.

In addition to being the kickoff for the start of the season, the game also is the first in the completely renovated stadium.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for shortly before the game, and fans are getting comematorive pins.

The Michigan football team walks through a throng of maize and blue faithful on their Victor's March toward Michigan Stadium.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

The first 25,000 people are also getting special bottles of water. Pallets of the bottles were stacked at the gates waiting for the crowds of fans.

Water is one of the bigger changes in the stadium this year. Fans are no longer allowed to bring water bottles in, but instead will be able to get free water from vendors. University officials have also said the number of water fountains inside the stadium has been substantially increased.

Longtime fan Maria Walters said she’s a bit worried about how that will work out.

“I hope it’s going to go as smoothly as they say it will,” she said. “I don’t know if it will. It’s going to be a ton of people wanting water at the same time.”

The physical changes have been slowly evolving over the last several years. The structure housing the new suites has been in place for a while.

But all the glass is now in place, and the suites are ready to be occupied.

“I like the look,” said Mark Rice, who walked through the stadium earlier this year during a fan day. “It still looks like Michigan Stadium, just with a few more suites up top. I don’t think it’s a bad change at all.”

Inside the towers, around the concourse, are plaques honoring various champion teams.

And while most fans are geeked to see the new stadium, they were also ready to get the season under way.

“Enough of this talking about what might be,” Jim Maskill said. “It’s time for them to play. We’ll see what kind of team we have, starting today.”

David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.