University of Michigan not hosting public watch party for Saturday's Final Four game

• Related article and poll: Some of the best places to watch the Final Four game on Saturday

The University of Michigan will not be hosting a public watch party as the Wolverines take on Syracuse Saturday night for a spot in NCAA's championship game.

The school's 12,700-seat basketball arena Crisler Center is booked for the 41st annual Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, and school officials say other indoor athletic facilities, including Yost Ice Arena, aren't large enough to accommodate a public watch party.

U-M associate athletic director Dave Ablauf said the school is considering hosting a public watch party Monday night if Michigan beats Syracuse Saturday during their 8:49 p.m. game in Atlanta.

Saturday's game marks the first time Michigan has been in the Final Four in 20 years.

The school is hosting two watch parties limited to students of the Ann Arbor campus. A student-only watch party will be held from 6:15 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. in the Pendleton room on the second-floor of Michigan Union and another will be held in Pierpont Commons.

The U-M alumni association is not hosting a watch party in Ann Arbor, although alumni clubs in several cities —including Grand Rapids, Brighton, and Traverse City— are gathering for viewing parties.

If you're not a student but looking to join a crowd when watching Saturday's game, there are a number of pubs in the area that will be showing the game. Colonial Lanes will show the game and giving prizes to attendees. Staff at the The Arena Sports Bar & Grill downtown already are predicting a "stupid busy" night.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.