on fiah
Michigan Stadium Construction Tour
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Brian and I toured Michigan Stadium with assorted members of the media, and all we got was this stupid t-shirt photo gallery:
Also, we got some details:
- Both the suites and the club seating are reserved to about 70% capacity.
- The suite have their own indoor concourse with air conditioning. The suites themselves are also air conditioned.
- The new press box will have seating for 224 reporters.
- Michigan Stadium was down to 106,201 seats last year (from 107,501), making it the second-highest capacity stadium in the country (though more people strolled through its gates than #1, Penn State's Beaver Stadium). When the new structures are complete for the 2010 season, capacity will be around 110,000.
- Over the next few years, the aisles will be widened in phases. Final capacity of just greater than 108,000 will be reached in about the 2013 season.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:15 PM | 
Impressive!
Impressive!
August 26th, 2009 at 5:16 PM |
Nice, there are also some
Nice, there are also some
Nice, there are also some pictures on the Michigan Football facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=144834&id=155034533624
August 26th, 2009 at 5:17 PM |
Are they going to continue to
Are they going to continue to
Are they going to continue to use the old press box? Or is it just a shell?
August 26th, 2009 at 5:20 PM |
I think they are going to use
I think they are going to use
I think they are going to use it this season then its getting taken out before the 2010 season.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:40 PM |
Yes - I believe the plan is
Yes - I believe the plan is
Yes - I believe the plan is to tear it out in November after the OSU game.
Let's eat Grandpa.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:17 PM |
are they keeping the iconic signage from the pressbox
are they keeping the iconic signage from the pressbox
or are they going to "update" (read: assify, a la the lions 2009) the lettering?
No more of that talk or I’ll put the fucking leeches on you, understand? - R. Duke
#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
August 26th, 2009 at 8:05 PM |
I'm pretty sure I read that
I'm pretty sure I read that
I'm pretty sure I read that they are going to save the "MICHIGAN STADIUM" from atop the press box.
"The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman."
- Jack Handey
August 27th, 2009 at 12:16 AM |
They are moving the existing
They are moving the existing
They are moving the existing lettering to the east side tunnel entrance on the outside of the stadium. This is straight from assistant AD Mike Stevenson's reply to my email asking just that last year. No word if there will be new, assified lettering in its place though.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:36 PM |
Halftime implosion, just like
Halftime implosion, just like
Halftime implosion, just like John L.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:25 PM |
Looks sweet. Good
Looks sweet. Good
Looks sweet. Good perspective.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:40 PM |
How long until you two get a
How long until you two get a
How long until you two get a press pass? I mean annarbor.com has less than half this traffic and they've got two.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:49 PM |
How do you know how much
How do you know how much
August 26th, 2009 at 9:26 PM |
Is that you in 32?
Is that you in 32?
Facebook photos?
It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:02 AM |
http://www.facebook.com/album
http://www.facebook.com/album
August 26th, 2009 at 6:53 PM |
Wait a sec
Wait a sec
Wait a sec, you dont have a press pass yet? Did they deny you one?
I swear I heard Madej, in an interview back in the spring when asked about blogger access, say he was up for it. In fact, I'm pretty sure he spoke directly about Brian and this blog and said a press pass is there for you if you wanted one. It was WTKA. Probably something linked from here.
Brian, I know you've articulated your reasons for not going the traditional press pass route. I respect that. But, your comment to FA leaves me thinking you pursued this and somehow got turned down.
That would suck. Especially in light of Madej's on-the-record comments from months ago.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:14 PM |
You tell 'em.
You tell 'em.
You tell 'em. His e-mail can be found in the directory, but I would just like everyone to know, Madej has been incredibly helpful and still has my utmost respect. Any correspondence with the Athletic Department should reflect that.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:23 PM |
I'm really surprised they
I'm really surprised they
I'm really surprised they haven't given a press pass to you guys yet. Back in 2006 I got one for the CMU game (the one that was delayed because of bad weather; good day to be in the press box), and I was beyond lucky. My blog was only around for 6 months or so, and I was only 16 at the time. Right on the credential it says you have to be 18, so I lucked out (especially since they checked my license). With the traffic mgoblog has and it's reach in general, I don't see why they would not give you one.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:00 PM |
In 4 years 108,000 won't give
In 4 years 108,000 won't give
In 4 years 108,000 won't give us enough to have the biggest stadium in the country.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:03 PM |
Wait
Wait
So we're going to go up to 110,000 and then back down to 108,000?
August 26th, 2009 at 10:24 PM |
Not a fan of the widening seats/aisles
Not a fan of the widening seats/aisles
For all the seats we're going to lose, how much of a difference is the widening really going to make? I can see making the aisles bigger, but the seats are only supposed to be widened an inch or so. If you can't fit in them already, an inch isn't going to change much.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:14 PM |
Photo gallery
Photo gallery
Impressive shots!
-Greg
MVictors | HTTV '08-'11 | GoBlueWolverine Mag
August 26th, 2009 at 6:14 PM |
So there's no plans to make
So there's no plans to make
So there's no plans to make the benches slope downward, to encourage standing up?
Pronounced Ahh-Neh-Muh
August 26th, 2009 at 9:40 PM |
There's 3 times when sitting
There's 3 times when sitting
There's 3 times when sitting is OK, and I'd like my seats to be flat when it is... plus, you have to stand on the benches, and sloping would make it awkward...
MGoGTI
August 26th, 2009 at 6:16 PM |
Capacity
Capacity
I hope we make sure to continue "saving a seat for Fritz Crisler" in the final capacity.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:26 PM |
Actually, I'm pretty sure
Actually, I'm pretty sure
Actually, I'm pretty sure that the new capacity will sit at "...,002" instead of the original "...,001". One seat for Fritz and another for Bo.
It warms my heart, frankly.
"I have long thought that anyone who does not regularly - or ever - gaze up and see the wonder and glory of a dark night sky filled with countless stars loses a sense of their fundamental connectedness to the universe."
August 26th, 2009 at 6:18 PM |
Also fwiw
Also fwiw
AnnArbor.com posted video of the interior:
and
August 26th, 2009 at 7:32 PM |
Club seat life
Club seat life
I've watched one game from the indoor club seating at Lane Stadium (which just finished their renovation in 2006, with some very similar layouts), and it was disappointing. The private restrooms and concession stand were nice, but the game-watching experience was odd. The glass wall seals out the sound of the game, and they pipe in either the stadium announcer or the TV broadcast. There's no crowd noise; the only thing you can hear are the other 200 people in the club seats, and most of them are muttering blue-hairs. There's no real cheering inside, just the occasional yell that sounds out of place, and some scattered polite applause.
I've been offered club seats several times for free since then, and turned them down.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:13 PM |
+1 to you
+1 to you
Even if I could afford club seats, you wouldn't find me anywhere near them.
I want to roast in the early September sun, shiver in the late October breezes, and freeze my ass off in the late November snow/sleet/hail with everyone else.
Because at the end of the day, that is how football is meant to be enjoyed.
"The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman."
- Jack Handey
August 26th, 2009 at 8:40 PM |
FWIW, I just read somewhere
FWIW, I just read somewhere
FWIW, I just read somewhere else that the windows can be opened. Don't know if it's true though.
August 26th, 2009 at 8:50 PM |
Correct
Correct
This was mentioned on the tour, windows can be opened.
-Greg
MVictors | HTTV '08-'11 | GoBlueWolverine Mag
August 26th, 2009 at 9:21 PM |
Even in the club seats? I
Even in the club seats? I
Even in the club seats? I read the UM premium seating brochure, and it really does look just like the set-up at Lane. The boxes have windows that open, but the club seats are behind a fixed glass wall.
Here's a slideshow of Lane just before it re-opened. This particular pic is a good one of the club seats.
http://www.techsideline.com/lane/pics/2006/20060601/album/slides/100_292...
August 26th, 2009 at 9:30 PM |
It looks like there will be
It looks like there will be
It looks like there will be both.
This is a picture of where the club seats will go. There's no glass in front and doesn't look like there will be:
And this is from http://mgoblue.com/clubs/article.aspx?id=28536:
AMENITIES
• Outdoor chairback or indoor theatre seats with abundant leg room and cup holders
August 27th, 2009 at 7:11 PM |
Does the Emperor have any clothes?
Does the Emperor have any clothes?
What's funny, that nobody says, is that other than the nice chair, these would have been among the worst seats in the old stadium.
My old nosebleed seat in row 82 is better.
M'Dog
August 26th, 2009 at 8:44 PM |
Since I completely agree, you
Since I completely agree, you
Since I completely agree, you receive a +1. I was in the skyboxes about a month ago and, for me at least, felt very cut off from the rest of the stadium. Even with the windows that open, it just isn't the same. I would take a ticket anywhere else in the stadium before one of the suites.
My best experiences in Michigan Stadium have been with crowd, whether it be MSU '04 or even Northwestern last november. College football is about sweating, freezing, cheering and swearing with 111,000 of your closest friends, and you would loose it all sitting in a seat that has a back.
I have a Fandom Endurance III merit badge
August 27th, 2009 at 9:33 AM |
Yes
Yes
Plus, the added height of these seats above the stadium floor makes it even less of an experience. I've been in several stadiums for away games and usually get stuck up in the rafters of the upper deck.
Our seats at the Big House are simply orgasmic in comparison.
Argument fallacy ad hominem: Attacking a characteristic of the source rather than addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:47 PM |
The inside of the finished
The inside of the finished
The inside of the finished suite looks really nice.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:51 PM |
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Really nice pictures, it looks really good.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:13 AM |
More seats?
More seats?
So the total number of seats will be greater, but for me and most everyone else without six digit salaries, there will really be less seats! On the other hand, the lux-boxes will move some of the blue hairs out of the bowl and open up their old seats. hummmm.... I wonder how that will pan out when it comes to ticket availability.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:18 AM |
Most of the seats that will
Most of the seats that will
Most of the seats that will eventually be removed will be replaced where the old press box is now.
"This is the EMU game, not the emo game."
August 27th, 2009 at 10:23 AM |
I think the "moving the blue
I think the "moving the blue
I think the "moving the blue hair" factor of the boxes is wildly overrated. Are long-time ticket-holding older alumni (whom I assume most are talking about when they bring this up) really going to plunk down $65k to $85k when they have acceptable seats already? The boxes are going to be primarily corporate patrons.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:02 AM |
i love how most of the
i love how most of the
i love how most of the renovations are comming, i just don't want them to widen seats. why do they have to widen seats? 1/2 a freaking inch won't make a bit of difference, and the stadium loses 2,000 seats! plus i heard texas a&m might renovate their stadium to fit 110,00 in the next few years.
edit: kyle field may go up to 115,000! we can't be beat!
I have Hokeamania
40-34...Hail. I still hate tsio...10 months til we meet again.
Impressive!
"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield" --Alfred Lord Tennyson/ John Sheridan B5
&n