Engaged? Consider the Big House for Your Wedding Plans

Submitted by MGoShoe on

Looking for that special place to say, "I do"?  How about at midfield of Michigan Stadium after you and your wedding party enter through the tunnel and pass under The Banner? If this sounds like the perfect setting, Dave Brandon is thinking of you (H/T Mama #TeamLique):

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon sees your special day in a very special maize and blue way. "We have fans and alums who would love to get married on the Block M," Brandon said of the famous logo at the 50-yard line of Michigan Stadium.

"Can't you see the wedding procession coming out of the tunnel, under the M Go Blue banner? You have folding chairs set up on the field, you get married on the Block M, and everyone comes up the tunnel, then up the elevators, and you've got all these spaces up here (in the suites). You could have a reception for hundreds of people up here."

Brandon plans to hire an individual who will market Michigan Stadium weddings and parties. That person will set the price for the special events.

"To families, individuals, corporations who would have an interest in using them for events that would be special," Brandon said. "This stadium is one of the assets we have. We have this beautiful structure that's being used predominantly seven days a year. If we can come up with occasional opportunities to host other events that will draw the attention of folks and will be interesting and fun and financially viable, we'd love to do it."

Are you a titan of industry who needs a venue for your next corporate event?

While he was CEO of Ann Arbor-based Domino's, Brandon said it was always a struggle to find a large enough and unique area to host events. He said the company often had to take functions to Detroit. "We think you could put on some interesting unique corporate events," Brandon said. "We are very open to that."

Are you a bigger hoops or hockey fan or maybe you've planned a Dec wedding?

Brandon said that once renovations to Crisler Arena and Yost Arena are completed, those facilities also will contain "a lot of really cool, interesting spaces" that could potentially host events.


Revenue stream, bitches, revenue stream.

DesHow21

December 23rd, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^

role in the death of the student assistant and ND's decision to cover up the rape charge on the football player. Does it bother you or is it the norm for a Catholic institution like ND?

 

If anybody should be preparing for a buyout, it should you guys. RR is going to be here for long time whooping your sorry green pansy Irish ass on a yearly basis.

michgoblue

December 23rd, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^

He was kidding - it was funny.  Your joke was not.

Irish may be a ND fan, but he is one of the good guys - his thoughts on M football are usually more rational than most of the M fans on this board. 

Also, religious insults are really not cool - this is a politics / religion free board.

Also, also, let's not start a "RR is going to be here for a long time" argument this early in the morning. 

BlueNote

December 23rd, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^

Agree with others that he should not touch the sacred cows of the banner and tunnel (tunnel is less sacred - people go through it alot, like thousands did for the Big House Big Heart run).

He is taking advantage of underutilized resources.  That's obvious.

But the other goal he's accomplishing is deepening the loyalty of his alums and other fans.  If you got married at the Big House, it makes you even more of a fan because it enhances your relationship to the program. 

 

michgoblue

December 23rd, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^

I like that he is finding sources of revenue that will not affect the game day experience.  I would far prefer this to in-stadium advertising. 

As for deepening the loyalty of alum anf fans, I would argue that anyone that would get married in the big house is already a pretty damn die hard fan.

buckeyeh8er

December 23rd, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^

Girlfriend is a huge sports fan and was willing to do whatever I wanted so Bellagio and March madness in Vegas it is now.  I think if this idea would have been open for discussion a few weeks ago it would have been very easy to convince her to get married at the there.  But I have a feeling that those that have already purchased plane tickets would not be so happy, well that and a March wedding in the Big House would only be awesome to me and a few select friends  Go Blue!!

WFBlue

December 23rd, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^

Step 1:  Discuss the pre-nup.

Step 2:  Discuss Wedding  in the Big House.

Step 3:  Explain that the pre-nup really won't be necessary after the wedding in the stadium.

 

TorontoBlue

December 23rd, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^

I'm getting hitched tomorrow 11am @ City Hall, just the 2 of us + 2 great friends as our witnesses.  Will follow-up in Feb with a big celebration bash for 200 family + friends after the honeymoon and the dust settles.  Big House would be an awesome option for the party, I'm a fan of this scenario.  Would they relax the "no alcohol" rule?  Wish me luck. . . .

GO BLUE!

The Baughz

December 23rd, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^

This is a great idea. I havent really thought about marriage, as Im still in my early 20s, but this is where I love to tie the know at. Now, all I need is to find a Michigan Lady. My last 2 gfs were Buckeye fans (im not proud of that). There arent many female Michigan fans in western pa. lol

My siser just got married 2 weeks ago and her husband is a Va Tech alumn and they played Enter Sandman for the intro at the reception and most of the people were jumping up and down like they do in Blacksburg. It was awesome. But a wedding in the Big House and playing The Victors would blow any wedding away!

Urbanwestside

December 23rd, 2010 at 1:29 PM ^

...and then worry about making more money later? 

The AD already had a $16m surplus in the operating budget last year w/out suites and club seats from Michigan Stadium.  Instead of coming out and making a decision about what direction the football program is going in, time is being spent on finding more ways to make money through weddings at the stadium. 

The idea itself is fine, but let's make sure all the sports are winning before organizing bake sales and other things to raise more money.

jmblue

December 23rd, 2010 at 1:46 PM ^

The notion that we're running a "surplus" is misleading, given that we're about $170M in debt following the stadium renovation.  We have a pretty good deal worked out to pay that down, but it's obviously in our best interests to increase revenues where we can.

Having said, I fully agree that having a wedding at Michigan Stadium would be a pretty tacky idea.  I love Michigan football and all, but I mean, come on.

BlueDragon

December 23rd, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^

OSU had this big promotion for the last M-OSU game where couples would apply to win a wedding at the Horseshoe and the prize winners' names would be drawn at halftime.  I think DB is trying to establish something similar here to increase exposure and make more Benjamins.  Hey, it beats slathering advertising and other stupid junk all over the stadium, right?  Right.