The future of Michigan Stadium

Submitted by That's Just Kramer on

For future expansion/renovation which option would you choose...

1. Lambeau Field style south endzone upper deck with more seats

or

2. Doak Campbell Stadium/Kinnick Stadium brick endzone with fewer seating but matching the overall stadium design

 

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Baugh So Har

May 21st, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^

Yes! We should add upper decks to both endzones to push the capacity to 150,001, bettering North Korea's Rungrado by one Yost; then add an acoustic awning like you see in so many of Europe's soccer stadiums. It would be louder than heck, the fans comfortably sheltered, and the players still having to battle the elements. We should aim for 130dB and turn the Big House into the Mad House.

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bleu

May 21st, 2015 at 3:10 PM ^

A dome of seating with some people looking straight down on the field. Not sure if you go glass or roller coaster style harness seats.

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MichiganMAN47

May 21st, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^

I hope they add 10-15 more rows on each end zone, without a deck, then call it a day. We don't need to turn our stadium into an erector set like Penn State or MSU. I think we'd have s capacity around 120,000 if we did that.

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NewYorkWolverine

May 21st, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

·      Expand Michigan Stadium so that an upper deck encircles the entire stadium.

·      End Zone upper decks could rise to the same height as the existing top of the stadium. In other words, put seating in the end zone to make the end zone match the height of the suites, and then put another, more massive seating tier, above it, which would go around the entire stadium.

·      Make sure the university controls/acquires the properties across Main Street, so that Main Street can be slightly re-directed if necessary.

If you watched Michigan on ABC in the ‘70s, you might remember hearing that the stadium was designed to have an upper deck built on it. This isn’t anything new. It should be done. The question isn’t if, it’s when.

Of course, it is acceptable to take time. Such an expansion wouldn't have to be done all at once.

GO BLUE!

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CRISPed in the DIAG

May 21st, 2015 at 3:39 PM ^

Expanding capacity or suites would only ensure empty seats and thats a bad look. 

I'd suggest more creative parking arrangements - like creating downtown tailgate/foodtruck areas with shuttle service to and from the stadium.  My apoligies if this is already happening.

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ndscott50

May 21st, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

I don’t think the overall capacity of the stadium expands much if any in the future.  There are several reasons for this.  Population growth in Michigan was just 0.27% over the last four years.  The US population growth rate is at its lowest level in forever at 0.7% annually.  I don’t see this trend reversing and believe that Michigan will likely peak in population in the next 10 to 20 years while the US will peak in the next 20 to 40 years. The trend of ever growing population in this country (and eventually the world) is soon over.

Beyond the basic lack of new people we also will begin to see the baby boomers begin age to the point that they no longer are able to attend games.  The next big generation, the millennials, appears to have a lower interest level in attending football games, or at least having season tickets.

It does not appear that the demand is going to be there to support a larger stadium.  The real problem is likely to be how we fill the capacity we have in coming years.

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The Mad Hatter

May 21st, 2015 at 3:55 PM ^

California and a lot of the west will be running out of water soon.  Climate change will make living in much of the country unbearable during the summer months.  So I actually think some of the population (long term) will begin to shift back north where there's water and reasonable temperatures.

Nebraska's stadium seats about 97,000 and sells out.  If the same percentage of Michigan's population attended Michigan games, Michigan Stadium would need to seat something like 435,000.  

Win some NC's and there will be plenty of asses in the seats.  Millennials have to leave their parent's basements eventually, no?

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ndscott50

May 21st, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^

This growth rate inlcudes immigration.  The most recent data on fertility rate in the US was 1.88 in 2012.  This is significantly below the 2.1 needed for replacement. Immigration is the only reason we have population growth currently in the US. Of course regarding football I suspect immigrants are less likely to buy season tickets relative to the native population.

I do agree with the individual who felt we may see some migration back north in coming years due to water/climate issues.  I would also point out that the extended period of a weak Michigan and Midwest economy may eventually makes Michigan a lower cost option for businesses looking to relocate.  I don’t think this overrides the overall population trends combined with the declining level of interest in attending games from the younger generation.   

I am not declaring doom and gloom here just arguing that we are likely at the peak of demand for Michigan football tickets.  This demand will bounce around based on annual performance but is unlikely to see a big uptick necessitating increasing capacity in a substantial way.  Put anouther way I don't think investing university funds in further expansion of the stadium is a good move based on the long-term outlook.  

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jmblue

May 22nd, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^

The most recent data on fertility rate in the US was 1.88 in 2012. This is significantly below the 2.1 needed for replacement. Immigration is the only reason we have population growth currently in the US.
No, we are experiencing natural increase as well. The birth rate, even at its lower rate, is still exceeding the death rate. It's true that in the long run (like 30-40 years from now), the death rate will eventually exceed the birth rate if the fertility rate doesn't increase. But that's not happening at the moment.

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Padog

May 21st, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^

They should expand the capacity but keep the number of seats if that makes sense. Give us more room. I personally don't care, but opposing fans don't like coming to our stadium because they say it is too crowded.

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Nobody Likes a…

May 21st, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^

St Pauli in the second division of the Bundesliga in Germany. As part of their VIP section (it looks like an boxcar on stilts) they have a small toy train that delivers concessions. I would like more of this everywhere.

 

 

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Hardware Sushi

May 21st, 2015 at 4:18 PM ^

My suggestion, although not likely, would be to take off the second level of the suites and then wrap that single level of suites around the entire stadium.
I would then add an upper deck of 10-15k that wraps entirely around the stadium. The upper deck would be built to expand 10-15k more, and the outside of the stadium would be brick arches to match the sides.
Basically, imagine LSU's tiger stadium if the upper decks were a little smaller but wrapped all the way around.

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SwordDancer710

May 21st, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^

Upper deck, and then take the lower bowl and make the rows wider so we can actually have some leg room. It would result in fewer seats in the bowl, but the upper deck would make up for that.

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M-Dog

May 21st, 2015 at 4:36 PM ^

FSU's stadium used to look like a high school stadium.  

I remember the '91 game against FSU in Ann Arbor when they outclassed us by 20 points.  And yet all the FSU fans that I met wanted to talk about was how awesome our stadium was and how pathetic theirs was.  

Putting the bricks all the way around it really did wonders for their stadium since then.

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Noleverine

May 21st, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^

Doak's weird. Their financial aid office is in the stadium, along with a number of administrative offices and other stuff. It was confusing when I was told to go to the stadium to go to student financial services.



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blueday

May 21st, 2015 at 6:49 PM ^

that would be some throwdown conversation at my tailgate.  Just stay away. 

I will take 90k real fans versus 20k more want to be fans ... or say the are because they have a shirt.  No expansion please.

 Sorry.

This is the problem with "fans" that are not really blue ... and miss the ohio game ... and miss kickoffs ...and just whine when anyone has a different opinion.

I thought a Michigan education taught you to explore and be open.  Guess that is only applies if it's  your opinion.  You are not a Michigan grad for this reason.  Paper means zero.

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