Got an Extra 65-95k Floating Around?
Have 15 friends? Then you can purchase a new suite at the Big House. Here's a little math breaking down the price per person in the cheapest suite: http://tiny.cc/9i1Nq.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:53 AM ^
I can't believe I'm saying this, but that's surprisingly affordable. Not for me, of course. Can you imagine how incredible it would be to have a suite waiting for you at every home game, where you could just hang with 15 friends?
August 27th, 2009 at 9:08 AM ^
I just thought the same thing. Now does that include entrance to the game? It would be a shame if you had to purchase a ticket too.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:11 AM ^
If it doesn't, I'll bet if up put up a fuss they'd just give you the tickets. However, I'm sure the suites come with tickets.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:25 AM ^
"• These annual commitments cover the cost of sixteen football season tickets in each suite and four football parking permits per suite.
• The majority of your annual commitment is considered a donation"
http://www.mgoblue.com/clubs/article.aspx?id=28534#donation
EDIT: of course you would need to be "blowing it out" for 3,5, or 7 years not just one.
"Suite commitments are for three-, five- or seven-year terms. The annual requirements will escalate at 3% annually for the three-year term, 2% annually for the five-year term and 1% annually for the seven-year term."
August 27th, 2009 at 11:16 AM ^
I'm probably opening a can of worms here, but...
Can anyone justify the fact that $58k of this is a tax deductible donation? Why should donations to the athletic department of a university be tax deductible in the first place? This counts as charity?
I'm willing to be persuaded, but I don't see it at first glance.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^
Because it's a public university that the tax money would be going to anyway?
August 27th, 2009 at 11:27 AM ^
But this argument seems to run up against the rationale that the athletic department is financially separate from the rest of the university.
It's probably true, however, that the "donation" is being used to retire the debt accrued to fund the renovations, issued under the university's name.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:55 PM ^
is a charity. It is a total fiction that this is an 80% "donation" and not a purchase of something that has value in return. The over-the-top salaries paid to college football and basketball coaches and other extravagant athletic department expenses incurred at universities all across the country are being subsidized by taxpayers by allowing athletic departments to require 80% deductible contributions in order to get tickets, premium seats or otherwise.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:35 AM ^
if I win the $325 million jackpot on Friday.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:44 AM ^
in the suites? Or can suiteholders bring it in?
August 27th, 2009 at 9:47 AM ^
Nope, alcohol not allowed. I'd be willing to bet you could sneak a bit in without being caught and/or punished though.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:47 AM ^
For the same price you can get a 30 person suite at Ford Field. These things are all corporate owned, so I'm not sure Michigan Stadium is actually a better investment for a company in the region.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:23 AM ^
The problem with Ford Field is you have to watch the Lions.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:26 AM ^
Well, yes but... having an NFL suite is likely to be perceived as more prestigious. And when you're bringing 15-30 people, you're not really going to be watching the football that much.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
I'll bet the Lions box doesn't count as a charitable deduction (though it can be used as a business expense, I imagine).
August 27th, 2009 at 5:11 PM ^
That's an interesting point. I wonder if companies will buy a box and use it for recruiting U-M grads or as a perk to entice them to work for them.
Hmm, that's a good idea: create Legitimate Business. Buy U-M luxury box. Sell access (for a profit, of course) to other companies who might want to go to a game and recruit students/give grads a perk. Keep other tickets for your self. Profit.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:56 AM ^
It just doesn't seem right that your shell that kind of coin for a suite and can't even enjoy a beer/cocktail while you watch the game.
Of course, if I were to hit the Mega Millions, I'd soooo be getting one anyway.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:57 AM ^
4 parking passes per suite? Well, there goes Victors Club Blue Lot passes. It's going to be great to see those spots sitting empty until a half hour to an hour before kickoff, just like the President's Club spaces next to Crisler, while everybody who used to pack the lot from sun-up has to hoof it over from Yost.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:08 AM ^
Funny the types of things you can get with large sums of cash huh?
August 27th, 2009 at 10:22 AM ^
what other choice does anyone have? and the suites are catered, right?
August 27th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
I'm assuming your food costs are an additional expense to the price of the suite. At least it does at most other venues.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:37 AM ^
Again, not at Ford Field.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^
By chance, is your name Brodie Ford?
August 27th, 2009 at 11:21 AM ^
Naw, I'm just attempting to convey the fact that the prices for these suites are absurd when you can have twice as many people and free food at an NFL stadium down the road.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^
The product you're truly paying for and get at Michigan Stadium is leaps and bounds better.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:23 PM ^
You're not paying $65k for you and 15 buds to chill out and watch a game. What you're paying for is something to impress clients, corporate recruits, etc with. And NFL season tickets that accommodate twice as many people for the same price with catering and alcohol is likely a better deal.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:02 AM ^
can you bring in your own food? I'll assume you can't bring flammable things like a grill, but could you bring a cooler full of sandwiches and snacks?
August 27th, 2009 at 11:42 AM ^
I'm going to assume that if you paid $65-90k for a suite, you aren't going to be bringing a cooler filled with snacks and sandwiches.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
it would be a faux pas to get the suite and not the catering? because for $65-$90k, I wouldn't be eating donut holes and Hungry Howie's pizza either.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
You bring all your friends in with the impressive suite and then whip out 500 White Castles that you've tucked into your pants and smuggled in.
Then you charge your friends for the eats.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:27 PM ^
You know, I thought of exactly the same thing, and then thought, "Wait a minute."
August 27th, 2009 at 10:39 AM ^
with suites at most venues, the catering is in addition to the annual expense. I will assume that is the case here as well.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:38 AM ^
Price seems a little high to me - but this is Michigan - tons of alums have cash they are willing to throw around.
If I pooled 15 friends together and we each spent $500 on gameday festivities I bet I could have a better time than in the luxury box.
(plus as a person that has watched hockey and baseball in a luxury box - you simply just don't have the same experience as being outside and in the elements)
August 27th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
completely agree. Watching a game in a suite is a lot like watching it on TV. Even at Miller Park (Brewers) when I watched one game from the low level suites that are about 10 rows back, it still seemed very detached from typical game experience.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:01 PM ^
And Rodriguez gets one of these for free - his agent is incredible.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
I remember going to Denver for the Frozen Four and being annoyed when I saw all of the taps at the Pepsi Center covered in bags because it was a collegiate event and no alcohol was allowed. This annoyance was further increased when I got to my seat and four rows behind me, in one of the suites (and seemingly in ALL of the suites) I saw people very publicly (not trying to hide it at all) boozing it up. Moral of the story, money is power. Booze will find its way into the suites and I doubt anyone will care. I can't imagine anyone saying something to an alum who just contributed 70, 80, 90k to the school for bringing in some booze.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:29 AM ^
to be fair, no one really says anything to the students who spent $180 on season tickets, $25 on a bottle of vodka, and $1 on a water bottle to later empty out and fill with said vodka