Question - Jack Roth Stadium Club Experience

Submitted by Butterfield on

I'm looking to experience something new at Michigan Stadium and have an opportunity to buy a couple seats in the Jack Roth Stadium Club for the Illinois homecoming game.  Obviously the cost is more than I would typically pay, so I'm trying to figure out if the experience will be worth it. 

Any help, MGoCommunity?

justingoblue

August 14th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^

I was there for one game last season (Purdue), and it was a good time. The crowd seems quieter, but the field view is amazing, the seats are comfortable and the indoor club is very cool.

I don't know where you normally sit, but the view alone is worth a price bump from paying for corner seats, IMO.

justingoblue

August 14th, 2012 at 7:57 PM ^

Also, Desmond's Heisman is in a case in the Stadium Club at one of the elevator banks. Apparently the Little Brown Jug is nearby, but I didn't know it was up there until months later.

I have a pretty cool picture of me and the girlfriend standing about six inches away from a Heisman trophy, which is something I probably would not have without those tickets.

stephenrjking

August 14th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^

If I had the money and the opportunity I would go for it. Even just to say I did it once. Now, I don't have that kind of money at the moment, but once upon a time I would have jumped at the opportunity. 

I did get to see a Tiger game from a luxury box once, back when the Tigers stunk, and I had a great time. It was a remarkable experience. 

oHOWiHATEohioSTATE

August 14th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^

Once with my wife and once with my son. Its a great experience but for the bigger games I prefer to sit with the crowd. You don't get the same game atmosphere. Westside chairback seats are probably the way to go if you ever get the chance.

Michiganguy19

August 14th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^

Wasn't a fan and got moved back into the VICTORS section. The pros are that the seats are comfortable, food is great, bathrooms are clean, etc. In the event of bad weather, etc... however, I think its great for elderly and wealthier fans to get comforts, etc. However my group of hooligans was more of a clash. 

Then again I would hardly knock it for an individual game. I bet its better when your winning, the  RR era of those seats really stung, I think that year we were 1-4 in games I attended. Including some real drubbings at the hands of Wisco and a comfortable MSU win.

Beavercreek Blue

August 14th, 2012 at 8:54 PM ^

I am fortunate to sit in the club every game. My friend bought them when they were first offered. I sat in the bowl during Neberaska and don't know if I willingly would do it again. The main thing is the concession and bathroom lines are non existent in the club plus are sears are covered so we did not get wet during Western!

Feat of Clay

August 15th, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^

I've been there for 3-4 games and I love it. It isn't as energetic as the bowl, for sure, but good god is it more comfortable. Room for your legs, no one's knees in your back, no one's shoulder in your cheek, room for your whole ass on the seat, there's a cupholder, you can get food/ drink/take a break without climbing over people AND you get back faster due to lack of lines. If the weather starts sucking (hello, 2011 Western Michigan game) you have shelter.

I guess I sound about 80 years old listing all that.

Some seats are more "inside" than others; I've always been on the 3rd level, in seats that only had the low glass partition between me and the bowl. I like that.

Perkis-Size Me

August 14th, 2012 at 9:33 PM ^

Sat in the club seats for the spring game but that's because they were open. Seats were comfortable, and I didn't actually get to go into the inside areas which I'm sure are nice, but to be honest, I wouldn't trade the atmosphere of sitting amongst the fans for club seats. I think you get more of the feel of being at a college football game by sitting in the general sections.



I'd tell you to sit in the general sections unless comfortability is the most important part for you. But take this as the opinion of a recent grad who can't imagine sitting anywhere other than the student section.

ppToilet

August 14th, 2012 at 9:43 PM ^

On what you are going for... For my taste the suites and indoor club seats are too sterile. Outdoor club is the way to go, preferably 3rd level as the 4th seems too high.

For one game it won't matter if you are covered by the boxes or not as you can go inside if the weather turns for the worse. If you are taking the wife or kids then splurge once on it. If you are doing it just to say you did it, then what the heck it's just money. If you are goIng to tailgate and get wasted then just get regular bowl seats and save your money for more alcohol and/or cab fare.

Personally, I love the club area because I can take the family with no worries over concessions and bathrooms.

mvp

August 14th, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^

Our seats are in the West Side Chairbacks.  We LOVE them.  Great sightlines, backs, arms, and cupholders for your chairs, and in our case since we're in the front row, we have TONS of legroom.  

We thought about the JR Stadium Club, but I never leave my seat, nor do I want to be inside.  Plus, we're on the home side, so the band sounds great and the players are running right toward us when they pour out of the tunnel.

Highly recommended (even if it isn't what you asked...).

ncooper1106

August 14th, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^

I took the stadium tour today and got to see the Jack Roth Stadium Club. It has quite the excellent view and if you can I'd recommend it. While it might be a bit expensive our tour guide gave us a handy suggestion today to help defer costs. Apparently you can write off a significant portion of the cost of your tickets on your tax return because they count as a charitable donation to the University of Michigan. I'm not sure if that tips the scale for you but it might be something you can look into.

 

Also of note from the tour, the coaches get together to decide who receives the legend jerseys and the criteria they use is based on both on and off the field leadership from the previous year and the spring game / practice. This would seem to imply that freshmen are ineligible for the legend jerseys. We were also told that Roy Roundtree was planning on wearing #1 this year before the coaches decided he could wear #21.

NeilGoBlue

August 14th, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^

I have seats in section 308.  We do love them.  They are expensive as you can imagine.  You can write off 80% of the PSD, but not if you buy an individual ticket.

The first year I had seats in the indoor club.  We didn't like them.  Not as fun or exciting.  Unless you are disabled or some other real good reason, I wouldn'get them in the indoor club.

In the outdoor club, We are under cover, so even though we are outside, we are protected from the elements, cold rain, snow, etc. (think western last year, we were dry)

I also have a 7 year old daughter and I love being in the club seats with her.  She goes to the bathroom when she goes, not at halftime.. so, being able to stand outside the bathroom, waiting for her and still being able to see the game is awesome.  (vs losing 45 minutes in the bowl, standing in line, etc)

For 1 set of tickets, it's a no brainer to give it a try... if you are thinking about buying tickets there permanently, there is more to think about.

 

pbmd

August 15th, 2012 at 11:59 AM ^

FYI: the athletic department has requested that premium seat license holders do not resell their tickets.  They have offered to broker any resells to other premium seat holders.  At  $3000 or so for each seat licence, buyers are looking for a different experience.  This apparently includes some control as to who is sitting near you. I do not know if  this will be inforced.  

mvp

August 15th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^

This is correct. 

On occaision, for big violations, the ticket department has gone after some ticket holders, but this is really tough to enforce.  When they introduced the option to resell tickets last year, all premium seats were excluded -- premium seat holders were asked, on their honor, to not resell tickets.  I think this was in response to a lot of the premium tickets being resold the first year, often to visiting fans.  Lots of donors complained about this (and could point to specific seats which were sold week after week).

I'm sure some complained about not being able to re-sell premium tickets (the other end of the spectrum) as well.  As this year rolled around, the ticket department offered a compromise.  If you are a premium ticket holder, you can offer to sell your tickets to other premium ticket holders at face value.  This preserves the "sanctity" of the premium experience, but allows for some flexibility.  You also have the option to donate them back to the Ticket Department for a tax deduction.

We'll see how it plays out.