A Review of the Club Seats
EDIT: My friend was in the club seats that have the glass in front of them (probably why the noise level was a lot less). Also, their other seats are on the 40 yard line row 20. It is noticeably louder the lower you go in any stadium (including M) and the difference between row 20 and even the top row of the stadium (row 99?) is significant (for noise and visual).
So, I talked to a friend that has club seats on the east side. Here are the bullet points.
Very comfortable and will be great when it's cold and rainy outside
TV screens are good (no sound) but hard to see when the sun shines
Scoreboards are hard to see
Can't hear the band at all unless the mics are on (Couldn't hear UConn band at all)
Most folks were standing and cheering in the club seats but you are so high there is little crowd noise that you can hear
Need to wear a hat (even though you are inside) because the sun shines in through the glass
You are a looooong way from the field
Even the people in the club seats were complaining that they could not bring in bottled water -- hilarious considering what they paid for the seats!
September 5th, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
I sat in the club seats, level 4. Let me comment on all of your bullets with some explanation.
It will be nice when it is cold and rainy but some fans will dress right and still stay outside.
Not sure what sun was glaring on the TV screens but I viewed all 10+ screens inside level 4 and had no problem seeing any of them.
I had no problem seeing either scoreboard. Was never an issue. Maybe it was an issue in level 3 for some reason if that is where your friend sat.
The band sounded the same as always when the mics were off...soft. An usher told me that they were having trouble with the speakers in the club areas the whole game but that they would fix them by the 18th. When the speakers were working the band was plenty loud. The speakers near me were working 90% of the time.
I thought the crowd noise echoed through the club seats the whole game. It was deafening where I was sitting all game. I was surprised how vocal most fans were in the club seats given the stereotypes of which kinds of fans were supposedly purchasing them.
With the sun, again, maybe this was a 3rd level thing. For the most part, the sun never made it in the 4th level...at least past the first 1-2 rows.
I totally disagree with being too far from the field. Yes, the seats are physically further than say the 50th row but the angles and sightlines were created so perfectly that I felt like I was hovering over the field and could see everything.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:05 PM ^
My experience mirrors yours; I was also on the 4th level. I only left my seat once and was amazed at how well the glass knocked down the crowd noise inside the lounge area.
I do agree though that from where we were on the north side of the structure, not hearing the UConn band makes sense. I wouldn't expect to hear any visiting band from there.
I suspect the OP's friend may have been seated inside (not the lounge, but the indoor seats facing the field) on the 4th level? There was no glass between our seats and the field and the crowd noise was awesome as were the sightlines.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:09 PM ^
Yes, they were in the club seats that have glass (hence the glare and lower noise level.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^
I image there will be a number that will be upset that they are paying the most as far as contributions go for club seats for what amounts to be sitting in a fishbowl watching an outdoor activity through plexiglass. Although they've got the seats between the 40s, those folks have got to feel pretty separated from the game.
September 6th, 2010 at 8:42 AM ^
seats are. I would love to hear from someone who has actually purchased them rather than sat in them as a guest what the appeal is. Maybe I am missing something other than that some older people who dont like noise and never want to be outside but still want to be in the stadium. Those seats have a very press boxy feel to them.
September 6th, 2010 at 8:40 AM ^
a couple of the points are more understandable to me. Your friend had the really high priced seats behind the glass. An usher told me that was the spot they had the biggest problems with the speakers. Still not sure why such a glare or trouble seeing the scoreboard. If I sit in the seats I was during a future game I will checkout the sightline to the scoreboards.
When in those seats you mentioned or anywhere behind the glass, there is almost no noise. Those are some high quality windows. There are a TON of speakers lining the ceiling on the outside part of the fourth level that amplified the band sound, just like the speakers on top of the north scoreboard did.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
I was also northward in section 416 (so I was on level 4) for the second half. I spent the first half down in Section 44. No glass in front of us in the club seats, except for a little safety glass to extend the "wall" of the balcony. I was shocked at how loud it was. I felt like the sound just rolled up the stadium and smacked us in the face.
Yeah, I was far off the field but the sightlines were excellent.
It was a little different from the feel of being packed in with fired up fans down in our usual seats, but I certainly saw a lot of enthusiasm in the club seats, plus you could hardly miss the sound of the lower bowl going apesh*t.
September 5th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^
I toured the suites and club seats when they had the open house. The suites were very nice in terms of amenities, luxury, what have you, but they are still suites, not really different from suites at any of a number of other venues. If that's the way I want to watch a Michigan game I will stay home and watch on my TV.
But the club seats were great. Once I hit the lottery (it will take a while, since I don't buy tickets) that's where I would spend some money. Wonderful sight lines, sheltered from the worst of the weather but still out in the weather, and comfortable seats. Glad to hear the folks in the seats were yelling like the rest of us.
September 5th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
depending on how much I win in the Mega Millions. Dude, I encourage you to play; do you realize how much the odds of winning go up buying one ticket versus none at all? I hesitated to share this nugget of information with you 'cept I also considered the impact of you playing on my chances of winning is quite nil.
September 6th, 2010 at 1:19 AM ^
will happen when a stiff November wind blows the rain into the windows?
September 6th, 2010 at 1:26 AM ^
Close the windows?
September 6th, 2010 at 8:27 AM ^
Seats are outside and it was loud! Could see both scoreboards just fine. A man can get spoiled very quickly with those seats.
September 6th, 2010 at 8:45 PM ^
I sat in section 313, outside. Club seats are awesome! Great site lines. NIce to have a little space without some fat guy or old guy moving in behind you when you stand up. It was not as loud as being down in the stadium, but it was not bad. We sat more than I would have liked to. I want to stand and scream! Overall great seats. Bathroom lines much easier/shorter. Food was great. My 15 year old son loved them as well. If you can afford them I think they are worth it. I would not want to be behind the glass though. In our seats it is like you are in the stadium. GO BLUE!!!!!