RIP Ferry Field, Cliff Keen Arena
With the news of the AMAZING new rennovations that are coming to the entire athletic campus, we see the end for Cliff Keen Arena and the historic Ferry Field is near.
On the map, you can see Ferry Field will become a parking lot for the rennovated Canham Natatorium and Weidenbach Hall. Quote from the new indoor track facilities description.
Ferry Field has served us well for over half a century with its illustrious history, but college athletics has changed immensely. So our vision is to move the outdoor track and field facility to a new dedicated area, and create a place where Big Ten, national and international competitions can finally be held.
Quote from the new "multi-purpose arena" that will host Volleyball, M Gymnastics and Wrestling's description.
The Cliff Keen Arena has served us well, but it doesn’t provide individualized resources for our sports that rely on this facility. Our vision is to transform the space ensuring that our wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics teams will compete in a facility, which will make them the envy of our conference, and on par with their national rivals.
Ferry Field really hurts. For those who aren't history buffs, Ferry Field was the home of Michigan Football from 1906-1926. Home to Fielding H. Yost's last football team, 1918 National Champions, Benny Friedman, Bennie Oosterbaan, Germany Schulz and many more great Michigan men.
This new South Campus plan is a beautiful thing to see. Absolutely love it. Michigan NEEDS a new Indoor Track Building, Lacrosse Stadium etc.
Just hard to let go of such a historic site that Ferry was.
September 11th, 2012 at 6:45 PM ^
September 11th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^
I think they should at least make some kind of "mini -track" with some dedication to ferry field, and (gulp) the jesse owens plaque. Some kind of "monument park for the athletic department and for ferry field that could still be used for sprints, etc. I used to work out on the track all the time as a student.
They better not make the new outdoor track exclusive to athletes, like how they close off the stadium. Students should be able to enjoy all the open air facilities and at least have some kind of booked in advanced limited access to all the other facilities (besides obvious high demand zones).
September 11th, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
I am shocked and I think that it is un-fucking-believable that they would destroy Ferry Field in favor of a surface parking lot. What the hell?
Given all of the space already dedicated to surface parking on the South Campus, why don't they go big and build some multi-level parking decks over those existing lots? Money never seems to be an issue for these long term projects (in fact, they could probably self-finance if they charge for the parking) and there is plenty of space.
Ferry Field may not be the highest use piece of real estate but it is historic as well as being a convenient running space for many students and locals. Let it be.
September 11th, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^
While I'm with you in thinking that all parking lots should be 6 story structures, this complex is going to be awesome. This is not a Brandon failure.
September 11th, 2012 at 6:05 PM ^
I agree with everyone that is kind of upset that ferry field being replaced with parking, but take a run on the outside lanes on the trackand you'll basically be scraping against the IM building. (Speaking of the IM Building, hopefully that gets a fucking renovation as well, I think the American flag out in the front still has 13 stars on it.) I hope they at least commerate in some way what was there with some kind of mini track and field, garden-esque zone.
September 11th, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
We cant "preserve" every field any athlete has ever done anything on. This isn't Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. Yes its a cool thing but with no stands...this landmark for Michigan football was gone a long time ago folks. As in 1927.
Its not fun to see it go...but we're not paving over the grave of Bo Schembechler. Just an old venue that needs replaced
I have a feeling Yost would have said the same thing. Im pretty sure he was all for building Michigan Stadium.
September 11th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
I'm excited about the lacrosse upgrades. I really can't wait until M is competing for championships in lacrosse.
September 11th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
Kind of a head scratcher that it's going to be outside. The map of South Campus shows that Oosterbaan Field House most likely will be gone too. So where are they supposed to play in February and March when it's snowing?
I don't think Brady will be too pleased letting them play in the Glick.
September 12th, 2012 at 1:56 AM ^
Not sure what you're looking at. Oosterbaan still appears on the map right next to Schembechler Hall and the football practice field.
September 11th, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^
"Commemorative" parking space honoring that donor who most exemplifies the spirit of Jesse Owens and Fielding Yost parking their Model-T's. A donor who gives an extra $10,000 will be able to park in this, the only covered spot in the lot, designed like Yost's locker; i.e., a "spike on a wall," as Bo put it. In addition, the donor will receive a parking pass with a special patch on it with the logo "550-0."
September 11th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
What's that you say? International competitions? This is really going to help us recruit with the big dogs like MSU.
September 11th, 2012 at 9:51 PM ^
They recruit wookies for shotput.
September 11th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
I'll miss having a track to go run on. Ferry field was a convenient distance from the south campus housing area.
September 12th, 2012 at 8:33 AM ^
Regents Field was obviously not preserved because nobody really thought anything of saving anything back then. It stood where Schembechler Hall stands today though, so It's fitting that the team practices on the grounds that the Point-A-Minute teams rolled.
I just wish they would leave Ferry alone. It's the oldest athletic facility on campus.
September 17th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
Frankly, I just don't see the point of putting in a parking lot. Even with the athletic complex expanding, there is pleanty of parking for daily activities. During game times, there have always been a parking problem, so what's prompting this?
The site could be used as a local training facility for many other varsity or club sports.
It's just sad to see a historical place like this get paved over just so a few extra people don't have to hunt for parking.
September 17th, 2012 at 11:35 AM ^
I have a huge emotional attachment to Ferry Field, having known and seen the old original concrete stands on the south side of the old football field. It was like seeing the Coloseum in Rome for a young kid with a football in hand on a fall Saturday.
And I have a preferential attachment to the infield of the track, as the last remaining semi-public green space on just about the entire South Campus.
And it is really too bad to relocate our outdoor track from a genuinely historic place in that sport, to a place that virtually no central campus student will want to walk to.
But I gave this some thought over the weekend after my initial emotional reaction. It is unfortunately probably an imperative for Dave Brandon to do this. There could be and should be a monument to Ferry Field and its history. The old gates are already preserved next to Weidenbach.
We need the parking. Football parking is crummy in Ann Arbor. Only Madision, to my knowledge, is more strapped for good game-day parking. We need the parking for hockey, and for baseball and for general athletic campus utility. Victors Club members who have been dramatically downgraded in terms of parking priority by the Champions/Blue Lot reconfigurations should be getting better options, for all that they have been giving to the Athletic Department.
Just please, Mr. Brandon; make it a nice parking lot. This won't be a Target or Meijers. It will likely become a focal point for valued alumni and visitors attending all sorts of sporting events. If you could use it to generate some interest in baseball tailgating or (brrr) hockey tailgating, to benefit those sports, all the better. And please don't make it an excuse to build something else there after the asphalt is dry. You get a pass on this one just because the need for parking is so acute.