Stadium Renovation

Just get it done and remove the curse of the stadium renovation! (That is the only reason we have been playing poorly, you know.)

I drive by the stadium every day. There was definitely something going on in there... all kinds of banging and noise, etc.... on Monday after the OSU game. It's hard to tell from just driving by, but I'd guess that press box removal is the first order of business and is underway. There is still some exterior work to be done on the west-side structure (the archways are not complete... some more brickwork, trim, etc.). Once the press box is done, there will be seats to install in its place. I imagine the rest of the time will be spent finishing the interiors of the structures...suites, indoor club seats, new press box area, etc. From inside the stadium, it was easy to tell that the suites, press box, etc. were just "shells" waiting to be finished. Someone else can probably give a more accurate and complete account. Just sharing what I know from daily drive-by and having been at the games.

1. Luxury boxes encircling the stadium. Makes it even louder, increases capacity, adds to aesthetic beauty, increases revenue. 2. Two entrances per section. Build tunnels that go underground into the lower part of each section besides those near the players' tunnel and locker rooms. In addition, many bathrooms/concessions installed in hallways connecting these tunnels. 3. Chair-back seats. Trying to maintain one's seat is an annoyance beyond belief. I don't think it would cause people to be less noisy, either. Compromise: keep the bleachers in the student sections. 4. Lights. It's time to have a night game once in a while.

There's no plan to encircle the bowl with boxes. Never say never, I suppose. But I don't see it happening anytime soon. Like, say, in most of our lifetimes... There's almost no way to architecturally retrofit more entrances in the bowl. That's off the table. Period. BUT, did you know that aislway widening, aisle handrails, and much, much more infratructure (outer stairways, elevators, etc.) are on the way, to help move people in and out of the stadium? It's one of the biggest reasons why the whole project was undertaken! Chair-back seats. Not happening anytime soon. Maybe never. I don't see it. Of course, most other Big Ten schools now have those odd attached soft-seat cushions. It would not suprise me if Michigan does that someday, for more revenue enhancement. Lights. Not. But probably, someday, despite people like me who will complain.

As much as I would love to see that, it ain't happening. They would lose too many seats and the cost would be astronomical. Plus, it seems there is a movement toward standing for 3 hours anyway. Don't get too excited about seat widening either, besides the fact it will take 3-4 years to implement, they will only be 1-2" max wider per seat. We'll never really notice. 3-4" would be great, but would also lose too many seats. How about full chair style seats between the 30s on both sides and benches int the rest of the stadium? I wonder how many seats would be lost doing that. If it loses too many just add small upper decks to the endzones so we end up with 120,001 seats, that would be good, plus intimidating and noisy as hell.