There is now advertising in Michigan Stadium
As I've said over and over again, I borrow a line from Sam Walton. He said that if you don't know what to do, ask your customer. All of the research and input we've gotten from our customers is that they really don't like or want [advertising] as part of their game-day experience inside the stadium, and I respect that.
-Dave Brandon, December 2010
Yesterday, amongst the first things I noticed when I entered the stadium concourse were ads for StubHub and Marathon Oil plastered on all four sides of the columns in the concourses. Every time I went in and out of the concourse yesterday, there were folks standing in front of them with puzzled looks and/or cameraphones at the ready.
We've crossed the rubicon. How long until these things make it inside the bowl?
September 4th, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^
I don't think defining "past the gate and inside the concourse" as "inside the stadium" is that radical a line to take.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
I would define "inside the stadium" as "inside the stadium", not "inside the gate".
September 5th, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^
Blimps or Airplanes with Banners? Would that be inside the stadium if you could see it from your seats...
September 4th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
....that tonight, with 70,000 still out, I will be staring right at my employer's wall advertisement in left-center at Comerica and know that everyone who knows me will be asking, "Why did you come home after only 11 hours? YOU GET RIGHT BACK OUT THERE!"
September 4th, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
Dave BRANDon is licking his chops. He will get advertising inside the bowl. It's just too easy money. He knows it, we know it.
September 4th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^
Obnoxiously simple minded.
September 4th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
The no advertising in the stadium means in the actual bowl seating area.
Basically Michigan and Notre Dame are the only 2 schools that I know of that have this policy as it costs the schools millions of dollars in revenue. Even Notre Dame has had NBC and Adidas logos in their stadium bowl - so I am not sure how they can still claim to be ad free.
Kind of ironic that a liberal school is so staunchly conservative with its prize possession.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:36 PM ^
There is nothing "liberal" or "conservative" about being opposed to ads. Michigan football is a special tradition that all Michigan fans can enjoy, regardless of political persuasion. Part of that tradition is escaping the hyper commercialized world outside to enjoy a game together. Michigan Stadium is one of the last places you can do that, and it would be something sad to lose. Once it's gone, it's gone, and it would be a sad thing to lose just to boost revenue by a couple percent.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
...move along people. Nothing to see here.
I mean really? Some signs on a pole? Jeez. You act like the scoreboard is like Texas' Godzillatron. Now that's gaudy and THAT can't happen. But I wouldn't care if they ran a commercial once per quarter, who cares? Every time I want to watch countdown to kickoff I have to see that flash mob guy...throw him up on the big screen a couple times a game, it's NOT THAT SERIOUS.
There's a line. And we didn't even come close to it. I just don't think there should ever be perm. advertising inside the bowl. But if you ran 1 commercial per quarter, I don't think anyone would...or excuse me, SHOULD, care.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
I don't like the idea of commercials or other blatant advertising in the bowl, but a few signs outside don't hurt. What I'd really like to see more of is advertising for other Michigan sports events, like they did for soccer yesterday.
September 5th, 2011 at 1:14 AM ^
Disregarding tradition and alienating loyal fans in pursuit of expanding the business and trying to attract new people.
September 5th, 2011 at 8:59 AM ^
Ah the slippery slope argument, employed by people who would have you believe that allowing gay marriage will allow you to marry your poodle in a few years.