Indiana stadium experience?

Submitted by Jon06 on

You guys can kill me if we've been over it, but were there any noticeable differences to the stadium experience this past Saturday? 

h/t MGoN00b Sternrudder:

Great to hear he got his press credentials back. It would also be nice to learn that the loud music is now gone from the stadium PA system. I wasn't at the Indiana game-- can anyone report on the status of the amplified "music?"
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rob f

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:04 PM ^

but the piped-in stuff seemed to be toned down, turned down, and more retro.  There was no doubt that the full-on audio assault we were subjected to in the 4th quarter vs. Penn State wasn't there this past Saturday vs. IU.

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 194188

snarling wolverine

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:09 PM ^

It didn't seem any different to me.  Still an extensive RAWK playlist.  If it was shorter than usual (which I'm not certain about) that may have been due to Homecoming.  

Having said that, I wouldn't have expected changes on such short notice.

 

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98199

Bighouse1475

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:50 PM ^

I didn't hear them announce the attendance. That was the first game I had been to since last year and the only game ever that they didn't. I wish I could post pics. The crowd before the end of the 3rd quarter was sparse. Go blue

Joined: 08/28/2011

MGoPoints: 174

Indiana Blue

November 3rd, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^

I said 103K during the 1st quarter, just as many as Miami (NTM).  Difference ... those in the skyboxes STAYED in the skyboxes.  And yes, the student section could not have been more than 15% full at the end of the game.  Rawk was still there - people didn't hear it as well because of 20 - 30 mph winds and hats / earmuffs.  

It was a very quickly played game.  I stayed to the end watch the team run to the students, then took my sweet time heading back to the car (Hill & Division lot) and made it back there just before 7p ... so actual playing time had to be right at 3 hours.

Go Blue!

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

UMxWolverines

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:39 PM ^

That might have been the deadest I've ever seen the stadium. It doesn't help that I sit in a section that does nothing but sit to begin with, but man outside of a few plays it was a morgue. 

I've also noticed that the people down low stand a lot more often than people up higher. I wish I sat down there. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65366

Soulfire21

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^

It was quiet, very quiet.  I was pretty disappointed more people didn't show up to show their support of Brandon's resignation.

Outside of the occaisonal 3rd down play, you could nearly hear a pin drop.

Joined: 03/18/2010

MGoPoints: 22716

bj dickey

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:19 PM ^

WH. A couple thoughts for you. First you're great. I've been listening and watching some old clips the last couple months and what a great resource for kids, adults, whatever. Thank you! Second, this was the best game day experience in more than 3 years for cream puffs. I'm certainly not going to compare it to notre dame, psu, etc, but it was pretty damn good considering. The crowd was reasonably tame (iu) but there were times on key plays that it did get pretty loud. Third, I'd bet we were about 15k less than max capacity at the high attendance point. The students showed up late and left early. Kinda disappointing after what should have been a victory for them coming in. Kudos to Shane for letting the student body know they won by tweet. Maryland will be interesting. If we beat northwestern it's going to be close to a full House. As it should be. I really cannot overstate the difference in the stadium experience. The band is omnipresent. If that's a word.

Joined: 10/03/2014

MGoPoints: 1416

HokelessRomantic

November 3rd, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^

I agree that there were easily 20k empty seats in the first half, and more after halftime. The most shocking things to me were the lack of all the usual signage around the stadium showing the location of the Annual Alumni Tailgate as well as the fact that the usually half full Blue Lot RV had exactly 3 RVs in it, and a grand total of 42 total vehicles, making it about 15% full. The closest and nicest paved lot to the stadium was as dead as the crowd during the game. By far, the lowest point in my 15 years of holding season tix.

Joined: 12/13/2013

MGoPoints: 338

Bando Calrissian

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^

The small portion of the Blue Lot that is still general-admission space parking is full end-to-end every week by about 9AM, no matter who we're playing. But it's only a very small fraction of what used to be the Blue Lot. Over there, it's like nothing has changed.

The rest of it, from the handicap spaces (which all have one empty space in every three spaces due to ADA compliance guidelines, thanks to Richard Bernstein's lawsuit, and therefore looks far emptier than it actually is) to the numbered spots for Champions' Club, the suites, and the Schembechler Hall staff and family parking, are empty week in and week out. I'd be surprised if ten percent of the people with suite and club seating parking tailgate. Meanwhile, the tailgates that had been in those spaces for generations are either shoved elsewhere or set up in a living room somewhere in Southeastern Michigan.

Athletics spent a long time whittling away at tailgating around the stadium, starting with Joe Roberson and Tom Goss. Bill Martin took a stab at it, too. Yet it survived, for the most part. But between the suites, changes to the Victors Club, and pissed off donors under Brandon, tailgating in the Blue Lot is now dead. Dead. 

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68117

Bando Calrissian

November 4th, 2014 at 12:27 AM ^

There's more handicap parking back there, but that's all still Champion's Club, I think. The only non-numbered Blue Lot spaces are a small patch adjacent to the hill north of the tunnel, which the band marches through on their way to the stadium. That's all that's left of the former Blue Lot, even if they call that back part by you the Blue Lot. RV parking has been thrown back there for years after they (rightfully) banished them from the conventional Blue Lot because they ate up so many damn spaces for people that just sat inside.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68117

HokelessRomantic

November 4th, 2014 at 12:56 AM ^

The Champions Lot is actually the area adjacent to Crisler with all of the numbered spots. It all used to be the blue lot, and is still labeled as such on some of the maps that are linked to UM parking searches through google and at least one on the UM site. The grand total number of RV season passes sold for this year... 13. Lol. I mean, seriously, it's so "points prohibitive" to get into that lot anymore that it's a joke. We have an RV pass, but don't have an RV. We do have a trailer and use all 4 spots and try to party but there's just no atmosphere anymore. We are bailing on our season tix of 37 years and the RV pass after this season. I've already found a free place to park not far from the blue lot that's paved and has grassy areas. As for the tix, scalpers are the best way to go. I'm done being fleeced for $6k a year for 4 tix and a parking pass. The RV pass has gone from $270 5 years ago to $1400 this year. It's a disgrace.

Joined: 12/13/2013

MGoPoints: 338

MGoLesher

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^

I was there and could DEFINITELY sense a difference. There were long stretches of time during breaks where either the band was playing or no music was playing at all. It was a fresh breath of air, to say the least. 

Joined: 11/10/2013

MGoPoints: 2054

bj dickey

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:08 PM ^

There was really no music piped in at al. What was was very very infrequent was MUCH lower volume. The band played what seemed like most of the game, and it's the first game in four years where I came away humming the bands tune because do what was played during the game. Can't believe this wasnt mentioned until now. AWESOME.

Joined: 10/03/2014

MGoPoints: 1416

Walter Sobchak

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^

I thought there was less stupid music piped in, still too much. I agree with above, there was more band involvement. I thought those in attendance near us(section 23) were rather tame. We did do a lot of standing, however. The church we park at was noticeably emptier than normal.

Joined: 03/12/2010

MGoPoints: 10663

JudgeMart

November 3rd, 2014 at 8:30 PM ^

Much less piped-in music.  It was noticeably absent. Could talk to my daughter without shouting between plays.

Way too many students left at halftime, however.

 

Joined: 08/08/2010

MGoPoints: 906

Shlack

November 3rd, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^

I also thought it was a little toned down. I did not hear seven nation army once. I make it to a few games a year and this was one of the most enjoyable i can remember. I think with Brandon gone it just felt like a curse was lifted. 

Joined: 09/12/2013

MGoPoints: 496

You Only Live Twice

November 3rd, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^

It felt curiously like old times, in cold weather during a less important game.  There was noticeably more conversation among the fans and room to spread out.    Strange weather pattern - might be warmer at the Maryland game

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

UMxWolverines

November 3rd, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^

Also that might have been one of the coldest games I've ever been to. I had 5 layers on and I was still freezing balls by the end of the game. Two pairs of socks did nothing. Couldn't feel feet or hands. 

Not surprised people left considering Indiana didn't look like they wanted to be playing the game. 

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65366