Michigan: Prioritizing Profits Over Fan Safety
Brian's game recap hints at the mounting frustrations many of us have with the Michigan Stadium experience in 2018. For me, Saturday's game highlighted one glaring issue: The Athletic Department's policies on water bottles in the stadium on hot-weather days.
With a ban on water bottles in the stadium, and a price point of $4.50-5.50 for a bottle of water, the University of Michigan is prioritizing profits over fan safety and health.
After a brutal first quarter baking in the sun on Saturday, I went out to the concourse to grab some water and hit the bathroom. What I saw shocked me. I saw parents holding up their dehydrated kid as he sat over a trash can, puking his guts out. Overheated people were sitting against the columns. Ambulance golf carts whizzed around with sirens blaring. It looked like a disaster film. And that was after one quarter.
There has to be a better, safer way than this.
Prior to 2010, one could bring in a sealed water bottle with no questions asked. For eight years, we have collectively griped about this issue, to no avail. It's time Athletics took action. No one is trying to sneak in a bottle of vodka when it's 90 degrees outside--they're trying not to pass out. There should be better, safer options than expecting the dehydrated to pony up a Lincoln for a water bottle, or wait in a long line to down a cup or two of free Absopure, which can't really be taken into your seat without spilling.
So, a proposal: How about designated water bottle days? 24-48 hours before kickoff, Athletics can announce, based on anticipated weather, that water bottles will be allowed to be taken in to the stadium. Alternately, as is the case with many concerts and public events, and even airport security, empty water bottles could be allowed in the gates, provided they can be shown to be empty. Filling stations already exist outside several bathrooms around the concourse, in addition to water fountains. If I can take an empty Nalgene into a major concert venue, why can't I take one into Michigan Stadium?
It's time the Athletic Department took fan safety into account. Water sales are not making or breaking the bottom line on any given game day. The health and enjoyment of all in the stadium is too important to prioritize a $5 bottle of water over trips to overtaxed Red Cross first aid stations and stays in the hospital.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:22 PM ^
I'm not exaggerating when I say this ---- EVERY MLB stadium I've been to recently (and it's a fair number that I've been to, I'm trying to hit all 30 over time) allows patrons to bring in plastic water bottles (filled with water).
I'm kind of surprised that U-M wouldn't allow this too. I agree with the OP, it should be allowed on hot days.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:22 PM ^
What’s the rules on setting up a water selling stand just outside the stadium and passing the bottles through the fence? $2 a bottle, cash only.
Asking for a friend
September 17th, 2018 at 6:37 PM ^
It will take lawsuits to fix this because #profit
I was at the WMU game. It's really sad how, even in just the four years since I last attended a game, the live experience has degraded for faux safety and money.
If the tiny number of people who are so attached to alcohol that they will sneak it in in a bottle of water are more important to the department than hundreds or even thousands of fans having health issues, well, I don't see how this is any different that the coaches sending a wobbly QB back onto the field.
So pointlessly dumb.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:39 PM ^
Why not allow empty water bottles (ie. Hydroflask) and have water fill stations like they do at countless airports? Would this be a good solution to the problem?
September 17th, 2018 at 6:41 PM ^
Two quibbles:
1. There was a vendor right outside my section (22) selling water bottles for $2 apiece. I'm not sure how or why, but I was glad to see it and bought two.
2. The free Absopure cups are 9 ounces, and the one by the student section hadn't run out when I was last at it in the 3rd quarter.
Also, I noticed by my entrance that there is now a free sunscreen dispenser. Thought that was a nice idea.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
While I don’t disagree with the sentiment of the OP, the hyperbole was ridiculous. “Disaster film” lol
September 17th, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
Not an issue at all. Plenty of free water. You don’t need a water bottle to manage your hydration.
You drink too much water and you get cramps anyway.
The nanny state just keeps getting bigger. Everybody has to give everybody stuff for free. Unbelievable.
Grab a couple of cups of Absopure or buy a water bottle already. Drink water before the game. Get an IV before walking into the stadium.
Stop the in in incessant water bottle whining.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
“Nanny state”
And there goes the argument.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
The suggestion to get an IV before the game makes me think that this could be satire, but actually I'm pretty sure it's not. Nanny state!
September 17th, 2018 at 9:26 PM ^
“Profits over fan safety”
And there goes the argument.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
I'm with you - let's eat a lot of salty junk food and beer before game and if I get sick it's Michigan's fault.
Or if I don't wear a hat. Or if I don't wear sunscreen. Or if I bring a small child to stand in 90 degree heat for 4 hours. All Michigan's fault.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^
I will say this, I saw multiple people with babies and one of the baby's skin already looked red. Like, what are you doing? Go the fuck home.
September 17th, 2018 at 6:48 PM ^
I've despised the greedy and unnecessary water bottle policy at Michigan Stadium since the pariah David Brandon implemented it in his reign of terror. Not only did Michigan jack up the price of a bottle of water to an unconscionable $4.50/$5.00, but they also created a monopoly by eliminating the ability of anyone to bring in an unopened bottle of water under the guise of "security". And no, simply by putting free "hydration stations" outside the stadium or offering free water at the concourses (which they don't publicize at all) is not enough. The right solution is to allow 1. unopened bottles of water to be passed thru security and 2. Drop the price down to $3 for a bottle of water at the concessions.
September 18th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
I agree, and the bottle of water price could be $2 and they'd still make $1.85 a bottle.
Let people bring in their own water or empty bottles, I'm all for capitalism but gouging a captive audience that has already shelled out over $100 for just a seat is just not what the gameday experience should be about.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:08 PM ^
But it was actually fine for a while. The Hydration Stations provided free water up until 2(??) years ago. Then, they apparently decided that global warming meant that they could start gouging people for bottled water.
EDIT: Apparently, some of those stations are still free. I've just been going to the wrong ones.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:22 PM ^
Totally agree. Common sense is not common.
Fan safety and especially kids should take priority.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:46 PM ^
Well... The OP definitely checks out. Melodramatic as hell, as per usual.
I opened this thread knowing ole Bando had to be involved.
I don’t disagree with the actual stance, just the delivery.
September 17th, 2018 at 7:46 PM ^
The University should promote a green alternative in addition to affordable or byob water. How about not generating a crapload of plastic waste by allowing refillable containers?
September 17th, 2018 at 7:49 PM ^
Hey, you made a great point without being a know-it-all! You’re obviously not the OP!
September 17th, 2018 at 7:57 PM ^
The real cash cow is the hospital visits. Michigan’s looking for those. Especially for the suckers with Insurance.
September 17th, 2018 at 8:17 PM ^
I can report that the University of Florida allows fans to bring empty bottles to football games and fill them at bottle fill stations throughout the stadium. Having been to a number of games at Ben Hill Griffin, it works just fine in the 90 degree heat.
I understand not letting people bring full bottles (alcohol, terrorism, etc), but even TSA lets you bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up inside the airport. With that option available and ignored, it seems revenue is the likely motivator.
September 17th, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^
They have water fountains around the stadium, they had a misting tent, they had a row of water faucets on the upper concourse at sections 6-8. All for free. I get what you are saying but how many water bottles is OK to bring in? People need to start thinking for themselves. What should Michigan do when it is too cold or too rainy?
With all that being said, I do think on hot days you should be able to bring in an empty bottle.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:37 PM ^
I get what you are saying but how many water bottles is OK to bring in?
What does it matter? Why is it some huge sacrifice for U-M to allow this when the vast majority of other sports/concert venues have no problem?
September 17th, 2018 at 8:53 PM ^
I have an idea. Let's just increase the price of football tickets by $5 per ticket and give people as many free bottles of water as they can drink, located at any stadium door. You got in? You get free water. Maybe save us some litigation and a life or two down the road as well.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:14 PM ^
Usually if I sneak a bottle into the stadium, it doesn't have water in it.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:21 PM ^
Just seems like as noted it's a money move. At the Rose Bowl for UCLA games we can take in unopened water bottles and we have been for years. Open it take a hit and you can't take it in.Finish it and we use it to drink and douse ourselves if it's too hot.
September 17th, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^
How about make bottles of water cost 2 bucks? Its still a huge profit margin and they would probably sell 3 times as many!
September 17th, 2018 at 9:28 PM ^
2017 at Purdue was a 100 degree day, far hotter than the SMU game. Purdue may not have had stadium x-ray facilities for Wilton, but they DID provide free cold water and mist stations all around the concourse for all fans. Class act.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:25 PM ^
I agree that the ban on sealed water bottles is crazy. But at least part of the problem is simply that the day was just quite warm for a football game, and Michigan Stadium isn't really designed/run like a place to handle that type of weather. I remember being a student in the early 00s and there were a couple of games like that as well, and even with water people would pass out. I honestly don't know what the solution is beyond altering the concourse during games so that there are multiple covered areas for people to have shelter under intense heat.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:39 PM ^
I have a real problem with pro stadiums that our taxes paid for not allowing me to bring my food and water in.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:39 PM ^
More than half the stadium entrances are underneath the press boxes now which weren't there in the 2000s. If you need some shade it's not hard to get unlike back then when everything was open.
September 17th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
Taking my 5 year old son, which was an awesome experience I will never forget, I had read about the price of water. Conveniently the $1 bottle I bought before the percussion pregame rolled up to the size of a chap stick in my pocket. Once in the gate, I inflated it and refilled it many times and the convenient locations around the stadium. We did buy a $7.50 lemonade, a maize corn that was stale as all get out, and were walking to buy frozen lemon ice after the 3rd quarter only to find the majority of the concessions stands had closed. My gripe was not with the prices. There were also misting tents my son enjoyed running through.
<p>
My only gripes:
1. The awful halftime show (no politics.. I enjoyed the Marine performance)
2. Nearly impossible to use data on my cell. They showed the same 30 people on the twitter feed over and over because they were the only people able to post a picture to twitter.
We had a great time, my son loved everything from downtown AA and MDen (which made his day by setting aside the robot toy he had his heart set on) , to seeing everyone in blue and yellow - " Daddy, it looks so cool! Why dont people where it at home? Oh... is it because we live in Ohio state ?"
By the end of the game when we went by the guest relations where they printed him a custom certificate for his first game at the big house, his response was "Thank you, and Go Blue"
If you routinely get to go to games, do not take it for granted.
September 18th, 2018 at 12:27 AM ^
Went to the Purdue game last year when it was surface of the sun hot.
1) They allowed us to bring water bottles in
2) They had misting stations
3) it was so hot that they were giving away bottled water
4) They were allowing fans to leave the stadium and return so that you could go to indoor cooling centres
I realize that all of this wouldn't work at Michigan Stadium but they took care of the fans.
September 18th, 2018 at 12:58 AM ^
There are free water stations and free places to drink out of a water faucet. It was 82 degrees.....unless you went to the game without drinking for a day straight you should be fine. I get young children and senior citizens but come one, so much winning today.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:45 PM ^
82 degrees and felt like 95...even some SMU fans said it was hot and theyre from freaking Texas.
You shouldn't be forced to buy water other than a 4 ounce cup at the free water stations.
September 18th, 2018 at 7:43 AM ^
I talked to an usher at Weber's Monday about the water issue.
The FBI met with stadium security prior to the season and
warned them about possible liquid explosives in bottles looking exactly like water.
After hearing that I'll gladly pay the 5 bucks inside.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:47 PM ^
That is horseshit considering all the other stadium examples people have given that allow them, including Florida which seats 90,000.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:32 AM ^
It is simple, the powers that be don't care about the Brians and the Bandos any more. They assume that the lemmings will keep coming and the big donors will keep donating to get the amenities. So what can we do? Either keep taking it, or stop going. I am on the stop going bus. It is air conditioned and comfortable and has unlimited seating. Come on and join me.
September 18th, 2018 at 8:51 AM ^
I went to my first game this weekend so maybe I have blinders on, and 4.50 is a bit crazy for a bottle of water but, I didn't care to pay it. My wife and I got two 32 oz. Pops and a water to split, we made sure we had plenty of water and such before the game so that may have helped. I will say this though, a guy in front of my wife and I bought I believe close to 50 bottles of water! I remember the total being somewhere around $200 so a little less than 50 but it was still a crazy amount.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:21 AM ^
Absopure tastes like trash, I hate spring water.
September 18th, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^
The policy is a joke. Other stadiums/venues now allow empty water bottles and have fill stations inside.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:12 PM ^
This was one of the things I commented on in the survey thing I'd received. Basically that they were gouging us on a day when they should be more concerned with patron health rather than patron wealth.
As for what can and can't be brought in - that is entirely the Athletic Department's doing, not DHS. They do indicate they look at what DHS recommends but then UM goes a step beyond that. In the end it comes down to a pure money grab.
September 18th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
Apparently nobody thought to get rid of the policy when Brandon was booted out? There's no "security" reasoning behind it. The girlfriend and I went into the concourse and sat on the concrete for the entire second quarter and halftime...and I didn't mind. Take your $4.50 water price and shove it.
September 18th, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
Did anyone go to the Indiana game last year in Bloomington? Even though the game was in mid October the temp was mid 80s. The stadium ran out of water before halftime. The game went into overtime. It was pretty fun not drinking water for almost 3 hours.
September 18th, 2018 at 9:45 PM ^
Sorry to say scannerblue but I have openly carried an empty water bottle into the stadium for every game for over 10 years. I carry 2 butt pads and empty bottle in one hand and my ticket in the other. Never been stopped, never been questioned. They have the water bottle refill stations that we fill multiple times from. Found the misting stations last game but curious to gate location of sunscreen...?