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Posted on Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.

Michigan Stadium updates: Paint job and new 48-foot-wide marquee installation underway

By Kellie Woodhouse

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A few fresh faces on the field won't be the only new element greeting football fans during University of Michigan's first home game at the Big House this fall.

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Crews work to paint the Michigan Stadium bowl Wednesday, June, 26.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

They'll also be experiencing a stadium that's been repainted with roughly 3,500 gallons of paint and adorned with a new 48-foot-wide marquee.

Michigan Stadium's $6 million paint job began in April, is roughly half complete and will finish mid-August. The $2.8 million marquee is being installed now and will be fully functional by late July. Crews are connecting it to a control room in Crisler Center.

The video marquee is located between Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center and is visible from Stadium Boulevard. It has audio capabilities, stands 21 feet above the ground and is 27 feet tall and 48 feet wide.

As a comparison, the stadium scoreboards are 62 feet tall and 108 feet wide.

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Crews work to paint the Michigan Stadium bowl Wednesday, June, 26.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

"It's very large," said Margie Teall, an Ann Arbor councilwoman representing residents that live near Michigan Stadium. "It feels out of scale for the neighborhood it is in. ... It's a huge stadium, so I understand that but I don't know how badly they needed to have it be that big."

Teall says the marquee brings a new commercial element to the lower Burns Park neighborhood near the stadium. The same kind of electronic board being installed outside the stadium now was prohibited by the city council during a June meeting. The council restricted the use of electronic billboards in the city and passed limits on the size and brightness of illuminated signs.

Added fellow Ward 4 councilwoman Marcia Higgins: "I am not against digital billboards but I think it also gets defined by the scope and the size and the brightness effect." Higgins said she is worried the board will be a distraction to motorists.

planforstadiummarquee.png

The yellow section denotes where the $2.8 million marquee is being installed.

Teall and Higgins say nearby residents haven't formally approached them with complaints about the installation.

"It will be interesting to see what my residents have to say about it," Higgins said. "It's kind of a wait-and-see moment."

Dave Ablauf, an associate athletic director who handles media inquiries, said the board will host promotional material for the athletic department —such as game times and athletes of the week— during weekdays. He said the athletic department plans to limit the use of live video to gamedays. He said the placement of the board between Crisler and the stadium is strategic, as those venues are the most heavily visited.

"It will be like just another marquee that you see at other sports venues," Ablauf said.

U-M athletic director Dave Brandon has said the marquee is in step with the electronic displays featured by other major college athletic programs. "It happens to be across the street from a golf course so it won't annoy anybody," he said when proposing the marquee to the U-M Board of Regents last year.

Not far from the marquee installation, roughly 50 workers are repainting the inside and underside of the Michigan Stadium bowl. Crews are using tools to abrasively blast the old coating off the stadium and then re-applying paint using airless spray pumps. The process is loud and Higgins said she's received noise complaints from some of her Ward 4 constituents.

"It's a very large project in a short amount of time," said Dave Gore, a vice president of the Michigan-based Niles Industrial Coatings, which is performing the job using paint from a Pittsburgh-based company.

Niles also has painted Michigan State University's Spartan Stadium.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Comments

nattiejames

Thu, Jul 4, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.

Margie Teall feels this is "out of scale for the neighborhood it's in"? What?! It's lodged between two enormous athletic venues, across from several hundred acres of golf course on a 4 lane road with a center turn lane. How, exactly, is that "out of scale"? And, pray tell, to what "neighborhood" is the redoubtable councilperson referring? There's not a house within a quarter mile (perhaps even farther) of the sign, and certainly not a neighborhood. The nearest reaches of the 'Lower Burns Park' neighborhood for which she claims the sign will commercialize (again, what?!) is basically the student rental market along State Street. I'd love to hear the councilperson's spin explaining how the rental houses are not far more of a commercial enterprise than a marquis.

Lenny Kafka

Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.

According to annarbor.com - "The athletic dept. is expecting $146.4 million in revenues next year, allowing for a $8.9 million surplus." Anyone in a corporation knows if you don't spend (or overspend) your budget you get less the next year. "...Next year's budget is $11.6 million more than the this year's $124.5 million budget." Watch out for other ways the athletic dept spends their money - reducing ticket prices is not allowed.

15crown00

Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 5:05 a.m.

Paint the stadium.Football pays for MOST of the athletic program.

TryingToBeObjective

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 1:34 a.m.

Yes, you can park on my lawn for the game. Just look for the big sign.....,

seasons

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.

Even with the new sign not put into operation, it is truly ugly. Coming from the direction of Arbor Land towards Main Street, the vista with the new bridge and renovated/new constructions of the U of M football/basketball/etc. building was sort of an awesome sight of curves, warm colors of the buildings against the background of the sky. Going towards Arbor Land from Seventh street on Stadium, the vista of this area was less grand, but it was harmonious. I can't imagine on what basis the decisions were made to install a sign of this size, in this particular site. It is just awful, really tacky and really, how necessary??? I don't think so.

wisecat

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:29 p.m.

More "leaders and best," "victors valiant," "champions of the west," biggest house anywhere Arrogance. The previous "upgrade" made the stadium look like the Roman Coliseum, conjuring bread and circus to satisfy the masses and feeding dissidents to the lions to protect the dictators, who, of course, have no accountability to the irrelevant people of Ann Arbor, distracted or otherwise.. The athletes also get the short end, providing the spectacle, without getting the pay. Hopefully the colleges will lose the legal case athletes are bringing against the universities and NCAA to be paid for their professional services provide and risks to health they accept on the iron grid. Likely the "grand marque" will be an attraction for video hackers, graffiti artists and paint bomb. projectors. Hopefully also it could be a reminder that Humility has a part of liberal education.

Fullbound

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 11:50 a.m.

The marquee is brash and largely unnecessary when compared to many of the other tasteful U. of M. structures that enrich our community. It suggests an immaturity I associate with adolescent boys.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:30 a.m.

Or the winningest 'men's' college football team in America !

Bpf

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:48 a.m.

I own a home in the neighborhood and I'm M alumnus. That marquee is a distraction even if it's turned off. It's a highway billboard on Stadium. I support legal action to remove it. Just terrible.

cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:57 a.m.

when the beer cooler's 6 foot antique neon sign blew down,they would not let them replace it.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:29 a.m.

Let's see; beer or college education/athletics ? What to do ?

Macks Pizza

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.

DB working to have his name in lights or on a building one day. It's all about the greed of the mighty dollar at UM. Thoughtless idea.

julieswhimsies

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 10:26 p.m.

Good grief! This huge electronic monstrosity will have audio capabilities?! What is it about the UofM that requires everything to be bigger than anyone else. Certainly glad I don't live around there. Ugh!

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:27 a.m.

Maybe; All-Time winningest record in football, largest football fan base in America. When you're big, go big or go home !

Cornelius Nestor

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.

It's understandable that people who haven't reflected much about the situation would be put off by the extravagance and cost ($2.8m) of the marquee, but they must understand that it takes a good deal of showmanship and a great deal of money to run a successful professional sports team.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:32 a.m.

Cornelius. Thank you, an intelligent poster. Good job !

julieswhimsies

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 10:27 p.m.

U of M athletes are not professionals.

Hailmary

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 8:37 p.m.

Cornelius, that was almost cute.

Pablo

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.

Now let me see...how does one spell: E X T R A V A G A N T or S H O W Y or O S T E N T A T I O U S or U G L Y?? No wonder our Big-Time-Paid UM president is leaving town...of course, she says she has nothing to do with the Athletic Department!! Big Ten = Big Bucks...sure hope all you football fans get your money's worth.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:33 a.m.

The greatest college football team in history is our moneys worth !

Hailmary

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 7:55 p.m.

Can you imagine how irate a lot of the local folks were when the University first built the stadium. Some folks are angry about a little ol sign. No matter what you propose be it right or wrong there will be those that love it and those that oppose.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:35 a.m.

Yes. Most of the people commenting here are complaining just to complain. I say get a life people, stop hating the most successful college football program of all time.

semperveritas

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 7:40 p.m.

tell the 'man who would be god' that if it won't annoy anybody to put it in his neighborhood.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:36 a.m.

god did put it in his neighborhood, right in front of his big house.

Ric

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.

UM missed the Lem Barney message!

jen777

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 6:38 p.m.

Many opposed the marquee at the time it first was proposed. and same comments hold true about it being distracting as you are approaching an intersection...

Sawchuk

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.

What an exciting time to be a Michigan football fan. Our favorite teams stadium and surroundings are being refurbished, just in time for the new season, complete with the all-time winningest college football team and fresh off their 900th victory (over a MSU team, who's coach said five months prior that Michigan was no threat). Good things ahead for our house on the corner of Main and Stadium.

treetowncartel

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.

I think former Michigan football player Tom Coyle, bless his soul, painted the stadium for like $20,000 back in the 70's when Canham was the AD.

miman

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 4:34 p.m.

Ok, where are the halo haters from yesteryear? I personally perfer the marquee to the halo. That being said, the halo was, "different".

A2since74

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:44 p.m.

Come on, Margie and Marcia. Do your job and focus on the 4th Ward for a change. These signs are ugly and distracting and garishly bright. Get the University to pay for repaving Stadium Boulevard in return for this ugly sign. Get them to repave 7th avenue near Lawton. It is used by U of M fans for parking, and is in deplorable state.

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.

why would the University pay for paving public roads? Because fans use them 7 or 8 times per year? The brightness of the sign literally impacts no one, unless you plan on night golfing.

Louise

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:16 p.m.

As a UM alum and nearby resident, I find the $2.8 million video marquee to be WAY too big, a HUGE waste of money, and a significant distraction to drivers. Beyond that, this billboard installation begs the following question: How does the installation of this "billboard" fit in with the University of Michigan's "Planet Blue Inititiative"? Heavy sigh.

seekingsun

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 4:35 p.m.

I'm pretty sure the Athletics department isn't caring so much about Planet Blue. In LSA all the hallways are on motion detector lights, decorative accent lights have been turned off, all to save energy (and money). You drive past the stadium and all of the lights and scoreboards are on (and not because there are events on - you can see them from the street, sometimes it is just a white screen, or scatter). Clearly caring about energy saving isn't a priority.

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.

Maybe it has an energy star rating?

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.

I don't quite understand how someone could call a two sided video board ugly. There's literally nothing to it other than a video board and the few pillars supporting it. Maybe what it displays will be ugly but it could also display something very elegant and tactful. Seems silly to complain about it either way. This will impact pretty much no one. It looks fine to me and will be a great tool for advertising events, or other information, for the University. Furthermore, I'm not sure if people realize this but the scoreboard on that corner used to have a big display on the back of it. I suspect this is just replacing that considering it was lost when the scoreboards were replaced.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:39 a.m.

Good call, and people that say they are distracted - dah, don't look at it !

handywolf

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 2:55 a.m.

i, for one, don't need to see a giant television while driving. nor do i want to drive while other people are distracted by it. there have been many versions of boards in that general location, none of them as large or intrusive as this. i really doubt um needs to draw more attention to their athletic programs, or at least basketball and football. i prefered the old score boards with the painted football schedule that you could read while waiting in traffic. just because you can do it doesn't mean you should do it.

Hailmary

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:49 p.m.

I live out in the desert in California so that sign does not bother me. My beautiful desert is about to be invaded by an Indian casino built at the base of the Joshua Tree National Park. The tribe does not need community approval to build on Indian land. There are a lot of poor folks out here in the desert and what little money they have will now go into the slot machines and eventually end up in the pockets of the same Indians that white America screwed over every chance t hey got. We whites pushed the Indians onto mostly worthless reservation land that now hosts casino's that are robbing dumb Americans. The long and short of this rant is, so, you think you have problems in Ann Arbor with some little sign, ha, ha. Just be happy that Dave Brandon is not installing slot machines and gaming tables at the,"Big House".

julieswhimsies

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 10:32 p.m.

I'm not getting the comparison here.

ChrisW

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.

Don't give him any ideas!

Chester Drawers

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:35 p.m.

And yet the AAPS Board of Education voted against the opportunity to earn $100,000 by installing a much more modest electronic billboard diagonally across the street at Pioneer, partly because it would be a distraction to drivers?

Dave Bass

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:31 p.m.

So, the "outhouse" has a big marquee!

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:41 a.m.

And 900 wins, coming vs MSU October 20, 2012.

MRunner73

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:28 p.m.

Nice addition, good location. Stop whining, enjoy.

glacialerratic

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.

The marquee is a vivid indication of the bloat and excess of Michigan athletics.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:43 a.m.

The excess of 900 wins, by college footballs all-time winning program.

Peter Eckstein

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:04 p.m.

This will give those of us driving by the Stadium something a lot more interesting to do than watching out for bicyclists and pedestrians. The new "public art" installation at the bridge will help, too.

Major

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:02 p.m.

Wish they'd have put it in a retractable housing under ground for use on and around game day's. The rest of the time it's just a big monolithic view blocker...I would rather see the Big House!!

Major

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:40 p.m.

Good one Kyle!! Spot on!!

Kyle Mattson

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:24 p.m.

Major- When I read your comment I couldn't help but picturing Michigan fans around the new sign like this: http://youtu.be/ML1OZCHixR0

Bonsai

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.

I, an Ann Arbor liberal who loves to complain, would feel a whole lot better about this if UM would chip in a little $$ to repave that stretch of Stadium.

Bonsai

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 7:13 p.m.

I'm a longtime season ticket holder. I've given the UM Athletic Department quite a bit of $$ over the years. You take stuff too seriously. For real, you don't see any irony in a multi-million dollar advertising sign for high-profile college sports next to a pot-holed stretch of road? That must say something about conservatives, but I don't like to generalize...

JGA2trueblue

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:30 p.m.

Thank you Bonsai. That's honesty. Liberals complain and want to spend other people's money.

deb

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:47 p.m.

Instead of art on the stadium bridge the city should install their own equally large and obnoxious video billboards and sell that space to advertisers. I'm thinking there can be a screen hanging on either side of the bridge. The city can then use that money to repair the roads.

Dog Guy

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:46 p.m.

Remember to post a followup story this fall: "Michigan Stadium's Electronic Billboard Can Be Read from the International Space Station."

Youwhine

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.

Speaking of electronic screens... Has anybody ever asked the U why the screens INSIDE the stadium are left on all night, all year long?

deb

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.

They host events inside the stadium. When you pay to rent the space, they turn on the video boards. Ive never seen the screens off at the pro stadium in Nashville

kmgeb2000

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.

Might be the $130 million(+/-) in revenue? Got to spend the money somewhere.

Ian

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.

People in Ann Arbor will complain about all things always.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:47 a.m.

True, but not the football fans !

Brad

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:47 p.m.

That will surely improve the "southern gateway" to our fine city. Especially if AAPS folds and allows a billboard on the Pioneer property as well. The "digital billboard corridor" to welcome people to town. Very classy.

julieswhimsies

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 10:37 p.m.

Are you being sarcastic, Brad?

Ms1215919

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.

a billboard for the wind turbine?????

seekingsun

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:44 p.m.

that marquee is horrific. a gigantic black box as you come over the stadium bridge. it totally obfuscates the view of Crisler when you are coming the other direction. Please, please, please say that it will only display on game days? A2 does not allow for video billboards. If this is allowed to "advertise" games all week, all the time, I think it falls more into the billboard category than marquee. horrible choice.

Nicholas Urfe

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:39 p.m.

"Its sitting in front of the largest stadium in America so it hardly matters." The majority of the stadium is underground. Until the ill-considered expansion a few years ago, the concrete stadium only rose about ground level by a couple of stories - 20 feet or so. That integration with the community was amazing. It *was* an architectural marvel. Now it is just an ugly monument to excess that casts a literally shadow over the neighborhood and screams "Look at me!!" One wonder's what's next. How will the university further intrude upon the residents who live nearby.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:40 p.m.

I waved the white flag on these things after Wrigley Field put up lights in 1988.

Nicholas Urfe

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:12 p.m.

Right, below grade. Way, wayy below grade. They might as well cover the thing in flashy lights, like vegas. Put a McDonalds style counter on the sign that tally's the amount of money they're making.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.

not to nitpic "underground" but its actually below grade. I thought part of the charm of the stadium was its low profile despite its size. But that went away with the expansion. So now, I contend, the sign hardly matters.

brimble

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.

UM athletics is a business, plain and simple. The athletic facility parts of campus are a commercial zone, and with that comes a commercial approach to promoting the business. I find the new sign garish and obnoxious, but the University is appealing to its customer base, not to random residents. It is a shame that the graceful subtlety of the Michigan Stadium of yore is long gone, but the graceful subtlety of college athletics is just as far gone.

kmgeb2000

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.

I agree with your premise (not that it matters). However, would add if this is in fact the case (a business, not university), then they should be taxed as a business. They are self-professed to be separate from the university then be separate. So much so that they lose their tax free statues, and the associated shielding from local ordinances.

Brad

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.

""It will be interesting to see what my residents have to say about it," Higgins said. "It's kind of a wait-and-see moment."" Leadership at its best. Say, have you checked your e-mail yet this year?

Ross

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:19 p.m.

It'll sure as heck annoy me every single time I have to drive by it! Or even just driving down state or main at night... this thing will be blasting lumens all across the area. It'll annoy me every time I think about it, and how many watts of energy are pointlessly being wasted. Another obvious reason why this university cares nothing about actual sustainability. Grumble grumble. Oh well.

JGA2trueblue

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.

Every time I hear or see the word "sustainability" it makes me ME CRINGE!!!! While this sign could be a tad smaller and not so Vegas - I support the Ath. Dept. for what it contributes to the community. It is the ungrateful and "entitled again" who contribute only useless ignorant negativity. These people don't "sustain", they "complain". THAT is annoying.

Ms1215919

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:14 p.m.

After the wind turbine is built at Pioneer you won't even notice.....

oncidium

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.

I'm sure that the 1 in 4 children living in poverty in the State of Michigan will be so thrilled they can now watch the big house action from the sidewalk that they will completely forget about their rumbling stomachs! Seriously, I think our culture needs to reconsider some priorities here. As someone with children, (who thankfully have the good fortune of 3 squares a day) I find this giant screen beyond offensive. From a moral standpoint, how can this community spend this kind of money on a TV screen when kids are going hungry? Every time I drive past it, I'm going to donate 1$ to a food bank, and I challenge every football fan to do the same. If you can afford to drop $100 to enjoy a Saturday afternoon watching teenagers run around, you can afford $1 for charity.

Tim Hornton

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 4:23 p.m.

Good Grief! You must be "beyond" "offensed" all day long in this world with people spending money the way they do on entertainment instead of feeding the kids "rumbling stomachs". Do you get upset at the lavish spending of Hollywood too?

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.

I don't think you can look at it like they could spend $2.8 million on a scoreboard OR feeding children, or even paying for scholarships. You have to spend money to make money and if they weren't spending money, or didn't exist entirely, then that money would not exist in University hands anyway. If they gave all their money to academic scholarships, then they would start losing money and eventually it would all end. So, as Kellie said above, it's better to leave it alone and let them give the $2 million annually to scholarship funds so they can continue doing so.

Kellie Woodhouse

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:43 p.m.

Also, to be fair the sign will be paid for by the athletic department, which contributes $2 million to U-M's general fund annually toward scholarships-- and not scholarships that are earmarked for athletes.

bluemax79

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.

rumbling stomaches have NOTHING to do with this sign this is no different than any business putting up a sign to promote their business. for every event that Michigan has at the Big House or Crilser center a lot of money is created for the community by people that come to the events and spend money in town which helps people keep jobs and create more jobs which help feed people. I also can tell you that most of the people I know that "drop $100" to enjoy a saturday DO give a LOT to charities and food banks.

Ross

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.

Hear hear! Instead of spending 2.8 million dollars on a humongous and offensive screen, they could have given 200+ students a year of free tuition, or so many other noble causes.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.

how often do you drive by it? I'm guessing not twice a day 5 days a week?

Go Blue

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : noon

"...it won't annoy anybody" isn't exactly accurate. It is distracting, not particularly attractive, but certainly attention getting. There is already one large sign there, guess that wasn't enough.

Rabid Wolverine

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.

That is horrendously big and ugly....Yost would be rolling over in his grave.

nancy

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.

Indeed! The continuing ulglification of AA.

Paula Gardner

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:33 a.m.

Makes me wonder how Brenda Starr would have approached the story! Seriously, though, when something of this size is built in front of the Big House, we think it's important to give the city details and check in on whether there have been complaints or concerns expressed.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:54 a.m.

I'm all for giving the city details and input, but have to wonder, and seriously - how many comments here are complaining, with hate toward the City, University, or football team ? Fair question ? Probably never know though.

Mick52

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 4:42 p.m.

Nothing like making up the news.

Paula Gardner

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.

@Tim Hornton: Indeed. We definitely hear a lot of them! It can be hard to keep them in perspective. (And I'm chuckling at the mental image of that Honda. That's so Ann Arbor)

Tim Hornton

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:28 p.m.

Fair enough, but like Craig said, "this is Ann Arbor" and "complaints" and "concerns" are more numerous then a Honda Civic with preachy bumper stickers all over it in this town.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:50 a.m.

Ah yes, Brenda Starr, I haven't thought of her in years. ;) As an impressionable youth I knew she had more substance than Betty and Veronica (Archie comic strip) combined.

Tim Hornton

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:22 a.m.

In my opinion this article is trying to create drama and tension when there really isn't anything to really talk about here but positives. Your never going to beat out Lois Lane of the Daily Planet with this type of journalism Higher Education Reporter. Perhaps try digging out of UM if they plan on getting rid of that ugly Blue siding plastic around the ends of the stadium, that's the only thing holding the Big House back.

Tim Hornton

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.

I just get emotionally involved with articles on the greatest football program in the country... And where the bromance of my life played ball... I love you Tom Brady. And no, I do not support gay marriage... Unless Tom wanted to marry me but it appears he already has a supermodel wife. I think my picture is pretty sexy though, wouldn't the commenters agree?

Kellie Woodhouse

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.

Tim, you're a tough critic and believe it or not I appreciate it. But I can assure you- not tying to create drama. We received inquiries about stadium projects so we checked in with the athletic department put an update together for our readers.

Brad

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.

Yep, "nothing but positives". It's a thing of beauty alright. A big sign woo hoo! Easily amused much?

bluemax79

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:18 p.m.

you pretty much nailed it.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.

"U-M athletic director Dave Brandon has said the marquee..... happens to be across the street from a golf course so it won't annoy anybody," Dude, this is Ann Arbor. I can pretty much guarantee it's going to annoy a bunch of people. But I won't be one of them. Its sitting in front of the largest stadium in America so it hardly matters.

Sawchuk

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 3:59 a.m.

Craig, I liked your post.....and yes, quite a lot of A2 people complain, and unfortunately some complain just to complain - and ease their pain. If you build it they will come, if you post it they will complain.

Chris

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:51 p.m.

Yet another classic case of looking for something to complain about. The university would grind to a halt if it had to go through all the city's hoops and hand-wringing over every little project. There's no chance it will have any impact on any neighborhood.

Brad

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.

While the unenlightened just get all excited about a shiny new sign.

fjord

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.

Yeah, conservatives never whine OR hate. Ever.

Tim Hornton

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:26 a.m.

LOL, "Enlightened" and "progressive" people always find something to whine and hate on.

mr_annarbor

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:10 a.m.

So, no city approval was needed for this?

Mick52

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 4:39 p.m.

@Brad - I don't argue that the city isn't an asset. Just a little heavy-handed at times and tending to value their own interests over those of the resident university.

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.

I do agree that the University can be heavy handed at times. What they've been trying to do with eminent domain lately is quite concerning. But I think it's a fairly silly argument to complain about a video board in front of the 3rd largest stadium in the world....the world. They aren't even putting it on the side of the stadium that faces residences, it faces a golf course.

Brad

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.

@Hail - I don't argue that the U isn't an asset. Just a little heavy-handed at times and tending to value their own interests over those of the surrounding city.

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.

Brad, I think you also need to realize how much the University brings to Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor certainly wouldn't be what it is without the University. Most of the residents work for the University or for a business that exists because the University is where it is. It's my opinion that if you chose to live next to or around the largest stadium in the entire United States that you're just going to have to give into the fact that there are going to be some conveniences and inconveniences surrounding that choice. The stadium has been there longer than pretty much all of the surrounding houses or residents so it's not like it popped up out of no where. Would it be legal to build a 110,000 seat stadium anywhere else in Ann Arbor? Probably not. There are plenty of buildings and things the University does, besides a video board, that would not be legal under Ann Arbor jurisdiction.

Brad

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.

That would be a great editorial - how the university does what they want when they want, despite the wishes of Ann Arbor residents. This sign wouldn't be legal anywhere else in town other than on the university property. It will cause additional light pollution, use as much electricity as multiple houses and be a general distraction on Stadium Blvd. Yet this article mentions not a single one of those well-known downsides.

Kellie Woodhouse

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:35 p.m.

Exactly, Paula. The U is an autonomous entity for the most part, due to the state constitution. That means that it doesn't have to operate under most city ordinances.

Paula Gardner

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:33 a.m.

They don't need to get city approval for construction on their property.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:13 a.m.

I'm no lawyer but I believe in these matters the University is immune from City regulations. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Chip Reed

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 10:51 a.m.

It does seem a bit distracting to motorists...

a2cents

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.

Cyclists are expendable... goblue?

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:14 a.m.

texting a picture of the sign to their peeps.

mgoscottie

Thu, Jun 27, 2013 : 11:06 a.m.

Only the ones who aren't busy texting...

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