Michigan AD Dave Brandon discusses bigger Michigan Stadium and throwback jerseys
Yes, Michigan Stadium could get bigger. And, no, those pictures circulating the Internet are not indicative of the throwback jerseys the Wolverines will wear against Notre Dame.
So says Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon, who joined The Michigan Insider Show on WTKA-AM (1050) in Ann Arbor to talk about his athletic department adding men's and women's lacrosse.
Show host Sam Webb followed that discussion up with some burning questions from Michigan fans:
On the potential growth of Michigan Stadium, Brandon said “the master plan for growth” includes closing in one of the end zones -- likely starting on the south end of the stadium -- but that the season ticket waiting list would have to expand so that the demand met the potential supply of 119,000 to 120,000 seats.
“I would love to do that at some point under my watch,” he said. “That would be great fun, but we have a lot of work to do to get there, and we'll have to be sure we've got the kind of fan support we have to make it happen.”
Webb also asked Brandon if an early-1960s uniform replica that has been reported as the model for Michigan's throwback jersey for its Sept. 10 night game against Notre Dame was accurate.
“No,” Brandon said with a laugh. “That was some sort of pirated picture. I don't know where that came from, but that's not what the players will be wearing. … We're going to take elements from a couple of different eras to create a jersey that we think will be exciting and our players will enjoy wearing.”
You can listen to the entire interview on the podcast page of WTKA's website.
Comments
Lorain Steelmen
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 4 p.m.
I would like to see the added seats! Let the big house be THE big house! When Brandon talked to the Toledo Alums in Nov, before the osu game, I asked about more expansion during the Q&A session. He mentioned another 5,500 in the south endzone, and possibly more lux boxes in the north end zone. Great! But he also conceeded that it's a LONG way, from the field. & that it would be an excellent place for visiting fans from osu & MSU. I think we'll get there....sooner than later.
HeavyMental
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
They should widen the seats first! Worry more about fan comfort and ability to enjoy an event rather than attendance records. I bought 5 tickets for 3 people for The Big Chill, and we were still uncomfortable. I gave up one seat (not that I wanted to) and we split 4 seats between the 3 of us. People aren't getting any smaller.
frozenhotchocolate
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
Why not, they already spent a quarter billion to add no seats, might as well spend fifty million to add fifteen thousand seats. The team needs to turn their game around and start winning first in my opinion. The whole tailgating society gets old when the games means nothing. I frequent a taco bell in Chicago right by Wrigley Field and am amazed at the excitement of Cubs fans even though their team is horrible every year, it makes no sense. I don't believe that Michigan fans will put up with losing like Cubs fans because we are better than that. Get the team together first, then expand America's largest football stadium in the only state in the United States that is loosing population.
Veracity
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 11:56 p.m.
I hope that the Michigan stadium is not expanded by putting in end-zone seating. The game will be difficult to follow by fans seated behind the goal posts. I know because I sat in the 87th row behind a goal post when I attended a game 30 years ago. From that "vantage" point I could only identify teams by uniform colors but could not follow the action. Players were like ants scurrying about the field. And no jumbotron screen was present to assist in following the game. Since that experience I have not returned to the stadium but now watch all the games that are televised. Though I miss the excitement of seeing games live I have the advantage of seeing every play clearly (and replays from every angle!). If the UofM adds an eighth home game the ticket revenue from the added game will easily cover the costs of both lacrosse teams (not counting any additional broadcasting funds).
missionbrazil
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Theo "CHANGE IS DUMB" One of the BEST changes ever was made on January 5, 2011. Go Blue !
GoblueinNE_PA
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
Preach on Brother Brazil!!!
Scott Hankins
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 10 p.m.
How Much $$ is enough? I had to give up my 50 yard line season tickets because I dont have an extra grand to "Donate"....now you want to add more seats so you can get more "Donations" plus the ticket price! Michigan is slowly removing the fan from the stadium and becoming an Alumni and corporate organization. How about instead of this modern day "Shakedown or ROBBERY" of the fans sell some advertising on the big screen or sell ad space around the stadium. Let the working man back in the damn game and get rid of this "Donation" Policy.....its really EXTORTION!!
RudeJude
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
Although I don't have the book handy, I recall in reading the book, The Big House, that when Michigan Stadium was originally designed, Yost demanded the structural supports be strong enough that the stadium could one day hold as many as 150,000 fans. I believe it stated that Yost wanted to make sure every Michigan fan, rich or poor, would be able to attend games. I can empathize with some fans concerns about the university gouging fans with high ticket prices I'll wait to see if and how that happens. It's easy to assume they'll hike up the prices, but maybe this will help them offset hiking up prices with additional concession sales from the additional fans. Otherwise, I see this as Yost's dream taking another step closer towards being fulfilled. Looking forward to an ever-growing Michigan football program. Go Blue
Theo212
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
Things are spiraling out of control with this guy running the show. Like with Bill Martin, we need a freeze on ticket prices. Like with Don Canham, we need to run the option (aka spread). And there was absolutely nothing wrong with those old maize and blue scoreboards! It bears repeating: CHANGE IS DUMB.
Theo212
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
Please, Dave. Bo (The Original King) and Our King ran exciting, deception-filled offenses. Bo was given plenty of time to instill his framework. Our King was ushered out by knee-jerk 2nd graders right before his coronation. The internet, cell phones, and stuff like that is dumb too. Thanks to them, we no longer have Our King.
David Vande Bunte
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
If change is dumb, why are you so vocal about the change that RichRod brought, and so vehemently opposed to the lack of change from Bo Schembechler that Lloyd Carr symbolized? If change is dumb, you should have been opposed to all things RichRod, because he represented change. or is change only dumb when you happen to disagree with it?
a2cents
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 8:32 p.m.
Let's expand the south end-zone so 1) we can relocate the yet-to-be-installed mega-$ scoreboard and 2) raise the specter of closing E. Stadium (due to security concerns ala Main St.).
bluemax79
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.
Lumberg Barndon was ASKED about expanding the stadium and said they need the fan support to do it. "I would love to do that at some point under my watch," he said. "That would be great fun, but we have a lot of work to do to get there, and we'll have to be sure we've got the kind of fan support we have to make it happen." that goes along with winning games right ?? seems you only restated what was obvious to anyone who read the article.
lumberg48108
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 8:24 p.m.
Yours in one interpretation-- very positive. I am a pessimist when it comes to what college sports has become ... We know this - they are already talking about it (expansion) and I am sure its in the master plan ... to think its not going to happen, regardless of fan support, is insane U-M, college football is all about maximizing profits these days until they dry up ... night games, 12th games, Friday games, Thursday games, neautral site games, etc etc etc. Brandon is a bottom line guy - expansion will happen! There is only too much of something when there is too much ... the key is to NEVER GET THERE!
chapmaja
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
Michigan stadium will be expanded soon enough. The demand is already there for some types of tickets. The real reason for expansion has nothing to do with how the football team does. It has to do with another news item this week. The addition of two new sports. Those sports will not fund themselves. They will be funded in large part by expanded football revenue. Expanding the revenue can come in a couple forms. First, expansion of the stadium or second, raising ticket prices. The second way isn't feasible right now, so the only way to increase revenue is to increase ticket sales and that means expanding the stadium. What will be interesting is to see where Michigan LaCrosse will play their games. Will they use the facility used for soccer? Will they use Michigan Stadium? Or will they use a location used by the club team and the League for the championship tourney recently (Saline HS). I doubt it will be #3, but I'm not sure the soccer facility really would be that great a choice. I'd like to see them get more use out of Michigan stadium. I think Michigan is missing a potential gold mine in Michigan Stadium for other events such as concerts and other sporting events. Can you imagine a series of concerts being held at Michigan Stadium with 100,000 people in the facility. How much money would that bring in to the University of Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor, as well as the AAPS who charge for parking at Pioneer.
lumberg48108
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.
how about, you know, focusing on WINNING before exapnding? right now, even though the games "sellout" wink wink - there has never been less of a demand for U-M tickets, sans marque games... having lived in the region for 20 years I do not recall so little demand as there is now. adding a 12th game to the schedule - which meant 8 home games for U-M - combined with several poor seasons has lowered demand. there was a time just a few years ago when every game was a hot ticket; now many of the season ticket holders look to unload one or two crappy games a year, especially those that commute so before U-M totally jumps the shark, I would win some games and compete with the power teams before I talk about expanding seating capacity... why does my statement seem to obvious?