actionjackson

Tue, Jul 13, 2010 : 11:18 a.m.

Now if we could put a HALO with all kinds of cool UofM sayings in GREAT BIG letters. Hail to the Victors, Go Blue, you know that kind of thing. Oh yea, never mind we did that already.

craigobr

Tue, Jul 13, 2010 : 12:44 a.m.

To all those who think the price tag is exorbitant or frivolous, you need to know that while the stadium renovation cost $226 million the stadium needed $150 million in renovations just to remain viable and keep the existing structure. The infrastructure was outdated, wiring was not up to modern needs, seating did not allow for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the press box (dedicated in 1954) was no longer structurally sound, there were not enough public safety facilities, concessions, restrooms, or access points to properly handle the crowd size of the curent seating. The stadium was overburdened and badly in need of updating and repairs. All of those itmes mentioned hadn't been changed as seats were added several times to go from 101,000 up to 108,000. To make the project self-funding, ticket prices would have to be raised to cover the $150 million, there was no choice about that spending. Without it the staduim was no longer viable, you would have to cancel the football program, and with it 75% of the other athletics that get their funding from the profits from football alone. As an alternative to raising prices for the bowl seating to get the $150 million, the extra $76 million was added to the project to create luxury and club seating. The revenue from the premium seats over the next 7-10 years is enough to pay for the entire project without raising the ticket prices for the main bowl of existing seating. As a bonus over the next 3 years each seat in the bowl will be expanded from 14 inches to 16 inches. This is money well spent, that in the end will make more money, not cost money. If you must be judgmental about how others spend their money and pursue their own happiness, then you would be wiser to pick on the people that would rather buy a ticket for $50 than give $50 to help homeless people. You would still be wrong, but you would be closer to being on target than you are now.

DraderOHIO

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 4:37 p.m.

Michigan Schedule 2010 W-L Sep. 4vs. Connecticut w34-28 Sep. 11at Notre Dame w28-14 Sep. 18vs. Massachusetts w 41-21 Sep. 25vs. Bowling Green w34-3 Oct. 2at Indiana w41-31 Oct. 9vs. Michigan State w31-24 Oct. 16vs. 7 Iowa w31-28 Oct. 30at 9 Penn State L34-14 Nov. 6vs. Illinois w28-21 Nov. 13at Purdue w41-38 Nov. 20vs. 16 Wisconsin L34-14 Nov. 27at 5 Ohio State W30-28

deb

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.

btw, yogi thanks for proving my point.

deb

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 3:44 p.m.

We are talking about the new addition. The new brick work. Yes 80yrs ago it may have beeen patterned after the u of m stadium and nd also did their brick work then. What are you trying to say? Thats like me arguing notre dame's stadium only cost $750,000 and the addition cost a quarter billion dollars, so u of m over paid. The new brick work at Michigan stadium does not compare to the old brick work at nd. Its eighty years newer. (there should be a pic of me shaking my head asking you "what are you talking about, were you even listening/reading the prior posts?" Here is the full quote: Notre Dame Stadium was built in 1930 during the Knute Rockne era. It was the success of Knute's football teams that built the foundation and the lore of the stadium. The spirit that was imbued by the Rockne era - and has been sustained by seven Heisman trophy winners and dozens more All-Americans who have competed on that turf - has changed little in eight decades of football at Notre Dame Stadium. The Osborn Engineering Company, which had designed more than 50 stadiums in the country-including Comiskey Park in Chicago, Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds in New York City, and facilities at Michigan, Indiana, Purdue and Minnesota-was awarded the contract and excavation, began that summer. The Stadium measures a half-mile in circumference, stands 45 feet high and features a glass-enclosed press box rising 60 feet above ground level and originally accommodating 264 writers plus facilities for photographers and radio and television broadcasters. There are more than 2,000,000 bricks in the edifice, 400 tons of steel and 15,000 cubic yards of concrete. The total cost of construction exceeded $750,000, and architecturally the Notre Dame Stadium was patterned, on a smaller scale, after the University of Michigan's mammoth stadium.

Yogi

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 12:38 p.m.

@Deb - I thought you might be interested in this quote from Notre Dame's website. "There are more than 2,000,000 bricks in the edifice, 400 tons of steel and 15,000 cubic yards of concrete. The total cost of construction exceeded $750,000, and architecturally the Notre Dame Stadium was patterned, on a smaller scale, after the University of Michigan's mammoth stadium". I guess the Big House does compare favorably to at least one stadium you spoke of......

Jarhead

Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 6:05 a.m.

Some people are always on the attack. I don't understand why they don't join the military. YES! I drink the kool-aid! More uptight people should, it just might put a smile on their faces. Okay, so its not EXACTLY like Ivy League. The bricks are new. I also said it reminds me of..... "Change" is hard. Hard for a lot of people to accept anything different. I'm 62 and I welcome change. Over the years I've changed, not just physically, but also in philosophy of my life. The door to reformation is never closed. Go Blue!

Nicholas

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 11:16 p.m.

Considering Michigan's football program alone pulls in over $30 million dollars annually, I don't think it's that big of a deal for me to freak out over the renovations. Yeah, they're spending more money, but they'll be earning more in the long run. There are worse things going on in the world...like LeBron James going to Miami...right? Also, for those bringing in the graduation rates...data shows that Michigan's student athletes had a graduation rate in 2008 of 70%, which doesn't seem like much until you realize that puts them tied in 20th place for BCS schools. It's no Notre Dame (94%) but it's still better than your estimated 50%.

deb

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 1:17 p.m.

If you think it looks good or bad, it cannot be compared to the brick work at ND or the Ivy league, yet it is very easy to compare to the brickwork of the shops and strip malls surrounding the aforementioned areas.

PortageLkBlu

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.

Thank you Jarhead that was a nice vision of what the old stadium has progressed to and it sounds beautiful that first game should be quite a site not to mention the Notre Dame game well, getting ahead of myself anyways thanks. Deb, are ya sure it really looks that bad or maybe you just don't want to see change in that old magnificent stadium and all those great battles that were fought there look Deb, a lot of places tear their old stadiums down and build new plastic looking things. They wanted to get rid of the old coliseum at one time people wouldn't stand for it. I've got some memories in that place but not as many as the Wolves stadium and not as good ones. Hell Deb, I'm 60 now and I could use a little help in my appearance to so ya gotta figure it's time for a little nip and tuck here and there can't hurt as long as they don't touch the helmets.

deb

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.

I think it looks terrible, like Ivy League? Not even close, that construction is old, weathered, beautiful, this looks like all the construction in Novi and Farmington Hills. One of the cool things about the stadium was its low profile, and then you were in awe when you stepped inside and saw how big it actually was. Yes there will always be detractors, but then there are those who just keep drinking the kool-aid no matter what. Ahem, jarhead... (I recommend people look back at the body of work of some of the posters that constantly defend anything the University does.

deb

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.

I think it looks terrible, like Ivy leauge?Not even close, that construction is old, weathered, beautiful, this looks like all the construction in Novi and Farmington Hills. One of the cool things about the stadium was its low profile, then you were in awe when you stepped inside about how big it actually was.

Jarhead

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 6:45 a.m.

Oh! And I still am interested in what the total capacity will end up being. Does anyone out there know? I know they lost some seating in reconfiguring for the handicapped, but that should have been well ecliplsed with the expansion. I've yet to see the figure printed in the paper or posted here. Thanks.

Jarhead

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 6:41 a.m.

There will always be detractors though. Either out of jealousy or a dislike for football, or sports in general. But there are people that are never satisfied, and are fast to tell how it should have been done. But when presented with a blank sheet of paper, somehow become mute. I think the athletic dept did a great job in preserving the UofM's position. Now watch the detractors jump on that last statement. Ha!

Jarhead

Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 6:33 a.m.

PortageLkBlu----I was there! You're right, Archie didn't get his 100yds. Don Dufek was the "Wolf" and his assignment was Archie. And the place was rockin' I can tell you this, From Main street the addition is awesome! It used to be you could see about 20 or 30 rows of height from outside ground level and didn't get how big the stadium is until you enter. Now it is impressive. Done in brick with arches walkways, improved bathrooms and many more of them. They added lots of area for whhechairs to view, which Veterans organizations lobbed hard for. The sound inside is a huge factor now as the two towers direct the noise back into the bowl instead of up and out. It is classic architacture and lends itself well to the college football experience. I love it!

PortageLkBlu

Sat, Jul 10, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.

dading, Michigan puts a winner on the field every game regardless of the final score. As I live in Southern Calif. I'll have to rely on all you guys to go visit this great stadium for me and describe it to me in your feelings. These itty bitty computer pictures don't express any emotion generated by actually being at the stadium. I started going to that stadium when I was 5 and that was 1955 so you can imagine the changes I've seen and I remember Bump and not that much attendance at a Purdue game and no problem walking up to a ticket booth and getting a student ticket for very little of course all that was before Bo arrived. I attended Archie's last game for Ohio State in Michigan stadium and I'll be damned if I didn't have to sit in the Ohio State section becuase a friend From Ohio took me as a welcome home gift from Viet Nam and what a gift boys and girls that place was rockin and rollin I think 1975, a cool sunny day in a cool stadium. I remember that game especially with Archie playing his last game there was a rhythm or hard pulse pounding everywhere and you could feel it like gladiators preparing to fight to the death. Our Wolverines were not intimidated one bit and fought a hell of a battle and I don't think Archie ran that many yards against our defense less than a hundred I think I might be wrong I haven't bothered to check those facts becuase I wanted to describe these memories to you from memory, I'm glad their not tearing down the stadium but rather improving it like the Coliseum out here these places are each and every one of us and a part of what the Wolverines are or for that matter what the USC Trojans are at the Coliseum. I'm hoping some day to be able to attend. another Mich. game I think that would be a good nostalgic experiance for me and my wife. Out here USC is going through what Mich. is going through so I feel the frustrations of Mich. fans. When I want to see a college game I either watch UCLA at the Rose Bowl or USC at the Coliseum but rest assured my heart is at, The Great Michigan Stadium with you guys, USC is just my back up team becuase I live near by but make no mistake if Mich. and USC get together and rock and roll don't worry about who I'll be rooting for, Go Blue!

srvibanez

Sat, Jul 10, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.

As you read the comments by all of the folks on this page you realize everyone has a passion for something. They just don't realize that someone else can have a passion of their own. Sure it is just football but it is also a time people get together to be part of a community. Having been a part of the stadium there are people that come from across the world to see "The Big House" This place makes the university known worldwide. Maybe some wish it was the math department that created this draw but it is not. Not to mention the amount of jobs the many UM athletics projects have provided. What people fail to realize is the little girl in California that watches her daddy every Saturday during football season glued to the game. This passion from her dad many times will promote her going to a school that otherwise may not have been thought of. The UM Athletics program has taken all the business practices learned in the class room and put them to work. This funds every sport even if they don't have one spectator. Every team is well taken care of. FYI the concourse are not open as ADA refinements are completed.

Jarhead

Sat, Jul 10, 2010 : 6:39 a.m.

Education for my kids is important. Look at the way I spell---"Outway"? How did I get that? Should be outweigh as you all have already edited. Mybad?

Jarhead

Sat, Jul 10, 2010 : 6:10 a.m.

Rememeber the "Halo"? Now that was UGLY! I've been to games when people from other schools have made their first visit and upon entering the seating area went "Whoa!" Now it has a WOW! factor. I like the brickwork. It reminds me of the Ivy League schools and of Notre Dame. The two new additions certainly gives the stadium an intimadating factor as well. It will also help in recruiting new players.

Jarhead

Sat, Jul 10, 2010 : 6:03 a.m.

I'll try again. Only if you come from the east on Stadium blvd do you have to cross a bridge. Many from the north come down Main street. The bulk come from I-94 on south Main street. The west people come in on West stadium blvd or Scio Church rd. There are 7 home games a year, sometimes only 6, once in a while 8. The other 358 days a year there are thousands of cars going over that bridge (24/7 daily) to and from work and shopping, or whatever. The bridge has been in disrepair from the 70,s. Once again, we all spend money for taxes to repair our streets. I'm glad it didn't take a death and lawsuit to get the city to repair a bridge that services the city 94% of the time all year long.

Jarhead

Sat, Jul 10, 2010 : 5:47 a.m.

Txteacher------obviously you are not a sports fan. And thats okay. What makes you think that sports fans don't care about education? We spend "absurd amounts of money" in taxes that go to education. We also support our local schools with fundraisers and volunteer for activities. We also set aside money in accounts for our children's secondary schooling. Which outways what I spend on entertainment. And then we contribute to Mott's children hospital and the cancer center. Sorry I don't contribute to the English lit dept. I've not seen the other colleges within the University hold funraisers like the athletic dept has. It is that huge profile and marketing image, (especially football), that gets 100,000 people to buy blue and pink wristbands. Education is paramount for my children, but if they can get an athletic scholarship then all the better for them.

TXteacher

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.

@Strongfire- Just sayin' people don't mind shelling out absurd amounts of money for athletic tickets but cringe at their education tax bills. "If it ain't ENTERTAINMENT, I don't want to pay for it." Overpriced athletic tickets-no problem for the family budget. Dollars for education-can't find it in the family budget. If you don't think education will be a bigger payout in the long run than athletics, you're nuts!

azwolverine

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.

The stadium looks great, befitting the name "Big House." I'm in town for a wedding, so I'll be in the stadium on Wednesday...can't wait. As an aside, I truly hope all of the posters on here complaining about how this money was spent are putting their money where their mouth is and supporting the homeless with their own money. If not, those complaints ring of hyposcrisy, imo.

StrongFire

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 3:19 p.m.

@TXteacher The taxpayers do not support the football program. In fact, the football program not only pays for itself, but pays for other sports that don't generate revenue and other university programs. For the 2007-2008 year, with revenues over $99 million, U of M was ranked No. 4 in the nation for college football revenue. (http://everyjoe.com/sports/football-revenue-by-college/) Like it or not, the football and basketball programs are essential parts of the U of M budget and in these times of declining tax support of public education, it is difficult for colleges to retreat from the amount of sport revenue generated to avoid the appearance of acting like a professional sports team.

Bob Needham

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 2:46 p.m.

(Comment removed because of a personal attack.)

enigmaingr

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 2:35 p.m.

Whether you are a football fan doesn't matter. This is a good thing for the University, all it's sports teams, and the city of Ann Arbor. The economic impact the football program has on U-M and Ann Arbor more than justifies every cent that goes into it. Some of the things people use to argue against college sports programs just aren't true: -Athletes don't graduate: false! U-M at least allows former athletes to come back to earn their degree if they leave early to turn professional. Juwan Howard is an example. And, they do this on their own dime. -Athletes don't give back: Most of the ones who don't turn pro graduate and go on to any number of successful careers. There are at least two guys currently on the football team that are starting law school next year. A former player is running for political office here on the west side of the state. Many own businesses. Most, to include those who turn pro, give back to the University is a multitude of ways. Just look at the charity golf events. -Money spent on sports could be used for academics and the arts: false! There would be no money to talk about if there weren't sports. Secondly, the athletic department is self-funded...by FOOTBALL dollars...yes, the entire department. -Money could be used for community outreach: false! Look, I feel as bad as the next guy about people's struggles but the reality is that we could use the money spent on the stadium to buy food, clothes, and support homeless outreach programs and there still will be homeless people. The homeless centers in Ann Arbor already benefit tremendously from UM and yes, some of the money used to support those programs does come from the athletic department.

bjof

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 2:19 p.m.

Really, I didnt know the state was overflowing with money, by reading the news reports you would think it was broke. You must know something that I don't. Look at the last part of my post that mentions what the scene may be like if the bridge were to collapse on a gameday. This is also a public relations issue. Is there not another post that you can be annoyed about Granholm, the Stimulus plan and Obama? Remember U of M, being part of the state, does not pay local taxes, yet they are the sole reason for the gigantic amount of traffic that must pass over this bridge on gamedays. (Not to mention the construction traffic.)

Lorain Steelmen

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 2:07 p.m.

bjof..wow,the city is fixing the bridge. Great! I don't think the University needs to give the city a dime for the bridge. Let the city fathers call Gov. Granholm. She's got so much in taxes, from the workers and businesses in this state that she'd never miss it. And if that doesn't work, have them call Obama. Heck, he just got a trillion dollars in stimulous money. This would certainly 'stimulate' the city. See...problem solved!

bjof

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.

Notice it dosent give directions on how to get there? The "stadium" is located on the corner of S. Main and Stadium. If you take Stadium to get to the "stadium" you have to cross a bridge, less than a mile from the stadium, that has been narrowed from four lanes to two. This was done because the bridge is falling downa and is not fit for that colume of traffic anymore. They spent aronud 250 million on this, but not a dime on the helping the city this university resides in on repairing crumbling infastructure surrounding the stadium. I know it is not the university's responsibility, but what a calamity it would be if the bridge were to fall packed full of traffic on a game day. Imagine television crews showing the damage and in the same footage/shot you can see U of M's beautiful new addition... U of M should help the city with this paticular bridge. I am not saying the city isnt stupid, but this is an accident waiting to happen and if/because U of M dosent help they should share in the blame

Chris

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.

This recent A2.com story references the department giving $2 million to the U's general fund in 2011, an increase from $1.6 million this year. http://www.annarbor.com/sports/athletic-department-projects-revenues-to-top-100-million-in-2010-11/

Tom Teague

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 11:13 a.m.

@Yogi - You just made me homesick. Thank you for taking my comment in the intended spirit. Michigan has a beautiful stadium that reflects the passion and loyalty of its fans.

Elaine F. Owsley

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.

I have a photo of myself and a friend taken in the early 50's of the UM stadium when it was literally a hole in the ground covered with seats. There was nowhere to go but down. The improvements made during the last 50-odd years reflect the university's growth and the enthusiasm so many people have for sports - not just UM people or alum or even Michiganders.

Yogi

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.

@Tom Teague - Only if the Big House had a river running by like Neyland. Two beautiful stadiums and two great teams.

Tom Teague

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.

As an expat Tennessean now living in Ann Arbor, I want to offer sincere compliments and congratulations to y'all on the stadium addition. I intend to drop by and look inside on Wed, but from the outside it looks lovely, it's in keeping with the character of the pre-expansion structure, and I believe that it will have more capacity than (my beloved) Neyland Stadium for a long long time. I wish the Wolverines lots of success in it. I hope someday to hear "Rocky Top" played inside it and, honestly, hope that the best team wins when that day comes.

Yogi

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 9:45 a.m.

I think it looks great and long over due. Does anybody know if the university has declared what is the new seating capacity?

Lorain Steelmen

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.

I always get a kick out of the arrogant, self absorbed, so-called intellectuals, who run down a school's football program, so they can make themselves feel relevant. This atheletic department is self funded, and does not get money from the university. As far as I can tell, it tries to acheive excellence, just as does every other department in the unversity. If you have a problem with feeding the homeless, then get off your fat a#%, and go help them. But stop judging everyone else, and telling everyone else, how to live their lives and spend their money!

stunhsif

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.

@Jarhead, " most athletes do graduate and do go on to be leaders." What athletes are you talking about Jarhead? Most college football players do not graduate, and that includes Michigan. Now if you are talking about the cross country team, the swim teams, the lacrosse teams then yes, most of them graduate. College football is a big joke in my opinion based on how the kids are used, how the kids get into colleges they otherwise would not be able to get into based on their GPA's and how their professors "look the other way" to keep them from being on academic probation which would exclude them from playing on game day.

Erich Jensen

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.

So when is UM going to fix Stadium Boulevard, the road to their money-making machine?

a2since73

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 6:27 a.m.

The U of M had a great reputation long before Don Canham. Good athletics can enhance a school's reputation world wide, but it is not required. If it were, then Oxford and Cambridge would be second rate universities.

Jarhead

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 6:01 a.m.

Wow! There is so much juicey stuff to talk about here. But first--- Jeff Arnold could you find out two things for me? What will the total seating be when this is completed? How much money does the athletic dept contribute to the general fund of the University? This article started out about the renovations and morphed to arguments about the homeless. Anytime any money is spent, someone can point out where it could be spent better. And then someone else will trump that with even a better way to spend those funds, and so on. Point is the athletic dept stands on its own. Pays its own way entirely. And Football is king! Revenues from football pays all the scholarships that are given to all the sports. I would be very happy if field hockey fills the stadium, it just dosen't. Don Canham was brilliant in marketing the UofM. Many years ago I went to Germany, Switzerland, France, England, and was amazed----amazed at how many shirts the locals had that said Michigan and the block M. It wasn't the math dept that marketed Mich. Some people think sports has no place in higher education. Funny thing is most athletes do graduate and do go on to be leaders. And some of those more succesfull pro athletes come back and hold fund raisers or give huge amounts of money to Motts chidren hospital. And lets say sports was not in existance, who would even know the words of the greatest fight song ever written? Oh thats right---it was written after a football game. Yes, sports is entertainment and it is huge in America. Go Blue!

a2since73

Fri, Jul 9, 2010 : 5:39 a.m.

The answer to the State of Michigan's current budget woes is clear! Let us declare that the State of Michigan is now part of the U of M Football program. Then we can put all the fund raising expertise to work in asking for donations to maintain and improve our infrastructure and schools.

Klayton

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 11:51 p.m.

You are correct about our freedom to do what we wish with our money. BTW--Just so you know who the Homeless in America are... 23% of the homeless are war veterans who fought for the freedoms we have in this country, many have PTSD and brain injuries. 39% of the total homeless population are children under the age of 18 27% were in foster care or similar institutions as children. 21% were homeless at some point during their childhood. *80% of those who experience homelessness do so for less than 3 weeks...in general these are NOT lazy people looking for a handout, they are trying to get back on their feet. I think some food and clothing seems to be the least we can do for the children. You're correct, do what you want with your money---It's a free country and hey, we have 23% of the homeless men and women to thank for those freedoms.

HailToASquared

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 11:10 p.m.

Hey Bethy- its not really your business how people spend their money. You know what I say to the homeless and less unfortunate? Quit looking for handouts/sympathy and go get your life together.

PersonX

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 11:06 p.m.

Somewhere along the line public universities in this country became associated with semiprofessional sports teams and now they are financially dependent on them to an inordinate degree. Let us face the truth: football may be fun, but it has absolutely nothing to do with education. To the contrary, for too many it is an excuse for weekend bad behavior. To much of the fall semester each year is wasted on entertainment, and while really smart students can handle it, for many it is just one more reason to become minions of the entertainment industry, which is not what universities are designed for. We play, while many in lesser educational establishments all over the globe actually learn. In past years this may have worked, but with globalization and other factors mean that our kids fall behind, entertained but note learned, but children elsewhere will grow up to take the lead. It is a shame that the leadership of UM colludes in this watering down of education, as demonstrated by the out of proportion investment in this extremely ugly and tacky stadium.

Klayton

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 8:51 p.m.

Wow! for 226 million you could have fed and clothed 18,833,333 homeless children, and still had a nice looking stadium. Sorry Michigan, but I prefer to donate to Food Gatherers rather than my UofM alumni (waste my money) association.

TXteacher

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.

Nice money spent! Taxpayers don't mind supporting football, but cringe at supporting education and schools. Nice going, fans!

stunhsif

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.

That kind of money spent on a college football program is disgusting. What percentage of these kids that play football even graduate, perhaps 50%? Even worse, they pay the coaches outrageous money to lose more than they win!

jon67

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.

I don't understand. So, there'll be access to the east side "structure," but not to the east side upper concourse or lower concourse, and nothing on the west side at all. What's that mean exactly, what's left? What do we get to see? the boxes? the expensive, reserved seats? what's on these concourses that we can't see?

dading dont delete me bro

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 5:44 p.m.

stadium looks awesome... but they'd better put a winner out there...hint.hint.rich.

wvtroll

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 5:17 p.m.

One of the best memories I have from attending college is the architectural theme of the campus at VT. It's almost all locally quarried gray stone. I hope you all have the same memories of UM and it's campus. Just another part of tradition that's often overlooked, but usually not forgotten. You got a great looking stadium.

uawisok

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 2:33 p.m.

It will be a great 100 years from now when they use it as new 100,000 plus seating waiting area for your health care appointment.

Lorain Steelmen

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 2:32 p.m.

It will be fun to see the renovations, and I plan to be back in AA, on wednesday to check it all out. I was originally 'against' the lux boxes, wanting to maintain the 'old traditions', and I was very sceptical about our ability to rent all those boxes, in tough economic times! Having said that,I certainly think the Big House, looks great, and I wish Dave Brandon all the best, as he takes the Wolverines forward! For what it's worth, my advice now, is for Dave to replace the scoreboards, AND, add about 5,000 seats in each endzone, so we never have to share the 'big house' label, with Penn State, or Tennessee. By the way, I think we have the right guy coaching our team, and I believe that Rich and his staff, WILL have the Wolverines, back on top, in the league, AND nationally. Good luck this year, gentlemen, and GO BLUE!....JAK; BSME'70 & MBA'72

treetowncartel

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 2:15 p.m.

I am alittle disapointed that the University of Sustainability lights this thing like runway every night. I thought they were green even though they bleed blue.

Matt Peckham

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 2:08 p.m.

Great. Now could we hurry up with putting South Main St. back to rights?

HailToASquared

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 1:54 p.m.

The school wouldn't have half the stuff if it weren't for Michigan Football.. they can spend whatever they want because they make it right back, and then some.

NoBowl4Blue

Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.

Big house looking much better. Too bad they have a mediocre football team led by a coach that leaves much to be desired. Will be lucky to make the Pizza Pizza Bowl. In fact could most likely lose the first 2 games of the season.