Hartford Courant: UConn AD: 2013 game against Michigan won't be moved to larger venue
The University of Connecticut, not Michigan, has complete control when it comes to a venue for the 2013 meeting between the two schools.
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said as much this spring.
And earlier this week, Connecticut athletic director Warde Manuel took that one step further.
"We have a contract to play at Rentschler Field," Mauel told the Hartford Courant. "And that’s where we’re gonna play”
The Michigan football team's 2013 road rematch with UConn will likely be played in a 40,000-seat venue, Huskie AD Warde Manuel said this week.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The one lingering issue from Michigan's side of things with regard to the future road date has been stadium size.
Or, lack thereof.
Connecticut's Rentschler Field holds roughly 40,000 people, a stark contrast to the 113,090 fans that watched the two teams battle in Ann Arbor two seasons ago.
Brandon hasn't denied the fact that he'd be open to a venue swap to give the game a larger audience, but again, he says that's up to UConn. Not him.
"Certainly there are ways to make that game bigger, in terms of venue, and we'll have conversations in that regard," Brandon said in April." But right now, UConn's in control of that decision."
As of now, it appears the game will go on as planned at Rentschler Field. Unless, of course, Michigan opts to buy out the contract.
The price for that? A $2 million payout, according to The Courant.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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