treetowncartel

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10 p.m.

If the teams getting rained on the fans should be getting rained on too. Not only is the program getting soft but so are the fans and the administration who will be desecrating the big house by sitting in these suites. It is now a house divided.

snapshot

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:01 p.m.

I have no complaints with for profit companies that are jot government owned (GM, Chrysler, AIG, etc) buying box seats or anything else they want to spend THEIR money on. but.... We may as well face it, the general population is being "farmed" by the powerful lobbying groups, public unions, public utilities, government, and other monopolies that are supported by the fruits of our labor (taxes/utilities). Citizens have merely become a source of revenue to be "milked" as needed by these entities.

Craig Lounsbury

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.

AS a long long long time customer of DTE I look forward to receiving my complementary "thank you for your patronage" tickets.

jameslucas

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:24 p.m.

We shape our buldings, thereafter they shape us.

David Briegel

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 7:15 p.m.

Tater and Ron et al, I hope you aren't sitting underneath if the privileged few happen to spill one of their "provided beverages"! But don't let those evil union guys do any "promoting"! We the peons, pay in so many ways for their "privileges"! This includes the union guys! Can we please cut their taxes more? And these are all tax deductible! Yeah!! And remember, there is no advertising in Mich Stadium. Except for Absopure!! $3, What a bargain!!

a2cents

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.

The corporate suites (& lord knows how many tickets, rooms, meals, etc) are marketing or advertising expense, cheerfully subsidized by taxpayers. Hope they (the taxpayers) enjoy the view.

Cash

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 2:57 p.m.

I'd be interested in who BCBS and Delta Dental will "entertain". Hospital bigwigs? Drug company bigwigs? Certainly not any of their customers (that would be many of us). They raised the rates for their customers this year. The rest of these companies I don't especially care about....but come on the very health care insurers who are crying about how the cost of health care has gone up thus they must raise rates? I haven't heard of them going before the state board to ask for a rate increase so they can buy private luxury suites to football games.

tommy_t

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 2:46 p.m.

The Plebes can't even bring in bottled water or buy it at any cost starting this fall. Ya have to go out to the drinking fountains and miss 10 mins. of the party. Oh well, so much for Plebedom.

Jaxon Boyfriend

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.

Kudos Brian, you are so correct....and you're one of us Michigan faithful to boot....

Brian Bundesen

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 1:14 p.m.

While the whole idea of these Luxury Suites may be hard to swallow in light of current economic times and corporate mis-spending, there are at least 2 bigger picture, indirect benefits: 1) The sale of suites and Club seating paid for a huge chunk of the remaining $260 million renovations that will benefit the average fans. 2) The Big House is an asset to the whole city, and those who attend games in this new setting should have a favorable view of the whole southeast Michigan area. Add an undefeated home record and National Championship in the mix, and it's all good! GO BLUE!

Jaxon Boyfriend

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.

63 out of 81...I think anyone familiar with business and real estate will tell you that is exceptional - and given Michigan economy, superb for a first year venue. The soon to be Michigan football success, coupled with a future BCS title will fill those and have people waiting to get in. Since the suites are beverage furnished, looks like there will be 976 suite patrons 'not complaining' about something as meaningless as a $3.00 bottle of water, and enjoying 7 home wins.

Cash

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 12:37 p.m.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. Perfect. The rates increase annually and companies stop providing health insurance for their employees. Good grief.

tommy_t

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 12:16 p.m.

What happened? Only 63 of the 81 rented? Did we run out of Patricians again? Still plenty of Plebes that will pay for it though with the $49 avg ticket price. The Burger King look of the brief Goss era was much cheaper and not that tacky! And where is the Big 3?? Maybe too PIC to rent them with the plebe bailout money heh? Have any Big 3 execs snuck in the private renters section? I see my insurance company isn't bashful in spending my money. I see now why they need the massive increases they are trying for while sitting on mere billions in surplus. Finally, this has bothered me for years now, since there are empty boxes can't we let some Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and wheelchairs in there?

Yelmonian

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.

I realize many people are not going to like this comment... but typically a company will have the luxury suites to "woo" a new customer, or to retain existing customers. I would imagine Conway Freight uses a luxury box to try to lure business. It might not seem great... with people taking pay cuts... but that luxury suite very well might keep a contract, that allows the company to retain employees.

chipper

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10:47 a.m.

Interesting that Crain's Detroit Business thinks Toledo is not in Ohio.

Yelmonian

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.

According to Tater's rant, I didn't think there would be any tickets left at the "Big House. And yet... there are 18 luxury boxes available... and according to the UM website... single season tickets are still available. "If the Big House only had an official capacity of 70,005, nobody would be able to sniff a ticket unless they were a season ticket-holder or managed to go through the opponent's box office. Funny that for all of the bragging coming out of EL, not to mention Michigan having their worst back to back seasons in history, a lot more people still care enough about Michigan to buy tickets than they do at MSU. I think one could be comfortable in saying it's because Michigan's program is much better and much more relevant, even in down times, than MSU is in what are supposed to be "up" times. " - Tater

stunhsif

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.

It is very upseting to see Lear Corpoartion leasing a suite just a couple years after filing bancrupcy and not paying their suppliers many many millions of dollars. This also is a slap for the taxpayers who bailed them out. As well, Conway Freight employees nationwide are still on a 2.5% paycut/giveback and their company has the nerve to lease a suite which will benefit only the corporate folks, sales folks and select customers. This kind of extravagance is a slap in the face to their hard working employees.

sbbuilder

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.

Local 225 of the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union is one of 25 companies purchasing a lease? Is this what the founders had in mind when they organized way back when? "Hey, let's collect dues so that we can purchase luxury suites at Michigan Stadium." I'm sure those suites will ensure better job conditions and pay for their members. Sorry, but unions have outlived their usefulness.

Kafkaland

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.

Why on earth does the IBEW need a luxury box? Have they nothing better to do with their dues, like helping members in need?

Useless

Mon, Aug 16, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.

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