Michigan's Big House to get bigger

[TwelfthAG]

Is this old news?

"After plans to renovate Michigan Stadium were met with resistance to dropping the capacity of the 'Big House', Michigan AD Bill Martin said Wednesday that architects are designing a second deck for one of the stadium's end zones.

"The message I've received loud and clear from our Michigan family is: Do not make it smaller. And if you can, make it bigger," Martin said.
No word yet on what the final capacity would be for Michigan football games. The original plan dropped the capacity by 4,000, but the addition of the second deck is expected to add 6,000-8,000 seats. More details will be released in the coming months."

Link (http://www.fanblogs.com/michigan/005212.php)

[Vlyrock]

I don't get it...so they wanted to make it smaller why?

If it wasn't selling out, why make it bigger?

[Lonnie75]

They will make it bigger and it will become even more quiet.

[AggieWill]

Ya...the place is as big as could be yet as quiet as could be.

[Loftin]

Michigan has the largest capacity stadium in college football. They beat Penn State's capacity by 219 seats. Any decrease would make them lose their beloved title as biggest college football stadium. I completely understand why they wouldn't sacrifice quantity for quality seats.

Also, I'm sure that they have heard the rumors of Kyle Field expanding to 116,000 and they feel threatened.

[Loftin]

Here are the official capacities(according to worldstadiums.com) of all college football stadiums that hold 80,000 or more:

1.Michigan - 107,501
2.Penn State - 107,282
3.Tennessee - 104,079
4.Ohio State - 101,568
5.UCLA - 92,542
6.Georgia - 92,058
7.Southern California - 92,000
8.Louisiana State - 91,644
9.Florida - 88,548
10.Auburn - 86,063
11.Stanford - 85,500
12.Alabama - 83,818
13.Texas A&M - 82,600
14.Florida State - 82,300
15.Oklahoma - 82,112
16.Clemson - 81,473
17.Wisconsin - 81,318
18.Notre Dame - 80,795
19.Alabama-Birmingham - 80,601
20.South Carolina - 80,250
21.Texas University - 80,082

[AggieWill]

Does UCLA ever sell out?

[Loftin]

The only reason they are so high is that they play at the Rose Bowl. I'm pretty sure that they sell out when they host USC though.

[Slotback]

Check that link. The plan was to upgrade the stadium, but that would have led to a reduction in capacity. This was due to the stadium being "obsolete". They need bigger concourses, etc.