If you're a fan of Michigan football, you know that Michigan Stadium is undergoing some massive renovations that won't be finished until 2010. You also probably know that there has been a fight over accessible seating areas and that an agreement was reached to add many more locations for folks that can't climb the many stairs in the bowl.
The only downside is that the official capacity of Michigan Stadium will drop from 107,501 to an estimated 106,201 during the 2008 and 2009 seasons - and no one is certain what the final capacity will be when renovations are completed in 2010. So, starting next year a couple thousand or so people will lose their seat locations to make room.
Lucky me -- I'm one of 'em. I totally understand why I'm losing out. My seats in section 4 required no steps at all. Getting in and out of the stadium couldn't have been easier. The letter I received this weeks specifically identifies rows 51 through 55 in sections 39-44 and 1-7 as the ones that will be relocated (basically the entire eastern sideline from the corner of each endzone) so that seating platforms can be built to support the new accessible seating areas.
That letter specifically states:
To accommodate these platforms, we must relocate your Michigan football season tickets. We will do our utmost to provide you with comparable seats. Our priority point program will be followed to determine the order in which customers will be relocated. We will notify you of your new seat location in April when you receive your football season ticket renewal.
I wholly support both the renovations and the increase in accessible seating that is happening along with the addition of suites and a new press box. It's great to see that in addition to being able to cater to some big-bucks customers, there will also be a greater chance of those with physical handicaps being able to more easily attend games. There have been several times I've personally witnessed folks that really struggle with the steps at the Big House. They deserve to be accommodated appropriately.
But ... I will miss being able to stay for the entire game and still being able to dodge much of the crowd upon exiting. Because my seats were also only 2 away from the tunnel, sneaking out to use the restroom or to get a Coke was also no problem. And those seats also came in real handy when trying do duck under cover during downpours. I'm not at all sure where I'll be sitting next year - hopefully there will be better seats for those of us that have to move.
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