One word can describe Michigan Stadium, huge. From the
time it opened in 1927 until today, Michigan Stadium has been one of
the largest stadiums in college football. Prior to playing at Michigan
Stadium the Wolverines played at Ferry Field. The team had been
playing there since 1906 and continually had to expand the stadium as
interest in the team grew. As attendance grew, a new stadium was
needed to accommodate the fans. Fielding Yost, coach of
the team designed a new stadium and the University of Michigan
approved construction in April 1926. Built at a cost of $950,000,
Michigan Stadium was modeled after the Yale Bowl and was built of
steel and concrete. When completed the stadium could seat nearly
72,000 fans. Yost designed the stadium so it could be expanded to seat
up to 200,000 fans one day. Prior to its opening in 1927, Yost lobbied
the university to add an additional 10,000 seats to the stadium. The
university approved and the stadium was completed in October 1927.
The Michigan Wolverines played their inaugural first game at Michigan
Stadium on October 1, 1927 against Ohio Wesleyan. The entire single
tier grandstand circled the playing field. The official capacity when
Michigan Stadium when it opened was 84,401, an enormous number for
this time. It was the largest stadium in the nation in 1927. However
as support for the team grew so did the stadium. By 1928 the capacity
was increased to 85,753. In 1930 new electronic scoreboards were added
at each end zone. Michigan
Stadium was expanded yet again by the 1949 season when
the stadium was expanded to
seat 97,239 fans. In 1956, A new press box was constructed that
increased the seating capacity over 100,000 to 101,001.
Michigan
Stadium’s current look with the blue bleachers and the famous yellow
Block M were completed before the 1965 season. Prior to the 1969
season, the grass field was replaced with Tartan, a type of Astroturf.
This allowed for easier maintenance to the field. By the 1973 season
the box seats that were located in the first three rows of the stadium
were removed and replaced with bleacher seats increasing the capacity
slightly. Before the start of the 1991 season,
the field at Michigan Stadium was lowered with the installation of
natural grass and two new rows of seats were installed allowing
102,501 fans to enjoy the game. Additional renovations came in 1997
when more seats were added and new video/scoreboards. In 1998
5,000 seats where added bringing the current capacity to 107,501.
Recently, Fieldturf has replaced the grass field. Today, Michigan
Stadium is the largest college football stadium in the nation. It is
nicknamed “The Big House” because of its enormous size. For nearly 200
games the Wolverines have attracted more than 100,000 fans and hosted
111,238 fans in a game against Michigan State on November 20, 1999.
In May 2006 the Michigan
Board of Regents voted to construct new luxury boxes and renovate
Michigan Stadium. This $226 million renovation will be completed by
the 2010 season and include 83 suites, 3,200 club seats and widen
seats and isles increasing the seating capacity to 108,000. During the
2008 and 2009 seasons Michigan Stadium will be the second largest
stadium in the nation behind Penn State's Beaver Stadium with a
seating capacity of 106,201.
FACTS & FIGURES
-Tenant:
Michigan Wolverines -Conference: Big Ten -Capacity: 106,201 -Surface: Fieldturf -Opened:
October 1, 1927 -Cost:
$950,000
-Seating Chart
-Michigan Wolverines Sports
WOLVERINES TIDBITS
2009 SCHEDULE
CAMPUS WEATHER
Famous Players:
Tom Brady, Tom Harmon, Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard, George Allen,
Tom Mack, Ron Johnson, Coach Bo Schembechler, Coach Lloyd Carr School Traditions: The Winged Helmet,
School Song, "The Victors", School Colors of Blue and Maize
"HUGE!
ELECTRIFYING! GREAT! Michigan Stadium is the greatest shrine in
college football. It provides a great atmosphere and signifies Big
Ten football. Because of the bowl shape, it is a belief that the
wave started here. A must see if you've never been. Tailgating is
great, the team is most of the time great and the stadium is
phenomenal." - Dave A.
"I loved almost everything about it. The fans new
their football, the band is amazing." - Josh
