Tippmann 98 custom and Michigan Stadium: Difference between pages

Coordinates: 42°15′57.2″N 83°44′55.5″W / 42.265889°N 83.748750°W / 42.265889; -83.748750
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{{Infobox_Stadium |
{{paintball-marker|
stadium_name = Michigan Stadium|
|image=[[Image:Interfector in Combat 01.JPG|200px]]
nickname = ''"The Big House"'' |
|caption=A [[woodsball]]er firing an 98C.
image = [[Image:TheBigHouse.jpg|300px|center]]|
|marker_type=Mechanical
location = South Main Street & E Stadium Blvd <br> [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]] 48109|
|action=Semi-Automatic
broke_ground = 1926 |
|bore=.68 in
opened = 1927 |
|barrel=8.5 [[inch]]es
owner = [[University of Michigan]] |
|rof=Varies
operator = [[University of Michigan]] |
|price=$130 USD or close to $170 USD if bought in a "power pack"(includes everything except paintballs and a full CO2 canister).
surface = [[Field Turf]] |
construction_cost = $950,000 [[United States dollar|USD]] |
architect = Bernard Green |
tenants = [[Michigan Wolverines]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1927-Present) |
seating_capacity = 106,201 (108,000+ by 2010)
}}
}}


'''Michigan Stadium''', nicknamed '''The Big House''', is the [[American football|football]] stadium for the [[University of Michigan]] in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]], [[Michigan]]. UM Stadium has often been called "The Carnegie Hall of all Sports" and is also known as the House that Yost built.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} It was built in 1927, at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Prior to playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on [[Ferry Field]]. Today, Michigan Stadium has an official capacity of 106,201<ref>[http://www.mgoblue.com/facilities/article.aspx?id=28642 Stadium info from mgoblue.com]</ref>, due to renovations for the 2008 season. The stadium previously had a capacity of 107,501 spectators. The football game attendance often exceeds 111,000 when band members, stadium staff, and others are added. The largest crowd in NCAA college football history was 112,118 on [[November 22]], [[2003]] for a game against [[Ohio State]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Navarre tosses two TDs to Edwards - NCAA College Football Recap | publisher = Associated Press | work = ESPN.com | date = [[November 22]], [[2003]] | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=233260130&confId=5 | accessdate = 2008-01-08}}</ref>
The '''Tippmann 98 Custom''', also called the '''98C''', 98 Custom, and simply the 98, is an open-bolt [[Inline blowback (paintball)|inline blowback]] [[paintball marker|marker]] designed especially for the sport of [[paintball]]. It is manufactured by the pneumatics company [[Tippmann]].


Currently the stadium lists as the second largest in the United States, behind [[Penn State]]'s [[Beaver Stadium]], due to a reduction of 1,300 seats because of a lawsuit on behalf of disabled patrons, ruled in March 2008. The former official capacity of 107,501 made The Big House the largest stadium in the United States up until the recent changes. It is the [[List of stadiums by capacity|fourth largest]] stadium in the world, and the 31st largest sports venue in general (which includes auto racing and horse racing tracks, among others).<ref name="size">[http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml www.worldstadiums.com list of 100,000+ capacity stadiums.] Accessed January 11, 2006.</ref> There is one "extra seat" in Michigan Stadium "reserved" by former head coach [[Fielding Yost]] for the then athletic director [[Fritz Crisler]], although its location is not specified.<ref name="yost">[http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2006/10/26/CampusLife/Whats.The.Real.Stadium.Capacity-2403471.shtml What's the real capacity?] Accessed November 11, 2006.</ref> Home games are invariably sellouts,{{Fact|date=July 2008}} and residents of Ann Arbor are aware of "football Saturdays" because of the influx of traffic and business at local establishments. The size of the crowd in the stadium nearly matches the city's population of 114,000.
== Description ==


The Big House performs at least one traditional wave every game although typically one is performed each half. In the second half of most games the student section begins a pattern of non-traditional waves first by going in a counterclockwise direction, then another counterclockwise wave in slow motion, followed by one that that is double the normal wave speed, and finally the student section will then split the wave into to two counter-rotational waves. The non-traditional waves are not performed at every home game.
The 98C is known for its ease of use, durability, and reliability, making it an appealing choice for newcomers to the sport. Many woodsballers say that it is the best entry level marker because it is so cheap, customizable, and durable. It is a excellent choice for any player. The 98C uses an iron-sight system commonly found on firearms. By depressing the front sight, the player can unhinge the feedneck, allowing for easy access to the firing chamber, thus allowing for fast in-game cleaning.


Michigan Stadium was designed with footings to allow the stadium's capacity to be expanded beyond 100,000. According to the University of Michigan Library's and Athletics Department's history of the stadium, then-athletic director [[Fielding Yost]] envisioned a day where 150,000 seats would be needed. To keep construction costs low at the time, the decision was made to build a smaller stadium than Yost envisioned but include the footings for future expansion.<ref name="maxsize">[http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/stadium/stadtext/stad1998.htm The Biggest House Again.] Accessed July 13, 2006.</ref>
The 98 Custom can also be modified for [[speedball]], using an e-bolt, which replaces the rear bolt with a air-powered ram, or, more commonly, an E-trigger which uses circuitry to trigger a solenoid which in turn trips the sear in set firing modes (the E-trigger is sometimes restricted on fields). When firing at high rates of fire (10+ BPS), a [[Paintball marker#Hopper|power loader]] is highly desirable for reliable feeding.


Michigan Stadium is also the site of University of Michigan main [[graduation]] ceremonies, though renovations in April 2008 led that year's ceremony to be moved to [[The Diag]].<ref>[http://michigantoday.umich.edu/2008/05/grad08.php University of Michigan 2008 Graduation (Story and Video) | Michigan Today<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Another feature of the 98c is that by removing the six bolts on the left side of the mark you can dismantle the gun into two halves. This allows users a very easy method of cleaning and maintaining the internals of the gun.


==History==
The marker is now being offered with Tippmann's anti-chop system, ACT (Anti-Chop Technology) . To prevent balls from chopping, or bursting before it leaves the gun, the rod connection and the bolt floats slightly above the hammer in a long notch so if the bolt hits resistance, the bolt stops moving while the hammer continues cycling. This system has answered a common problem of ball chopping from original 98 customs.
Michigan Stadium's size is not entirely apparent to outside observers, as it is constructed partially below grade, leaving only the upper 20 rows (in most sections) visible from the outside. The stadium's original capacity was 72,000, but Yost made certain to install steel footings that could allow for expansion up to 200,000 seats.It is currently the 2nd largest stadium in the NCAA to Beaver Stadium (Penn St.) Initially, all seating consisted of wood bleachers. These were replaced with permanent metal seating in 1949 by Crisler, who had become athletic director. Longtime radio announcer [[Bob Ufer]] dubbed Michigan Stadium "The hole that Yost dug, Crisler paid for, [[Don Canham|Canham]] carpeted, and [[Bo Schembechler|Schembechler]] fills every cotton-pickin' Saturday afternoon."{{Fact|date=July 2008}} Since 1975 &mdash; Bo Schembechler's seventh season as coach &mdash; the stadium has held over 100,000 fans for every home game.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} (The game against Indiana University on [[October 25]], [[1975]] was the last sub-100,000 attendance home game for Michigan.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}) Michigan's game versus [[Ball State]] University on [[November 4]], [[2006]] was the 200th consecutive crowd of over 100,000 fans.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} Traditionally, when the game's attendance is announced, the [[public address]] [[announcer]] thanks the fans for "being part of the largest crowd watching a football game anywhere in America." The tradition was temporarily stopped in 1996, when Michigan Stadium's capacity was overtaken by that of [[Neyland Stadium]], but resumed when it was expanded two years later.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}


[[Image:Michigan Stadium opening 3c27311.png|thumb|left|Formal dedication of the new Michigan Stadium, [[October 22]], 1927, against [[Ohio State University]]]]
The Tippmann 98 Custom also has a large number of upgrades and accessories, ranging from more accurate barrels to consistent regulators. The [[Flatline Barrel System]] adds extended range (~100ft give or take) to the 98c by creating a backspin on the paintball. The [[Cyclone Feed System]], found stock on the A-5 and X-7, uses excess gas from firing to cycle a spinning agitator to feed a paintball into the chamber after each shot.
On [[October 1]], [[1927]], Michigan played [[Ohio Wesleyan University|Ohio Wesleyan]] in the first game at Michigan Stadium. It was an instant success, and Michigan prevailed easily, 33-0. The new stadium was then formally dedicated three weeks later in a contest against [[Ohio State University|Ohio State]] on [[October 22]], [[1927]]. Michigan had spoiled the formal dedication of [[Ohio Stadium]] in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] just five years earlier, and was victorious again in the contest played for the new dedication, besting the Buckeyes 21-0 before a capacity crowd of 84,401. In the early 1930s the UM installed electronic scoreboards and UM stadium thus became the first stadium in US history to have that technology.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}


From 1927 to 1968, the stadium's field was covered in natural grass. This was replaced with TartanTurf in 1969 to give players better traction. However, this surface was thought to be unforgiving on players' joints, and the stadium returned to natural turf in 1991. This too became problematic, as the field's below-surface location near the water table made it difficult for grass to permanently take root. The field was converted to [[FieldTurf]], an artificial surface designed to give grass-like playing characteristics, in 2003.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}
== Custom Pro ==


On [[September 9]], [[2006]], attendees of the [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan Wolverines]] vs. [[Central Michigan University#Athletics|Central Michigan Chippewas]] [[American football|football]] game had to endure the first weather delay in the Stadium's history, after a lightning strike occurred shortly after 12:30 EDT in the afternoon.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} The game was delayed for approximately one hour.
The Tippmann 98 Custom Pro is an upgraded version with the same basic look as a Tippmann 98 Custom but comes with a 11 inch barrel, double finger trigger, drop forward, and A.C.T. (Anti-Chop Technology) standard on new models (also standard on all NEW 98C's).


On [[March 11]], [[2008]], as part of the settlement terms of a lawsuit filed against the university pursuant to the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]], the university announced that the official capacity of the stadium would be reduced to 106,201 to accommodate additional wheelchair-accessible seating beginning with the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2008/03/11/UAdministration/Michigan.Stadium.Lawsuit.Settled-3262801.shtml|title=Michigan Stadium lawsuit settled|date=2008-03-11}}</ref>
==Features and specifications==
* Semi Automatic<ref>"Features and Specs"[http://paintball.about.com/od/gunreviews/gr/tippmann98c.htm About.com]</ref>
* Vertical removable fore-grip
[[Image:Woodsball marksman 01.jpg|right|thumb|375px|An 98C modified for [[Woodsball marksman|marksmanship]] duties. With these particular modifications, the Tippmann 98C can theoretically achieve 4" groupings at 75 feet, an excellent figure for a paintball gun. This figure, however, is dependent on the barrel bore quality and paint to bore match.]]
* Removable feed elbow
* Built-in adjustable "iron sight"
* 3/8 [[Inch]] Dovetail accessory rail and 7/8" Weaver style rail
* Bottomline air feed
* In-line Blow-back operation
* Stock barrel length: 8.5 in (216 mm)
* Caliber: 0.68 [[inch|in]] (17.3 mm)
* Cyclic rate: 30+ Cycles per second
* Weight: 2.9 lb (1.3 kg)
* Available Colors: Black, Silver, Woodland Camouflage, and forest camoflauge
* Warranty: 1 year
*


==References==
==Renovation plan==
On [[June 21]], [[2007]], the University's Board of Regents approved a $226 million [[renovation]] and expansion project for Michigan Stadium which is expected to be completed by 2010. The project includes replacement of some bleachers, widening of individual seats, widening of the aisles and installing hand rails, and the addition of a new press box, 83 [[luxury box]]es, 3,200 club seats, raising its total seating capacity from 107,501 to over 108,000.<ref>[http://www.umich.edu/stadium/project-description/pr061117.html University of Michigan Expansion Project Press Release]</ref> This renovation plan has garnered much opposition from students, alumni, and fans around the country.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1183272190170020.xml&coll=2 U-M is making a mistake]</ref> A disabled-veterans group filed a federal lawsuit against the university on April 17, because the design of the project did not meet federal standards for wheelchair-accessible seating.<ref>[http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2007/04/17/News/Suit-Filed.Against.u.For.Stadium.Renovation.Plan-2847746.shtml Suit filed against 'U' for stadium renovation plan]</ref>
<references/>


In March 2008, the University reached a settlement to drop the lawsuit in exchange for adding more accessible seating in place of current seating during the course of the renovation. As a result of this change, the capacity of the stadium will decrease to an estimated 106,201 seats for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, placing it second behind [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State's]] [[Beaver Stadium]]. Following construction completion in 2010, Michigan Stadium will once again become the largest football stadium in America, with a listed attendance of over 108,000.<ref>[http://mgoblue.com/facilities/page.aspx?id=98924 MGoBlue<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==External links==
* [http://www.tippmann.com/product_guide/markerDetails.aspx?categoryid=3# Tippmann 98 Custom Official Site]
* [http://www.98og.net Tippmann 98 Operators Group]
* [http://www.model98.org Model98.org ]
* [http://paintball.about.com/od/gunreviews/gr/tippmann98c.htm Review of Tippmann 98 Custom]


==Records==
<noinclude><!--
Michigan Stadium's record crowd of 112,118 saw a victory for Michigan over [[University of Ohio State|Ohio State]] with a score of 35&ndash;21. The game was also the 100th anniversary for the [[Michigan-Ohio State rivalry|Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry game]]. <ref name="MUAtt1">
{{cite web
| url = http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/mattend.htm
| title = Michigan Stadium Game Attendance Records
| author =
| publisher = MGoBlue
|accessdate = 2008-04-23
}}</ref>


In [[2004 in sports|2004]] Michigan set an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] record for average attendance at home games, with an average of 111,025 fans. <ref name="MUAtt2">
THIS SECTION IS ALPHABETIZED. If you want to add an entry, please make it easier for later editors and put it in its alphabetical place.
{{cite web
| url = http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/mattend.htm
| title = Michigan Stadium Season Records
| author =
| publisher = MGoBlue
|accessdate = 2008-04-23
}}</ref>


{| border="1"
Also, DO NOT ADD ENTRIES TO THIS TEMPLATE UNLESS YOU INTEND TO CREATE AN ARTICLE FOR IT. The purpose of this template is to make it easier to navigate among paintball articles. It does not make sense to create entries for articles that don't exist.
|+ '''Michigan Stadium Attendance Records'''

! Rank!! Attendance !! Date !! Game result
-->
</noinclude>{| align="center" class="toccolours" style="clear:both;"
! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color:#ccf; font-size: larger;" |
{| style="background: transparent; border: 0px; padding: 0px; spacing: 0px; width: 100%;"
|-
|-
! 1
| width="20%" | &nbsp;
| 112,118 || Nov. 25, 2003 || '''Michigan 35''', Ohio State 21
| width="60%" style="text-align:center" | '''[[Paintball|<font style="color:#White;">Paintball ]]
''[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Transwiki:Glossary_of_paintball_terms Glossary of paintball terms]''
</font> '''
| width="20%" style="text-align:right" | {{Tnavbar|Paintball |plain=1}}
|}
|- style="font-size:90%;"
|align=right | '''Equipment:'''
|align=left |
[[Paintball marker]], [[Electropneumatic paintball marker]], [[Paintball equipment]]
|- style="font-size:90%;"
|align=right | '''Paintball Markers:'''
|align=left |
[[Angel (paintball)|Angel]], [[Ariakon Overlord]], [[Autococker]], [[Automag (paintball marker)|Automag]], [[Bob Long Intimidator]], [[Bushmaster 2000 (paintball marker)|Bushmaster 2000]], [[BT-4 Assault]], [[BT-4 Banshee]], [[BT-4 Combat]], [[BT-4 Delta]], [[BT-4 ERC]], [[BT-4 IronHorse]], [[CCI Phantom]], [[Dye Matrix]], [[E Matrix (Paintball Marker)|E Matrix]], [[Excalibur (paintball)|Excalibur]], [[Extreme Rage Maxx 55]], [[Indian Creek Designs BKO|ICD BKO]], [[ICD Freestyle]], [[ICD Promaster]], [[Invert Mini]], [[PGP (paintball marker)|PGP]], [[Planet Eclipse Ego]], [[Proto SLG]], [[RAP4 (Real Action Paintball Marker)|RAP4]], [[RAP99]], [[Ion (paintball marker)|Smart Parts Ion]], [[Shocker (paintball marker)|Smart Parts Shocker]], [[Sp-8|Smart Parts SP-8]], [[Spyder MR1]], [[Spyder MR2]], [[Spyder Rodeo]], [[Spyder Victor]], [[Tippmann 98 custom|Tippmann 98 Custom]], [[Tippmann A-5]], [[Tippmann C-3]], [[Tippmann SL-68 II]]
|-
|-
! 2
|- style="font-size:90%;"
| 111,726 || Sept. 13, 2003 || '''Michigan 38''', Notre Dame 0
|align=right |'''Positions:'''
|align=left |
[[Player positions (paintball)]], [[Speedball backman]], [[Speedball centerman]], [[Speedball frontman]], [[Woodsball marksman]], [[Woodsball rifleman]], [[Woodsball scout]], [[Woodsball specialists]]
|-
|-
! 3
|- style="font-size:90%;"
| 111,609 || Oct. 30, 2004 || '''Michigan 45''', Michigan State 37 (3OT)
|align=right | '''Game Styles:'''
|align=left |
[[Paintball variations]], [[Scenario paintball]], [[Speedball]], [[Stock paintball]], [[Paintball_tank#Tankball|Tankball]], [[Woodsball]], [[Woodsball strategy]], [[Slingshot paintball]]
|-
|-
! 4
|- style="font-size:90%;"
| 111,591 || Nov. 19, 2005 || Michigan 21, '''Ohio State 25'''
|align=right |'''Media:'''
|align=left |
[[Blackballed (film)]], [[The Whiteboard]], [[Greg Hastings Tournament Paintball]], [[Greg Hastings Tournament Paintball MAX'D]], [[Gotcha! The Sport!]], [[Gotcha! (1985 film)]]
|-
|-
! 5
|- style="font-size:90%;"
| 111,575 || Nov. 20, 1999 || '''Michigan 24''', Ohio State 17
|align=right |'''Other Objects:'''
|align=left |
[[Paintball tank]], [[Paintball pistol]], [[Bunker (paintball)|Bunkers]], [[Inline blowback (paintball)]]
|-
|-
! 6
|- style="font-size:90%;"
| 111,571 || Nov. 24, 2001 || Michigan 20, '''Ohio State 26'''
|align=right |'''Companies:'''
|align=left |
[[Airgun Designs]], [[WDP (company)|APS (fomerly WDP)]], [[BT Paintball]], [[DYE Precision]], [[Empire]], [[Indian Creek Designs]], [[JT Sports]], [[Kingman Group]], [[PMI]], [[Smart Parts]], [[Special Ops Paintball]], [[Tippmann]], [[Worr Game Products|Worr Game Products (WGP)]]
|-
|-
! 7
|- style="font-size:90%;"
| 111,542 || Nov. 2, 2002 || '''Michigan 49''', Michigan State 3
|align=right |'''People, Tournaments, and Major League Teams:'''
|align=left |
[[List of professional paintball teams]], [[Team Dynasty]], [[Russian Legion]], [[NCPA (paintball)]], [[Oliver Lang]], [[Ultimate Arena Paintball League]], [[List of paintball leagues]], [[NXL]], [[National Professional Paintball League]]
|-
|-
! 8
<noinclude>
| 111,349 || Oct. 7, 2006 || '''Michigan 31''', Michigan State 13

</noinclude>
|}
|}


==Images==
[[Category:Paintball markers]]
<gallery caption="Images" widths="200px" perrow="4">
[[Category:WikiProject Paintball templates|Tippmann 98 custom]]
Image:MichiganStadium.jpg | View from the student section during a game between Michigan and [[Miami University|Miami University (OH)]], 2004.
Image:MichiganStadiumWinter0001.jpg | Michigan Stadium, winter 2002.
Image:MichiganStadiumExterior0001.jpg | Exterior of Michigan Stadium, winter 2002.
Image:MichiganStadiumGraduation0001.jpg | Graduation ceremony at Michigan Stadium, 2003.
Image:BigHousePacked.JPG | The stadium filled for a football game
Image:BigHouseSign.JPG | Exterior view
Image:Michigan Stadium south end from street.jpg | South end of the stadium.
Image:Michigan Stadium pressbox from street.jpg | Press Box, viewed from the west.
Image:Wisconsin Game Panorama 1.JPG | Panorama of the stadium.
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.mgoblue.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=3052 Official Michigan Stadium information page]
*[http://www.umich.edu/stadium/ Michigan Stadium Renovation]
*[http://www.umich.edu/~bhl/stadium/stadtext/mstadium.htm History of Michigan football stadiums]
*[http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2006/09/21/CampusLife/Group.Presents.Alternate.Plan-2289484.shtml?sourcedomain=www.michigandaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com Michigan Daily article detailing the Yost expansion, with illustrations]
*[http://www.savethebighouse.com SaveTheBigHouse.com]
*[http://www.michiganfansite.com/stadium.asp MichiganFansite.com Stadium Page]

{{Big Ten Football Venues}}
{{University of Michigan|athletics}}
{{Michigan Wolverines Football}}
{{Michigan college football venues}}

{{coord|42|15|57.2|N|83|44|55.5|W|type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:College football venues]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines football]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Michigan]]
[[Category:University of Michigan athletics]]
[[Category:University of Michigan campus]]

[[de:Michigan Stadium]]
[[fr:Michigan Stadium]]
[[ja:ミシガン・スタジアム]]

Revision as of 07:16, 11 October 2008

Michigan Stadium
"The Big House"
Map
LocationSouth Main Street & E Stadium Blvd
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
OwnerUniversity of Michigan
OperatorUniversity of Michigan
Capacity106,201 (108,000+ by 2010)
SurfaceField Turf
Construction
Broke ground1926
Opened1927
Construction cost$950,000 USD
ArchitectBernard Green
Tenants
Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) (1927-Present)

Michigan Stadium, nicknamed The Big House, is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. UM Stadium has often been called "The Carnegie Hall of all Sports" and is also known as the House that Yost built.[citation needed] It was built in 1927, at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Prior to playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field. Today, Michigan Stadium has an official capacity of 106,201[1], due to renovations for the 2008 season. The stadium previously had a capacity of 107,501 spectators. The football game attendance often exceeds 111,000 when band members, stadium staff, and others are added. The largest crowd in NCAA college football history was 112,118 on November 22, 2003 for a game against Ohio State.[2]

Currently the stadium lists as the second largest in the United States, behind Penn State's Beaver Stadium, due to a reduction of 1,300 seats because of a lawsuit on behalf of disabled patrons, ruled in March 2008. The former official capacity of 107,501 made The Big House the largest stadium in the United States up until the recent changes. It is the fourth largest stadium in the world, and the 31st largest sports venue in general (which includes auto racing and horse racing tracks, among others).[3] There is one "extra seat" in Michigan Stadium "reserved" by former head coach Fielding Yost for the then athletic director Fritz Crisler, although its location is not specified.[4] Home games are invariably sellouts,[citation needed] and residents of Ann Arbor are aware of "football Saturdays" because of the influx of traffic and business at local establishments. The size of the crowd in the stadium nearly matches the city's population of 114,000.

The Big House performs at least one traditional wave every game although typically one is performed each half. In the second half of most games the student section begins a pattern of non-traditional waves first by going in a counterclockwise direction, then another counterclockwise wave in slow motion, followed by one that that is double the normal wave speed, and finally the student section will then split the wave into to two counter-rotational waves. The non-traditional waves are not performed at every home game.

Michigan Stadium was designed with footings to allow the stadium's capacity to be expanded beyond 100,000. According to the University of Michigan Library's and Athletics Department's history of the stadium, then-athletic director Fielding Yost envisioned a day where 150,000 seats would be needed. To keep construction costs low at the time, the decision was made to build a smaller stadium than Yost envisioned but include the footings for future expansion.[5]

Michigan Stadium is also the site of University of Michigan main graduation ceremonies, though renovations in April 2008 led that year's ceremony to be moved to The Diag.[6]

History

Michigan Stadium's size is not entirely apparent to outside observers, as it is constructed partially below grade, leaving only the upper 20 rows (in most sections) visible from the outside. The stadium's original capacity was 72,000, but Yost made certain to install steel footings that could allow for expansion up to 200,000 seats.It is currently the 2nd largest stadium in the NCAA to Beaver Stadium (Penn St.) Initially, all seating consisted of wood bleachers. These were replaced with permanent metal seating in 1949 by Crisler, who had become athletic director. Longtime radio announcer Bob Ufer dubbed Michigan Stadium "The hole that Yost dug, Crisler paid for, Canham carpeted, and Schembechler fills every cotton-pickin' Saturday afternoon."[citation needed] Since 1975 — Bo Schembechler's seventh season as coach — the stadium has held over 100,000 fans for every home game.[citation needed] (The game against Indiana University on October 25, 1975 was the last sub-100,000 attendance home game for Michigan.[citation needed]) Michigan's game versus Ball State University on November 4, 2006 was the 200th consecutive crowd of over 100,000 fans.[citation needed] Traditionally, when the game's attendance is announced, the public address announcer thanks the fans for "being part of the largest crowd watching a football game anywhere in America." The tradition was temporarily stopped in 1996, when Michigan Stadium's capacity was overtaken by that of Neyland Stadium, but resumed when it was expanded two years later.[citation needed]

Formal dedication of the new Michigan Stadium, October 22, 1927, against Ohio State University

On October 1, 1927, Michigan played Ohio Wesleyan in the first game at Michigan Stadium. It was an instant success, and Michigan prevailed easily, 33-0. The new stadium was then formally dedicated three weeks later in a contest against Ohio State on October 22, 1927. Michigan had spoiled the formal dedication of Ohio Stadium in Columbus just five years earlier, and was victorious again in the contest played for the new dedication, besting the Buckeyes 21-0 before a capacity crowd of 84,401. In the early 1930s the UM installed electronic scoreboards and UM stadium thus became the first stadium in US history to have that technology.[citation needed]

From 1927 to 1968, the stadium's field was covered in natural grass. This was replaced with TartanTurf in 1969 to give players better traction. However, this surface was thought to be unforgiving on players' joints, and the stadium returned to natural turf in 1991. This too became problematic, as the field's below-surface location near the water table made it difficult for grass to permanently take root. The field was converted to FieldTurf, an artificial surface designed to give grass-like playing characteristics, in 2003.[citation needed]

On September 9, 2006, attendees of the Michigan Wolverines vs. Central Michigan Chippewas football game had to endure the first weather delay in the Stadium's history, after a lightning strike occurred shortly after 12:30 EDT in the afternoon.[citation needed] The game was delayed for approximately one hour.

On March 11, 2008, as part of the settlement terms of a lawsuit filed against the university pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the university announced that the official capacity of the stadium would be reduced to 106,201 to accommodate additional wheelchair-accessible seating beginning with the 2009 season.[7]

Renovation plan

On June 21, 2007, the University's Board of Regents approved a $226 million renovation and expansion project for Michigan Stadium which is expected to be completed by 2010. The project includes replacement of some bleachers, widening of individual seats, widening of the aisles and installing hand rails, and the addition of a new press box, 83 luxury boxes, 3,200 club seats, raising its total seating capacity from 107,501 to over 108,000.[8] This renovation plan has garnered much opposition from students, alumni, and fans around the country.[9] A disabled-veterans group filed a federal lawsuit against the university on April 17, because the design of the project did not meet federal standards for wheelchair-accessible seating.[10]

In March 2008, the University reached a settlement to drop the lawsuit in exchange for adding more accessible seating in place of current seating during the course of the renovation. As a result of this change, the capacity of the stadium will decrease to an estimated 106,201 seats for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, placing it second behind Penn State's Beaver Stadium. Following construction completion in 2010, Michigan Stadium will once again become the largest football stadium in America, with a listed attendance of over 108,000.[11]

Records

Michigan Stadium's record crowd of 112,118 saw a victory for Michigan over Ohio State with a score of 35–21. The game was also the 100th anniversary for the Michigan-Ohio State Rivalry game. [12]

In 2004 Michigan set an NCAA record for average attendance at home games, with an average of 111,025 fans. [13]

Michigan Stadium Attendance Records
Rank Attendance Date Game result
1 112,118 Nov. 25, 2003 Michigan 35, Ohio State 21
2 111,726 Sept. 13, 2003 Michigan 38, Notre Dame 0
3 111,609 Oct. 30, 2004 Michigan 45, Michigan State 37 (3OT)
4 111,591 Nov. 19, 2005 Michigan 21, Ohio State 25
5 111,575 Nov. 20, 1999 Michigan 24, Ohio State 17
6 111,571 Nov. 24, 2001 Michigan 20, Ohio State 26
7 111,542 Nov. 2, 2002 Michigan 49, Michigan State 3
8 111,349 Oct. 7, 2006 Michigan 31, Michigan State 13

Images

  • Images
  • View from the student section during a game between Michigan and Miami University (OH), 2004.
    View from the student section during a game between Michigan and Miami University (OH), 2004.
  • Michigan Stadium, winter 2002.
    Michigan Stadium, winter 2002.
  • Exterior of Michigan Stadium, winter 2002.
    Exterior of Michigan Stadium, winter 2002.
  • Graduation ceremony at Michigan Stadium, 2003.
    Graduation ceremony at Michigan Stadium, 2003.
  • The stadium filled for a football game
    The stadium filled for a football game
  • Exterior view
    Exterior view
  • South end of the stadium.
    South end of the stadium.
  • Press Box, viewed from the west.
    Press Box, viewed from the west.
  • Panorama of the stadium.
    Panorama of the stadium.

Notes

  1. ^ Stadium info from mgoblue.com
  2. ^ "Navarre tosses two TDs to Edwards - NCAA College Football Recap". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 22, 2003. Retrieved 2008-01-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ www.worldstadiums.com list of 100,000+ capacity stadiums. Accessed January 11, 2006.
  4. ^ What's the real capacity? Accessed November 11, 2006.
  5. ^ The Biggest House Again. Accessed July 13, 2006.
  6. ^ University of Michigan 2008 Graduation (Story and Video) | Michigan Today
  7. ^ "Michigan Stadium lawsuit settled". 2008-03-11.
  8. ^ University of Michigan Expansion Project Press Release
  9. ^ U-M is making a mistake
  10. ^ Suit filed against 'U' for stadium renovation plan
  11. ^ MGoBlue
  12. ^ "Michigan Stadium Game Attendance Records". MGoBlue. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  13. ^ "Michigan Stadium Season Records". MGoBlue. Retrieved 2008-04-23.

External links

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