Michigan Stadium is a well-loved fixture at the University. The memories that ensue season after season will never leave the hearts and minds of University students and alumni. But from the Athletic Department's misguided decision to issue split-season tickets to first-year students to the recent proposal regarding new high-tech scoreboards, the Michigan football stadium has been the subject of many controversial suggestions. The latest proposed change for improving the Big House - presented by the Task Force on Football Ticket Policies - is to relocate the students' section from the southeast side to the northeast corner of the stadium, creating additional seating for students.
This proposal is practical and beneficial to students. Many students enter the stadium through gates 9 and 10 on the northeastern side closest to Central Campus. Relocating students to the northeast corner of the stadium will shorten the route students take to enter the stadium and loosen the congestion outside the "Big House." It will also displace the non-student season ticket holders presently seated in the northeast section, allowing those who enter the stadium from the southeast to access their seats without venturing out and navigating through the human traffic jam that inevitably forms in the stadium's perimeters.
The most important aspect of this plan is its intent to ensure that last year's issuing of split-season tickets to first-year students will not be repeated. According to the task force, the relocation of the student section will consolidate seating and aid in the efficient allocation of the 5,200-seat expansion planned for the 1998 season. According to Athletic Director Tom Goss, the primary purpose of the expansion is to mitigate the shortage of student seating that was made painfully obvious last season. With a national championship under its belt, the Michigan football team promises to attract an even larger crowd this fall - students deserve to be guaranteed a place to sit. The department should allocate the seats as such, providing the students with additional room rather than allocating the expansion seats to non-student ticket holders.
The University boasts a strong football tradition. The "Big House" is a historic site, full of nostalgic memories for thousands of University alumni and students. The stadium's rich heritage should be respected and honored. The Big House should be protected from unnecessary changes that will detract from its historic tradition. But some changes are necessary, and the relocation of the student section is one of them. Every Michigan fan who has attended a football game can vouch for the congested state of the stadium's perimeter. Every first-year student issued a split-season ticket for the 1997 national championship season can attest to the need for additional student seating.
Adjusting the seating arrangement to encourage fans to enter the stadium at the gate nearest their section is only logical. And while the students will have to adjust to a new perspective, the overall benefits outweigh the break with tradition. The congestion will be alleviated outside the stadium, allowing students to thoroughly enjoy their football experience rather than fight with crowds outside. Students should have access to the new seating added for the 1998 season - and to full-season tickets as well.
02-18-98
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