Main | Mort’s Map Interactive | Building List
Michigan Stadium
IMAGE TITLE DESCRIP IMAGE TITLE DESCRIP IMAGE TITLE DESCRIP IMAGE TITLE DESCRIP	Today, the largest football stadium in the United States, Michigan Stadium was built in 1927.[16] The need for a new stadium came with the increased interest in Michigan Football. Ferry Field had come to a point where the stands were no longer capable of accommodating the large crowds that had greatly exceeded its capacity.[35] In 1926, the university purchased lots on the South Side of town near Main Street. The gently sloping area would influence the construction of the new stadium to what we see today.[35] While many people find Michigan Stadium quite impressive looking, it wasn’t the architects or university’s goal to make the structure look monumental, rather functional for seating a large crowd and producing favorable conditions for football.[35] Fielding Yost envisioned the new facility seating between 100,000 to 150,000 fans.[16] However, the regents found this to be too large, and eventually an agreement was made that the stadium would seat 72,000 fans, but ample space would be provided to expand seating up to 100,000.[16] Plans were drawn up of a stadium bowl built below ground level with parallel sides and rounded ends. A press box was located on the west side of the stadium and the locker rooms were built beneath the stands on the east side. The tunnel that leads to these rooms also exits into the concourse on the east side where the hill allowed the stadium to jut out the back. This side is characterized by a brick wall with decorative brick arch openings. People enter the stadium from the four corners of the grounds through large iron gates mounted on brick columns. At the time it was built, it was possible to clear the stadium of fans in thirteen minutes.[35] On October 1, 1927, Michigan played its first game in the new stadium against Ohio Wesleyan, winning 33 – 0.[16] In 150 additional seating was added as well as another addition in the nineties. This brought the total seating capacity up to 107,501.[16] This addition was completed by adding more stands above ground, making the stadium more visible in the surrounding area. Over the years, upgrades and renovations have occurred to modernize the stadium. The playing surface has changed as well, going from grass to Astroturf, back to grass, and now field turf. The entire student seating section was also replaced and reconstructed this past year.[16]
Main | Mort’s Map Interactive | Building List