Media tour touts new Big House design, accessibility

University officials welcomed Metro Detroit journalists last week to tour Michigan Stadium and outline planned renovations that will improve accessibility for fans.

"We want to be accommodating to all of our fans," says Executive Associate Director of Athletics Mike Stevenson, while leading a media tour at Michigan Stadium. (Photo by Martin Vloet, U-M Photo Services)

"The fact that this stadium is a hole in the ground makes it so unique," says Doug Hanna, a University architect. (Photo by Martin Vloet, U-M Photo Services)

When the $226 million construction project completes in 2010, the updated Big House will more than triple its wheelchair-accessible seating (from 90 to at least 316) and handrails will be added to widened aisles in the bowl to help with ingress and egress.

The project will add five buildings to the stadium area. The two large structures that will flank the stadium on the east and west sides will include 83 suites, a new press box, an outdoor club space with lounge seating, additional restrooms and 16-18 elevators. A major goal of the project is to improve crowd flow in and out of the stadium.

Application of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seating standards to the bowl is the focus of a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America. A trial date is expected sometime this fall, said Gloria Hage, interim vice president and general counsel.

However, two of the new structures included in the new design will include more accessible seating.

"We included this in the design not because it's required but because it's a perfect opportunity and location for them," said Doug Hanna, a University architect. He noted much of the new accessible seating will be located on the concourse level, near new accessible concessions and restrooms. "We are doing what we think is right while meeting the building code."

In the planning stages, the University set up town hall meetings with people with disabilities for input on how to update the stadium, said Executive Associate Director of Athletics Mike Stevenson. "We want to be accommodating to all of our fans," he said.

The additional wheelchair-accessible seating along with new elevators in the planned new structures comply with ADA accessibility requirements, Hage said.

"In order to meet the code, 1 percent of the total new seats need to be accessible," she said. As for the existing stadium, which originally was built in 1927, Hage said, "regardless of when it was built, it has to be accessible and usable by people with disabilities."

Hanna acknowledged the age and design of the bowl-shaped stadium have prevented accessible seating below row 72 and restricted the original design to one elevator. "The fact that this stadium is a hole in the ground makes it so unique," Hanna said. "But it also created accessibility issues."

While widening the aisles will reduce seats by 5,000 in the bowl, new seating and suites will make up that loss, bringing available capacity up to 108,000, Hanna said. The stadium currently seats approximately 107,000, with attendance recently as high as 113,000.

Currently 53 season ticket-holders use wheelchair-accessible seating, and the rest are filled by general ticket sales, Hanna said.

Of the 83 new luxury boxes, which will each have 16 seats, the University has sold 25 of them at $85,000 per year, Stevenson said.

Officials expect to break ground on the new structures after the Ohio State game, Nov. 17.