Water bottle ban at Michigan Stadium is all about the money

So despite the public revolt and disappointment at the University of Michigan Athletic Department's 2010 Football Season decision to restrict ticket holders from bringing in bottled water to the football games the story continues.

First we hear that U-M is going to reinstate the use of vendors to sell food and beverages during the games by being present in the stands. This clearly is a result of the no water allowed policy and is supposed to act as a public buffer. Now as an additional pacifier it appears, from looks inside the stadium gates on Sept. 1, that for the first game they are also going to "give out" free water to attendees.

Again an effort to defray the bottom line issue that they really want the revenue for purchase of a 10 cents bottle of water for $4. The issue really involves not the delay of getting people into the stadium but folks who always arrive late at the gates.

Even with the visit of President Obama and the security scans being used didn't cause delays in entering the stadium. If the visit of the president can allow for crowd management, the checking for water bottles shouldn't be the real issue. Bartering for fans’ approval should also be banned!

Deborah S. Wagner Ann Arbor