PHOTO: The renovation of Michigan Stadium isn't complete, but most of the new premium seats have been sold. (Photo by Lon Horwedel) Thomas Brock lives in Cincinnati, works occasionally in Columbus, Ohio, and travels extensively overseas as president and CEO of mailing giant Kern Inc., but the former Michigan baseball player rarely misses a chance to see his alma mater play football. Naturally, when university regents approved a $226 million expansion of Michigan Stadium last summer to include 82 luxury boxes, Brock was among the first in line.

“It only took one call,” Brock said. More than 13 months before construction is complete, premium seating at Michigan remains a hot commodity. Senior associate athletic director for development Joe Parker said about 70 percent of the new seats have been sold for the 2010 season. That includes commitments for 57 suites with a $10,000 non-refundable deposit and just under 2,500 of the 3,600 club seats. In a slumping economy and coming off the worst season in Michigan football history, that’s good news for an athletic department aiming for another budget surplus.

“We feel pretty good about that,” Parker said. “We’ve got roughly 14 months to go before the project’s in use, so obviously we’ve got a little bit of work to do. But 70 percent’s better than 30 percent.” In fact, Michigan is ahead of the premium-seating pace set by some of its Big Ten brethren. Minnesota, which opens TCF Bank Stadium this fall, has sold 31 of 37 suites priced at $40,500 and is now selling boxes on an individual game basis. The Gophers cut prices 10 percent after the state legislature effectively banned alcohol at the stadium earlier this year. Suites at alcohol-free Michigan Stadium range from $55,000-$85,000, and the higher-priced, mid-field boxes are oversubscribed, Parker said. Michigan State, which renovated Spartan Stadium in 2005, has sold 19 of 24 suites for $35,000 to $85,000. Michigan State sold less than a third of its 854 club seats initially, though about 80 percent of those seats are owned now. Representatives from both schools said Michigan is positioned well with 70 percent of its inventory accounted for. “If that’s where they’re at right now, they’re in great shape,” said Jason Butikofer, director of premium seating at Minnesota. “That’s a solid number,” said Michigan State director of sales for premium seating Mark Schoenl. “You got the slam dunks out of the way, and usually the last 25 percent is the hardest to get.” Parker said the goal for Michigan is to have all of its suites under three-, five- or seven-year commitments next summer. Two models will be open for viewing this fall - that’s being done not for marketing purposes, but to make sure the different contractors build out identical suites - and interest has picked up recently. “It had gone kind of quiet from November through March, April,” Parker said. “Not that we didn’t have any activity, but it wasn’t the same level we had before. “Now, we’re kind of getting back to the point where there’s more inquiries, there’s more interest. We closed a couple this (summer).” Of course, whether Michigan can duplicate Iowa’s premium-seating success - the Hawkeyes renovated Kinnick Stadium three years ago and have sold every club seat (with a 165-person waiting list) and suite (45 of 46 are currently accounted for, with a 46th contract expected to be in place soon) since - might depend on the local economy and the state of program. Brock, who played right field for Michigan from 1986-1988 and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1988, said it made sense to sign a five-year suite agreement from both a personal and business perspective. Kern Global is opening in Michigan next year, and Brock said he’ll use the suite to entertain domestic and international clients as well as enjoy Michigan football with his family. On the field, Parker said it’s hard to quantify what effect last year’s 3-9 record had on suite sales or what impact a turnaround could have this season. “There hasn’t been anyone that’s really said to us, I don’t think I want to make a commitment because I’m concerned Michigan football is not performing to expectations,” he said. “I think everyone understands the tradition of football here at Michigan and the game-day experience and how much fun that is. I think that’s what they’re making their decisions on.”