Michigan has plenty of time to prepare for prime-time football game
Michigan has 18 months to prepare for its first night home football game, Sept. 10, 2011, against Notre Dame. But the Wolverines already are versed on some of the logistics that come with a later start.
“We know how to string lights and we know how to work traffic in those conditions,” athletic director Dave Brandon said Thursday. “This will be a little bit of a different wrinkle, but the operations team is prepared to get this done and everybody is appreciative of the fact that we obviously have lead time here. We’ve got plenty of time to plan and educate and test and prepare, and so we’re going to be fine.”
While Michigan has never hosted a prime-time football game, many 3:30 p.m. starts end after dusk.
Typically, networks provide lights for those games, as ESPN will do next year, and while some parking areas around the stadium are lit, the university rents lighting towers for other nearby lots.
There are no plans to install lights at Michigan Stadium.
“Those things aren’t going to be as difficult as some people have made them out to be because we’ve already been doing that,” Michigan spokesperson Bruce Madej said. “We already play games after 3:30.”
Brandon said he spent a few weeks ironing out other logistical issues before finalizing the game. He met with Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman and members of her executive staff, and had conversations with Ken Magee, executive director of the university’s Department of Public Safety, and E. Royster Harper, vice president for student affairs.
Diane Brown, public information officer for DPS, said it’s too early to know what extra measures the department will have in place for a night game.
“This is 18 months away,” Brown said. “We have (President Barack) Obama coming (for commencement) in six weeks and we’ve got to get through a season and brand new environment, and we’ve got (an outdoor) hockey game after that. We’ll tackle the night game eventually. It’s a very big deal for the athletic department, but we’ve got a lot of other things coming up between now and then.”
Brown said department officials visited Wisconsin to see how police handled the outdoor hockey game there last month in preparation for the Michigan-Michigan State game scheduled for Michigan Stadium this December.
Because Michigan’s parking, tailgating and traffic situations are unique, the department may or may not travel to a night football game this fall, Brown said.
Another area of concern is excessive tailgating. Brown said any discussions on how early to open parking lots or how best to monitor tailgating “are a long ways off.”
“I think it’s pretty common knowledge that there is an increase in issues pertaining to drinking when we play later games than when we play earlier games in the afternoon,” Brown said. “We kind of have watched other colleagues around the country as they’ve dealt with night games, so I’m sure those will be issues to be factored in and factored in in a variety of ways as it pertains to any activities student affairs might be able to help with.
“And fan behavior issues often are somewhat of an issue with high-profile rival games, so we just want to ensure that all visitors, whether they’re rooting for U-M or the opponent, are treated with respect and safety.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Terry Star21
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 8:25 p.m.
If you are drunk you still can't get in.
OSUbeBetter
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 6:04 p.m.
@Terry Star21, what about texas vs texas tech, texas vs oklahoma (the red river rivalry), cal vs usc, florida vs florida state, Georgia vs Florida (the biggest cocktail party in America). Do you think anybody outside the big ten gives a crap about michigan vs michigan state? and michigan vs ND come on, just another old rivalry against a team that should be a conference opponent.
Cakes
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 4:15 p.m.
Robby are you off your rocker? Those tickets are going to be nearly impossible to get your hands on, likewise many true blue fans will be in Ann Arbor all day/evening spending money
Terry Star21
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 11:33 a.m.
So true Freemind... ever notice when they talk about America's best college rivalries, whether it be Michigan/Notre Dame, Michigan/Ohio State, or Michigan/Michigan State, Meeechigan is always there! America loves the winged helmets and everything about UM football they represent. MgoBlue!
Sean T.
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.
Now this is a turn in the right direction. Go Blue!
Freemind42
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 8:02 a.m.
@Robby, if you think that the restaraunts and bars won't be open for the night game you are so out of touch you might as well call yourself bobby-bluehair. This will be an amazing event and will help re-establish the Michigan vs Notre Dame rivalry
81wolverine
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:57 a.m.
I think Brandon is showing some real progressive thinking here. The Michigan powers-that-be have always resisted night games. But, the truth is that they're great exposure for the program and school. The logistics of dealing with lighting and worries about excessive partying are minor issues that CAN be solved. Yeah, it makes for a much different game-day experience than most of us are used to. But it will be worth it. Mich. 30 ND 14.
robby
Mon, Mar 22, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.
As every one knows, home football games at U of M have been a place for old friends and new friends to meet on a Saturday day in the fall. Additionally, the games have provided a substantial boost to the economy especially for restaurants and their employees...many of them students. Much of this tradition and economic benefit will be put in danger by "night home games". Robby
Terry Star21
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 8:57 p.m.
Great idea... people aren't allowed in the stadium, even from other states if they have been drinking - games or practice games.
OSUbeBetter
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
@Terry Star21, the Vegas odds makers gave Michigan 3 to 1 odds of winning their Spring practice game. Other bets include DR still keeping his shoes untied even though they are firmly Velcroed into place, 1.5 to 1, and Forcier still wearing isotoner ladies size small gloves is even money.
Terry Star21
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 3:39 p.m.
No worries, OSUbeButter has been driving his rig all night, very tired - thinks the whole world operates at night - poor smuckeye! EVERYONE please attend the Spring Practice Game April 17 - tailgate, watch the Alumni game and enjoy a preview of a super UM footbal season!
Terry Star21
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 3:35 p.m.
No worries, O
GoBlueGoWing
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 3:03 p.m.
If you are drunk than you don't get inside
OSUbeBetter
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
wow its 2010 and Michigan just gets around to hosting a night game. Why doesn't Michigan get their own lights? are they Amish? way to only be 50 years behind the rest of the world.
Cakes
Sun, Mar 21, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.
Can't wait for this night game! And for the blue-hairs that like the way things were at the dawn of football evolve or become extinct