Posted on Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
Scoreboard demolition at Michigan Stadium should be completed by next week
By Pete Bigelow
Football fans arriving at Michigan Stadium next month for the school’s annual spring football game might notice a missing fixture of the Big House.
Demolition of the venue’s iconic scoreboards should be complete by the time the Wolverines take the field at noon on April 16. School officials said they should be completely torn down by the end of next week.
Over the next several weeks, crews will install caissons to support the new wide-screen, high-definition video screens. No seats will be lost in the stadium, because they’ll be placed outside the bowl.
A contract has not yet been awarded for the screens, but they are expected to be in place by August and ready for the 2011 season.
Comments
Ann English
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
Does Brady Hoke have anything to do with this scoreboard demolition and replacement? It sounds like no traffic lanes on Main or Stadium have to be closed for this project.
Pete Bigelow
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 2:55 p.m.
@Tru2Blu76. Sorry you didn't like the short story above. It was intended to be a short story with the news of the day posted quickly as possible, not a definitive story on the scoreboards. @fly2sxm. You raise an interesting point about sketches of the new scoreboards. I was told yesterday that artist renderings of the new video boards will be available once the contract is awarded. We'll pass them along as soon as possible.
kay
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
TruBlu76 needs to apply for a job with AnnArbor.com. His knowledge was much more interesting and kept me reading the the original article.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
RE: "Demolition of the venue's iconic scoreboards should be complete by the time the Wolverines take the field at noon on April 16" - - Iconic scoreboards? Yes, they are "iconic" but that's because they were a part of "very iconic" Michigan Stadium for a long time. I am disappointed in this story, Pete. I mean: first of all, I posted on The Wall that I had seen and photographed the beginning of demolition of these scoreboards last Sunday, & provided a link to the photo I uploaded to Flickr. Work has progressed since Sunday - on both the North and South boards. Yet - you did not go to take photos or send Lon to take photos for this story. How "iconic" do you think these scoreboards are ? Certainly not "iconic" enough to mention they've been up there since 1998. The previous scoreboards were first used in 1969 - recording a significant victory over Ohio State (we know) and ending in 1997 - with another victory over Ohio State. This is information you could have put in your story - but you didn't. You could have spent a few minutes searching the internet and found the aggregate win/loss record posted on those scoreboards over the last 13 seasons. Out of 89 games played during that period, they recorded 67 wins, 21 losses. Additionally, instead of just regurgitating, "A contract has not yet been awarded for the screens..." you could have asked WHY NOT and asked for a list of bidders and the projected cost. I rate this a one-star story: just for mentioning these scoreboards. I also give A2.com's overall rating "1 out of 5" for lack of inspired writing (coming, evidently, from uninspired reporters). Too many of these: and annarbor.com will fade from the scene like its predecessor.
fly2sxm
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 2:46 p.m.
I am in total agreement with you. Out of curiousity when Brandon announced the replacement of the scoreboards, I googled sketch pics and found nothing on what the new scoreboards could look like. I did however, see everything you are claiming Pete could have found. I am surprised that they were already removed when no bidder no sketches of any kind have been released.
BornInA2
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
I heard they had to rewrite the RFP for the scoreboard: The previous regime, whose leader shall remain unnamed, had mandated that it include three digits for each team's score in anticipation of this year's game against Illinois.
missionbrazil
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
Scoreboard: demolished Theo's man crush: abolished Michigan's D: redeployed Other Big Ten teams: destroyed True UM fans: overjoyed
PortageLkBlu
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
NOT! Trying to imitate Theo is like trying to imitate Diet Coke with diet shasta, NOT.
Engineer
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 12:32 a.m.
I would like to see the old score boards go up at Manchester's field! I could just see the faces of other teams when they come in and get off the buss.
azwolverine
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
Or better yet, don't include any digits...just paint a 0 on there and leave it at that.
azwolverine
Wed, Mar 16, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.
The new scoreboard should only include one digit for the opposition now that UM will be back to playing defense again...
Dos
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
went to Indiana game last fall and they were so ahead of us technically it was embarassing
Theo212
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 9 p.m.
Scoreboard: Demolished Our hearts: Demolished Crystal hopes: Demolished 2nd graders: Overjoyed State of Michigan: Unemployed Season ticket holders: Quite annoyed David Brandon: Avoid the Noid (Domino's needs you back this instant!)
PortageLkBlu
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
Yes indeed Theo.
PortageLkBlu
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
They should replace the old scoreboard with a giant slot machine.
Theo212
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
...and on the new (unnecessary) video boards they can show Brandon winning jackpot after jackpot...
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 17, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
A footnote to the giant slot machine, each time a ticket holder enters the stadium you would hear a loud Ca-ching.