The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/78838
ing in the now 29 varsity sports at the university. Michigan's athletic investment has resulted in an existing debt level of $325 million. Some $300 million more in spending for various projects and investments is being considered, meaning U-M has to keep the cash coming in. Brandon buttressed the athletic test, along with an additional $10 ser- vice fee. That's up from the $250 for eight home games ($31.25 a contest) from a year ago. Regular season tickets, meanwhile, department personnel by adding staff. He inherited a 275-member ath- letic department, some 85 of which are now elsewhere, and has hired to bring the staff up to the present number. Athletic department salaries from last year represented $40.3 million of Michigan's expenditures. "First and foremost, I've got to put a great team around me," Brandon said. "I have to have people that I trust who are talented and who share my passion for what can be here at Michigan athletics. I really feel like I have done that. "When I have a meeting with my team, I'm impressed with their blend of experience, knowledge, talent, pas- sion, commitment and work ethic. If I've got the right people in place to help bring this entire department to- gether, and get it working efficiently and effectively to achieving both our short- and long-term goals, then I've done my job. "I think we've made some great, great strides in that area." The fiscal year 2013 budget reflects two fewer home football games, a hit offset by the nearly $5 million Michi- gan is to receive for participating in the opener at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against defending national champion Alabama. Reve- nues from concessions are anticipated to drop some $700,000. Hosting the 2013 Winter Classic are getting bumped an average of $5 per seat. They cost $390 for the season, with individual game tickets priced at $75 for contests against Air Force, Massachusetts, Illinois, North- western and Iowa. The Oct. 20 Michi- gan State game has been designated a "premium" contest, with a price tag of $95 for that seat. "We benchmarked our ticket prices ties needs are ongoing, despite the dramatic upgrades in that area across the athletic campus. U-M's Board of Regents on July 19 approved a pair of projects related to football. One involves a $9 million renova- Facilities Brandon knows Michigan's facili- against our peers and other com- parable football venues, and these prices will bring us closer to current industry standards," Brandon noted in March, in announcing the increase. • Preferred seating revenues are ex- tion of Schembechler Hall, the foot- ball fortress that houses Michigan's players and coaches. The upgrade will add some 7,000 square feet of space to the building, along with reshaping another 7,000 square feet of the exist- ing structure. The new look involves a brick and pected to jump from $26.2 million in fiscal year 2012 to $27.4 million in the coming fiscal year. That's largely due to the new premium seating areas in Crisler Arena, which are — accord- glass exterior, along with separate en- trances for the public and U-M foot- ball personnel. The media interview room and existing exhibit space will be improved, while second-floor up- grades involve additional office space and a new recruiting lounge. Rob Rademacher, Michigan's as- sociate athletic director for facilities Michigan director of athletics David Brandon "Our goal is to create 'Leaders and Best' practice and competition facilities which will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans who attend our athletic events the best possible experience." ing to athletic department representa- tives — essentially sold out. • The Big Ten's present distribu- tion of television revenue, bowl game earnings and basketball tournament cash infuse more than $25 million into Michigan's coffers. • The Crisler Center project itself and operations, noted that the Regents have approved a schematic design for the Schembechler Hall upgrade. That should allow construction to begin next spring, with an eye toward finish- ing the project in a year. "We would plan on celebrating the — totaling roughly $100 million — has increased Michigan's annual debt service some $1.5 million, to $14.7 million. Brandon noted Michigan expe- hockey game — a contest featuring the National Hockey League's To- ronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on New Year's Day at Michi- gan Stadium — will cost U-M an es- timated $600,000. At the same time, the NHL is paying Michigan some $3 million to use the facility. The following facts and figures have also been released regarding the money side of Michigan athletics: • Football ticket prices for 2012 have been increased. Student season tickets will cost $195 for the six home games, representing $32.50 per con- rienced some revenue boosts that couldn't have been fully anticipated over the past year. "The 'Under the Lights' game rededication of Schembechler Hall at the spring game in April of 2014," Rademacher said. "It's exciting, and the rededication of the facility will make for a great weekend for Michi- gan football." The exterior of Schembechler will against Notre Dame, our football team's participation in the BCS Sugar Bowl and robust ticket sales during our men's basketball season helped us achieve higher-than-budgeted revenue," Brandon said. "We have received strong support from our do- nors and fans, allowing our depart- ment to make sizable investment in certain facilities projects that will pos- itively impact a significant number of our student-athletes and programs." change dramatically, taking on a brick look that fits seamlessly into the build- ings surrounding it. It will also feature a huge glass corner section looking out on State Street. "Schembechler Hall, when it was built, may have worked," Rademacher said. "But with the addition of the Glick Field House, and with Yost, and all of the other brick that we added at the Wilpon Complex, it made sense to tie that building in architecturally. "At the same time, we have that one piece in the corner with the glass on State Street that draws you in. It says, SEPTEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 63