Big House Capacity?

Submitted by Brugoblue on August 5th, 2021 at 2:01 PM

First time post, so go easy on me!

If I understand this correctly, students are required to be vaccinated before being allowed to enroll/attend - how will the university handle 100,000+ attendees to the football games?  Do we think they’ll need to cut back on the number of tickets sold? And what if a large number of Event Team Members choose to take the year off?  Seems to me that a full stadium with a less than ideal number of ETM’s could be asking for trouble 

1WhoStayed

August 5th, 2021 at 2:08 PM ^

C’mon man. This has been reported in every media outlet - including this one. The plan is to fill the stadium. Can’t remember exact number but something like 80,000 season tickets have been sold.

This is the best you got for a first post?

Feels more like a troll post to start a covid “discussion”…

Edit: A simple search says over 85k sold.

https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-wolverines-football-boasting-impressive-season-ticket-sales

 

 

 

Don

August 5th, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^

I hadn't come across any info about season ticket sales, and TBH I'm surprised they've sold 85K already, after all the doom and gloom surrounding the program at the moment.

However, I don't know how that number stacks up against past season ticket sales by the end of July.*

The other question is whether they'll have trouble selling another 15K so that they can maintain the somewhat fictitious streak of consecutive games over 100K.*

*If I'd read the full article I'd have gotten an answer:

“Some additional student ticket orders are expected to come in from freshmen, too,” Ablauf told TheWolverine.com. “The numbers represent a small decline from last year and the previous year, but that’s understandable given the pandemic … and the good news is we’re continuing to sell tickets every day. The fan interest has been there.”

The athletic department has also had success selling its family ticket packs. Between those, individual sales and season tickets, both the Indiana (Nov. 6) and Ohio State (Nov. 27) games have sold out. Only about 5,000 seats remain for each of the remaining five home games, Ablauf confirmed.

True Blue Grit

August 5th, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^

The real number that is important is the actual number of people sitting (or standing) in the stadium.  It's a fact there is a significant number of people who don't show up for whatever reason.  But actual counts of people scanning tickets to get in is often below 80K even for Michigan Stadium.  Don't believe me?  Google the Wall Street Journal article on the subject from a few years back.  I'll save you the trouble:  https://graphics.wsj.com/table/Ncaaattendance_082718

LSA Aught One

August 5th, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^

I'm heavily invested in eVTOLSs.  Let's all get personal quad-copters and just hover above the halo.  That way, there will be no spread and we won't need the Event Teams.  Cottage Inn will have delivery vehicles and sell us the $5 specials we used to get as we walked back from the games.  You can even tune the radio to listen to Brandstatter tell stories.  When it's over, fly home.  No traffic and no problem.  I don't know why you needed to post this question when we have eVTOLSs

uminks

August 5th, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^

I think vaccination cards should be used for very large crowds that are close together, like the Big House. I keep a copy of my vax card on my iphone just in case some stores or events I attend require it. So far the delta virus is causing a big rise in COVID in the southern states. Even here in KS our COVID transmission rate has increased 400 percent in the last 2 weeks. Hospitals are starting to get full. At my work place everyone got vaccinated in March and April and so far 4 staff members out of 40 have tested positive with COVID. One good result of the vaccines, is that all cases have only caused minor illnesses. I hope this delta virus does not spread farther north as the weather gets cooler.

Don

August 5th, 2021 at 4:31 PM ^

I hope this delta virus does not spread farther north as the weather gets cooler.

I think it's already pretty well established up here. 

There is some evidence that the Delta infection in the UK burned out relatively quickly, but the vaccination rate in the UK has been higher than in the US, so that's a factor. 

However, new vaccination rates have taken a sharp rise in the US over the last week or so, probably spurred by a combo of employers and universities mandating vaccines and unvaccinated people watching all the stories of other unvaccinated people in their 30s and 40s in horrible shape in ICUs and/or dying.

MGoStrength

August 5th, 2021 at 4:04 PM ^

I know UM and several other schools like OSU have already announced full capacity this fall, however with recent Delta variations I already know that in my home state of Maine they are doubling down on mask wearing a social distancing again.  It wouldn't surprise me to see UM and other B1G schools not go full capacity despite their previous messaging as they tend to be more cautious than say the SEC.

Dean Pelton

August 5th, 2021 at 4:19 PM ^

First game is a month away and a lot can change in a month. Sort of brought this up yesterday. I am fully vaccinated and I am not sure I would want to be in a complete packed Big House right now. It isn’t crazy to think that if cases keep rising Michigan might decide to reduce attendance at games. 

Sopwith

August 5th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^

I expect there will be some kind of restriction, most likely a mask requirement but I wouldn't rule out a POV requirement either. This isn't Alabama or Florida. The notion we're going to put 110k people, 30% or so of whom are likely unvaccinated, tightly together for 3.5 hours screaming and spittle-ing everywhere with zero mitigation measures is hard to believe.

GoBlueGoWings

August 5th, 2021 at 6:57 PM ^

Unless told otherwise Michigan won't change the capacity. They need as much money as they can get. Good luck trying to keep masks on everyone when you can take them off when you eat or drink. And if it's sunny and hot the first few games.

Went to the Red Sox @ Tigers game saw very few masks. 

 

crlake202

August 5th, 2021 at 10:56 PM ^

Sorry, don't have enough points to start a thread.  Regular parking location is not parking cars this year.  Looking for something North of the stadium for all games paid in advance?  Any help?

Ezekiels Creatures

August 6th, 2021 at 11:34 PM ^

I have several camera angles at my seat, with lots of instant replay, a clean, nice smelling bathroom too, that.s about  12 feet away. There will be maximum capacity allowed, and will be at capacity. No mask. No debates about masks, or vaccines. I'll even be watching two games at once. :-)