Believe it not, The University of Michigan’s tremendously large, and recently become even larger, stadium has never had lights. Until yesterday when the UM Board of Regents approved the request for permanent lighting at Michigan Stadium. The athletic department will have the lights installed prior to the playing of the Big Chill at the Big House, an outdoor hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State, on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010.
“The addition of permanent lights will improve the quality of viewing experience for our fans,” said Athletic Director Dave Brandon. “We take great pride in having the best game day experience in college football and this will further enhance that position.
“Short term there will be a cost savings on the rental fee associated with bringing in lights for the Big Chill and long-term it eliminates the need for lights to be brought in every time we play a 3:30 p.m. football game,” added Brandon.
The permanent lights will allow the Michigan Athletic Department to have the lights already in place for 3:30 p.m. games. It will eliminate the need for shutting down lanes of traffic on Main Street to utilize rented cranes to hoist lights unto the facility and gets rid of the generator along the concourse, thus improving the foot traffic and parking issues in and around the stadium.
In addition, the lights will allow the football team to practice at the Big House in the late afternoons and early evenings during the months of October and November. They can also practice at the venue in preparation for road night games.
The total cost of the project is $1.8 million. Funding will be provided from Athletic Department resources.
Michigan will play its first-ever night game at the Big House against Notre Dame on Sept. 10, 2011. The Wolverines have never played a prime-time game at home in the history of the program. All 33 previous night games have been played on the road or at a neutral site.