NEWS The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 24, 2005 - 5A * Renovations to Michigan Stadium could reduce seating capacity BIG HOUSE Continued from page 1A bring in up to $85,000 per year per box - would pay for themselves and the improve- ments made to the rest of the stadium. Michigan currently earns approximately $4 million in revenue for each home game. The revenue ear With the pro-premium seating posed changes, pr the revenues and for a large c from each game could rise to prominent chan $6.5 million, Martin said. However, the proposed modifications have raised concerns over the stadium's seating capacity, which is currently 107,501. Despite the addition of 5,632 new seats, if the seats and aisles were widened to the maximum gI Ig potential, the stadium could lose up to 10,500 nonpremium seats. That would drop the capacity to 102,633 and apparently end the stadium's standing as the nation's largest football-watching crowd. Penn State's Bea- ver Stadium has a capacity of 107,282, and Tennessee's Neyland Stadium has a capacity of 104,079. Texas A&M ned from the is also con- will payfor itself sidering a yexpanding hunk of the less Kyle Field's capacity to res as much as 115,000. But Win- ters said the University does not want to compete with other schools. "We're not looking at what others are doing," Winters said. "We won't enter into an arms race." Athletic department officials have acknowl- edged, however, that the loss of capacity may not sit well with fans and have expressed the intention to keep Michigan Stadium's capac- ity at its current level. According to Winters, athletic officials will make sure that Michi- gan Stadium will continue to have the ability to expand in capacity, though it will likely have to be in the endzones. "I'm always apprehensive whenever you dis- cuss major changes to an icon like Michigan Stadium," Martin said. "But everyone seems to be excited about it - they want to see the infrastructure improved. But the number one thing I have heard loud and clear is don't reduce the capacity. People don't want there to be less seats - not just because we may fall behind another school - but because then they may lose their seats. And that's something we don't want to happen at all." Administrators have yet to completely delve into the topic of student tickets. They have expressed a desire to avoid a situation similar to what happened in 1997, when not all students were able to get season tickets. Currently, seats and aisles in the student section are narrower than in the rest of the stadium. To ensure that all students will be able to get season tickets, it is possible that the stu- dent sections will remain the same. Accord- ing to Winters, the number of students who purchase season tickets fluctuates from 14,000 to 22,000. Much more needs to hap- pen before The existing pres the proposed renovations torn down and re may proceed. seats would be a The next step Big House arithmetic Existing Planned New total i Women's toilets Men's toilets/ urinals Concession stands Handicap seats 299 450 273 88 +347 + 128 + 133 646 578 406 172 The large scoreboards will get company in the Ann Arbor skyline if the proposals for reno- vations to the stadium are approved. S' 0 ings, for the stadium. A University selection committee, which will consist of six to eight people from with- in and outside s box would be the athletic built, and 5, 326 will choose d + 84 is to secure an three-story structi architectural firm to do the work. If the firms who were contacted are inter- ested in working on the renovations, theyc then will submit written plans, but no draw- ded to a new approximately three of those ure firms for fur- ther consider- ation. Those firms would then come to the University and make an in-person presentation to the committee. After seeing these plans, which should include logistical details, the com- mittee will make the final decision on which firm will proceed with the renovation. It is not until the firm is picked that the University will engage in discussions about the financial particulars and construction costs of the project. At this point, the plans would be brought to the regents for approval. "We are still in the preliminary stages," Martin said. "It's the kickoff at the start of the game. We have to hire an architect." Winters said that many of changes have been discussed as early as 1978, when Don Canham was the University's athletic direc- tor, and they have since been brought up sev- eral times. SOCCER Continued from page 1A encounter strong women, so I con- tacted the sports department where (Assistant Coach) Dan Dalzochio was receptive from the start," said Van Eck. Van Eck's vision was realized on Friday when eight members of the women's varsity soccer team led drills in fundamental soccer skills, such as dribbling, shooting and pass- ing, in the school gymnasium with Van Eck's troop. Within the allotted hour, the soc- cer players encouraged the brownies to engage in games that stressed ath- leticism as well as teamwork. There were a few minor setbacks that were quickly resolved. Ireland's fingernail split in two after she bumped into another Brownie. How- ever, after a carefully applied Band- Aid and a pep talk from a varsity player, Ireland was ready to join the game again. Another heated moment arose when one Brownie accused another of handling a ball and thereby dis- obeying the rules of "Sharks and Minnows." Before an argument could ensue, Education junior Therese Heaton dissolved the tension by yelling, "We're all winners!" More than instilling fundamental soccer skills, the players sought to be positive role models for the girls. "I want them to see everything they can do. With MTV, they see the belly buttons and the cleavage - these are the role models they have," Van Eck said. On top of being a Brownie troop leader, Van Eck, the mother of five children, also attends the University, where she is a senior in the School of Nursing. "From my nursing angle, it is important to get the girls to love to exercise. Michigan is one of the fat- test states, and we need to change this," she said. The soccer players bestowed indi- vidual attention on each member of the troop. "I was impressed how they remem- bered everyone's name," she said. Diane Sisk, mother of Alexandria Sisk, came to watch the event and was impressed by the talents and character of the soccer players. "It's really neat for these people who set goals for themselves and accomplished them. These girls are proof that you can work hard for your goals and achieve them," she said. Members of the women's soccer team agreed that their interaction could yield positive results for the children. "I think there are a lot of little kids that want to play soccer but are too scared. We want more of these kids to take on the sport and come to our games," LSA freshman Lindsey MacDonald said. For others, the event was a trip down memory lane. "I was in Girl Scouts until fifth grade. It's a great place to be. I had fun today, because it was nice to reminisce," Music "They were really nice and fun. They were the best teachers ever." - Savannah Middleton Northside Elementary third grader sophomore Katelin Spencer said. During the traditional closing cer- emony, Spencer realized she still remembered the Girl Scout promise and recited it with the other Brown- ies. The soccer players also received rave reviews from their students. "They were really nice and fun. They were the best teachers ever," said third grader Savannah Middle- ton. The session with the soccer team was the last step toward being awarded a sport try-it, a three- pointed badge given to Brownies to sew on their vest after complet- ing tasks concentrated in a specific area. Other activities that merit try-its involve health, art, selling cookies, math and international games. Van Eck said that she only received positive feedback from the players and that another collabora- tion between Girl Scouts and the soccer team might take place in the near future. AMY DRUMM / Daily Michigan soccer player and LSA freshman Lindsay Yakel teaches second grader Ireland Van Eck to dribble on Friday at Northside Elementary School. WINTERFEST 2005! A STUDENT ORGANIZATION EVENT! TUESDAY JANUARY 25TH 4-8 PM 2ND FLOOR MICHIGAN UNION *Meet new people and get all the information you need to get involved! *Live entertainment and raffle! _::*T ro ~nl f- R11rr aTn raffe! 4., ____ ~, - I