SUNDAY MAGAZINE
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 1922
The Problems of the Stadium
(By G. P. 0.) incorporate the latest improvements in stands last year were made on a of a mile away at the opppsite extrem-
Completion ot the new wooden design and the most satisfactory basis of $15.50 per seat. This year ity of the bowl.
stands on -Ferry Field kast summer in every aspect. the figure would be somewhat less, due "In the stadium at gyracuse the
"The modern stadium is but one of to readjustment of prices. The cost track straightaway was ade through
temporarily relieved the seating many instances of modern adoption of of the wooden stand built last summer a tunnel. This was found to be die-
problem for football games, but the ancient devices of twentieth century averaged $2.60 per seat, exclusive of advantageous as the draft from the
indications are that within a few years needs," says Prof. Cissel. "The sta- some other improvements which add- inside warmer air to the outside cooler
--just how many, athletic officials of dium at Athens was buit by Lycurgus ed somewhat to that amount. air is in the opposite direction to the
the University are unable to say- in 350 B. C. The word itself comes "The Yale bowl, so called because of runners in dashes. There is also a
from the Latin form of a Greek name its shape, was built at a cost of $750,- sudden change of temperature of from
Michigan will be forced to build for a measure of distance. The Greek 000 with a seating capacity of 61,000. five to 10 degrees as well as a sudden
again. type was semi-circular at one end The addition of wooden stands around change of light.
Meanwhile, Prof. James H. Cissel, and open at the other. The Roman the rim of the bowl has since increased "At Chicago coverings were provid-
of the structural engineering depart- style was perfectly elliptical in design. the capacity to 78,600. Yet at the ed for the stands as a protection fo
An example of the latter type is the Harvard game in 1920, it was neces- the concrete. They prevent scaling or
mdColiseum at Rome. 'sary to refund $125,000 to persons chipping off of the concrete from the
for the recent addition were drawn up, hea of the sun.
is gathering information on stadium "A recent tendency in stadium con-
and bowls being built at other univer- "STADIUM STATISTIC siruction is the employment of the
sities against the time when it will be double deck, or balcony, as in the new
necessary for Michigan's program to Schel. Seating Capacity Cost Ohio State structure. The chief ad-
take definite form. California ........ .. .... 60,000 $ 600,000 vantage of the double deck is that it
Statistics compiled by Prof. Cissel Ohio State .................60,000 1,250,000 (including addi- provides a larger proportion of the en-
show that the largest attendance at a tional features.) tie seting csapasiyea the aing
single home game has exceeded the Illinois ....... . . . ............ .75,000' 2,500,000 (including en- field than is possible ith a sincVe
seain caacty f err feldevrytire a th le t ic deck. The upper deck is hardly more
seating capacity of Ferry field pevery . lant and other or less than an upper. section. of a
fyear since 11 11,, with duigthe'xcpinpatadthr snidekmvdfwrdutlt
of 1914 and 1910, during both of which features.) singla deck moved seorward until it
abnormal conditions prevailed. The Kansas .:.... . .............. 32.000 425,000 overlaps the lower section. This form
former year marked the completion of Oregon Agricultural Col... . ... 5,000 40,000 (first unit of a presents a new problem in securing
'~ th sut sanbrngngth prm-stadium.) supports f or the~ upper deck which
he south stand, bringing the perm- stinterfere as little as possible with
nent seating capacity up to 22,600, Stanford .... .................60,000 210,000 the vision of spectators seated on the
while the largest attendance for the Washington....... .. .... 60,000 600,000 lower deck"
year was 21,236. In 1918, due to the Yale ......................... 61,000 750,000 (wooden stands Professor Cissel is of the opinion
war, the largest crowd numbered only crase she ca- that <a bowl, built along the lines of
15,755. Ceonsequently, there has been creased the ca- the one at Yale, should be seriously
only one year when the capacity was pacityconsidered here. The topography of
actually larger than whatwoued have the land in the vicinity of Ann Arbor
been the ordinary demands. Even with is such that the drainage problem
the addition completed last season, the "The first concrete amphitheatre in i who could not be supplied with tick- can easily be taken care of, he says.
capacity was inadequate on the occa- the United States was built for the ets. Had, -the bowl been adequate to One of the great items in the cost of
sion of .the Ohio State game. University of California in 1903. The the demand for tickets, it is estimated such a bowl is that of excavation.
But while the number which may be first stadium, with a seating capacity that more than 125,000 people would There are several locations around
accommodated is naturally the most of 40,000, was constructed at Harvard have seen the game. Arn Arbor where a minimum of ex-
important consideration to be taken in the same year. Since that time "The concrete work on the bowl cavation would be necessary, with a
into account in stadium building and there have been built a number of sta- was carried on from year to year as consequent reduction 'in cost, he point-
usually about the only one which dia throughout the country, with the need for additional capacity was ed out.
comes to the mind of the average foot- seating capacities ranging from 6,000 felt, and the last concrete work was Availability to railroad and electric
ball spectator, 'there are 'many prob- to 60,000. The cost per seat shows a not finished until two years ago. The lines, parking space for automobiles
lems of design and construction which range from $3.50 to $28.60. The Har- bowl extends 27 feet below the surface and facilities for taking care of the
may seriously affect the convenience vard stadium cost $13 per seat; that of the surrounding territory. The ex- vast army of spectators which would
of the structure or add materially to at Princeton $7.32 per seat. cavated earth was used for seat foun- pour in for a big game must all be
the cost. It is to these factors that "The cost of the concrete stand on dations. The top seats are 54 feet [given careful thought in the selection
Prof. Cissel has given his attention Ferry field was approximately $90,000, above the gridiron. In a play near a of a site if the needs of the future are
with the hope that when the Univer= or $6.50 per seat. Estimates for the goal the nearest spectator is 70 feet to be adequately met, declares Prof.
sity does build again the result will completion of the complete concrete away on the side line and one-eighth Cissel.
After Two Thousand Beers
A DRAMA IN ONiE ACHE You do not seem well this evening, I proclaiming loudly, "Vino ver- worst.
(A Burlesque by Sara Waller anmd Lai, You appear preoccupied. tas, ergo bibimus.' You cawn't escape MAMMA: But you committed no of-
Elisabeth Whitcomb) JAMES: Perhaps I am, a trifle. muh." As you may well imagine I fense! (Places her hand affectionate-
CHARACTERS VfAMMA: I cannot comprehend your was so startled that I let fall the ly on his hair.) Let us not forget
state of mind. Are you not tall and flask and it was shattered with great that a thing of beauty is a joy for-
JAMES SPARUS.... a cullud genta handsome, and the football star of tintinnabulation on the stones, the ever.
A% .IN . . . ..... a ocitnal parent the best correspondence school in the precious fluid dashing out in all direc (A knock is heard at the door.
MR. NERO ATCHAPLOT, s a country tions. "This smash-up is not the end. Enter Saline, a batik scarf around her
a "southerner" JAMES: C'est vrai, maman. I shall be with you anon." And he shoulders.)
a MAMMA: Then it's Boozin' you're sped away on his motorcycle. SALINE: I am the bearer of bad tid-
SCEN: The interior of a refined thinking about. Now it's been three MAMMA: Sacre nomme d'un petit ings.
cENE:d home maltown noweren years since the Volstead Act- cochon bleu! But do not let MAMMA: Quel dommage! Rara avis!
Ssound home in a small town, nownere JAMES: No. No. Alas, no. That is this loss appall you. We can readily Chiaroscuro!
in the south. Between the right win- not what troubles me. I'll begin at replace the dissipated fluid (points to- l JAMES: Ab, my premonition was not
dow and the door is a small still, with the beginning. This afternoon after I ward the still). unfounded.
a few bottles on a shelf beneath' . had finished my toil, and was plodding JAMES: No, that is not the point at SALINE: Tonight I heard Mr. Hatch-.
An elderly cullud lady with straight my weary way home, I remembered issue, mamma. You do not compre- plot telephoning. He was talking to
white hair is polishing the spigot of suddenly that my bottle was in my hip bend how serious is the situation. Mr. another revenue officer. He said,
the still. James makes his entrance. pocket. As the motto of our house has Hatchaplot, since he is the chief of the "Yes, I saw him myself. He 'had a
le has a strong breath, though his ever been "Ars longa, vita brevis," I Rum Raiders' Corps, will wrongly in- flask of hooch." Then a pause, and
hair is turning gray. proceeded there and then to uncork terpret my attitude. He will tell his he went on real low, "Yes, we ought
the bottle. At that moment Mr. Hatch- fellow booze-hunters that the bottle to get a lot of it. My cellar is nearly
MAMMA: How do you do, . James. plot leaped from behind the bushes contained illicit liquor. I fear the (Continued on Page .)