The Board of Regents approved Sept. 16 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 Dec. 11.
“The addition of permanent lights will improve the quality of viewing experience for our fans,” Athletic Director Dave Brandon said. “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,” Brandon added.
The permanent lights will allow the 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 it gets rid of the generator along the concourse, thus improving 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 late afternoon and early evening 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.
