Michigan Stadium To Improve Access For Fans With Disabilities
 |
Univ. Of Michigan Adding Prime
Sideline Seating For Fans With Disabilities |
An agreement was approved yesterday in U.S. District Court that will give football fans with disabilities "access to prime sideline seating in Michigan Stadium starting next fall," according to Marisa Schultz of the DETROIT NEWS. The agreement, which will see 329 permanent wheelchair seats and 329 companion seats added by the 2010 season, settles a U.S. Justice Department and Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) lawsuit against the Univ. of Michigan (UM) that claimed UM "discriminated against disabled patrons by failing to provide adequate wheelchair seating, bathrooms and parking spaces." While the settlement does not require 1% of all seating be wheelchair accessible "under the federal requirement for new stadium construction," disability advocates said that the agreement does "send a strong signal that even older stadiums need to be wheelchair friendly." UM did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement. As part of the agreement, additional wheelchair parking spots will be added and around 20 bathrooms and the concourses will be renovated. UM Interim General Counsel Gloria Hage said that "nearly 2,500 bench seats will be lost" on the east sideline for the wheelchair seats. However, Schultz reports the field will "retain its title of the largest stadium in the country" after the changes. UM estimates that the renovations will cost "about $2[M]" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/11). In Detroit, Robin Erb reports the agreement "sidesteps what could have been long litigation over how much renovation can take place in an older structure before compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act has to be considered." While UM had planned for 592 seats, many of which were portable, the MPVA accepted the reduced number "because the seats will be permanent and the university agreed to the other improvements" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/11).
|
