Selling ads inside stadium has been frowned upon in years past by UM and fans as way to protect traditionGETTY IMAGES
Univ. of Michigan officials recently have had "serious discussions about the possibility of advertising at Michigan Stadium," according to Angelique Chengelis of the DETROIT NEWS. With a projected $80M "hit to the Michigan athletic department," finding ways to "recoup revenue losses caused by COVID-19 is a priority." Selling ads inside the stadium has "always been a prospect frowned upon by UM and its fans as a way to protect tradition." Michigan AD Warde Manuel "discussed the possibility with individual Regents." But with "no fans in the stadium except for of a few hundred family members," and a conference TV agreement that "restricts the placement of advertising, the idea was shelved." Rock Venture VP/Business Development Mark Hollis said that Michigan Stadium "would be an easy sell to advertisers." Hollis: “It’s a mighty strong brand. You don’t have to look too much farther than the type of games that end up on ESPN and ABC." Sports marketing, sponsorship and litigation consultant Jonathan Jensen said that he "wouldn’t be surprised if Michigan has had these discussions with Learfield in terms of how to make up lost value for the sponsors, so the sponsors can fulfill their payments." The objective "would be trying to catch up financially by offering make-goods to corporate sponsors." Jensen believes that advertising at venues like Michigan Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium "could be 'done tastefully'" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/27).
