Regents approves renovation to Michigan Stadium

The Associated
Press

The Big
House is getting bigger.

University
of
Michigan
Board
of Regents on Thursday approved a $226 million renovation
of Michigan Stadium.

The
decision allows the university to open the project for bids.

When work
is completed in 2010, the stadium will include 83 suites and 3,200 club seats,
raising its total seating capacity from 107,501 to more than 108,000.

Michigan
Stadium was built in 1927 for $950,000.

A
disabled-veterans group filed a federal lawsuit against the university on April
17, claiming the design of the project does not meet federal standards for
wheelchair-accessible seating.

The school
disputed the claim made in the suit, filed by Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of
America, saying the plan complies with Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements that specify the number and location of wheelchair seating within
stadiums.