Michigan Wolverines

Michigan's 'Big House' shrinks a bit

Published Aug. 7, 2015 11:54 a.m. ET

Marcus Hartman

Michigan announced Friday not quite as many fans are going to fit into its stadium this fall as a result of renovations made in the offseason.

The listed capacity of 107,601 is slightly more than 2,000 less than last season, when the Wolverines averaged 104,909 fans per home game and slipped from their traditional spot atop the national attendance leaders to third behind No. 1 Ohio State (average 106,296) and No. 2 Texas A&M (105,123).

Why the change? According to a news release from the school, changes were made to satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations as well as allow the stadium to better accommodate non-football events such as international soccer matches or outdoor hockey games.

Necessary changes included eliminating seats to widen aisles and installing hand railings around most of the stadium bowl.

Michigan Stadium still has the highest listed capacity in college football according to the news release, which credits the 106,572-seat Beaver Stadium at Penn State as No. 2.

Despite having fewer seats to fill, Michigan hopes to reclaim the No. 1 spot in attendance nationally thanks to excitement over the return of Jim Harbaugh, who was hired as head coach of the Wolverines following a successful stint in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

Harbaugh was a star quarterback at Michigan in the mid-1980s.

(H/T Michigan Athletics)