ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The University of Michigan Stadium, affectionately known as the “Big House,” is more than just a football field to many; it’s a sacred ground for die-hard Wolverines fans. And it is also the favorite final resting place chosen by many Michiganders who are awash in the maize and blue.

According to a survey by insurance agency Choice Mutual, the University of Michigan football stadium is the top choice in Michigan for people wanting their ashes scattered. The company describes the Big House as “a cherished landmark” for University of Michigan fans, symbolizing their lifetime connection to the state’s sports legacy.

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Fans apparently envision that cherished landmark as their eternal home amid the echoes of touchdown cheers and the reverberation of fight songs about victors. But is this just wishful thinking destined for a flag on the play? Let’s dive into the gritty and macabre details.

Going out with a Hail Mary: The Big House’s gridiron allure.

There’s no doubt that the University of Michigan stadium, and other football stadiums across the United States, sound like a good place to spend all of eternity. The press release from Choice Mutual says, “For passionate sports enthusiasts and loyal fans, having their ashes spread at Michigan Stadium represents a lifelong connection to the excitement, tradition, and community spirit of Michigan football. The stadium’s vibrant atmosphere, historical importance, and the shared experiences of game days make it a fitting and memorable place to honor loved ones.”

Legal playbook: the rules of the ash-scattering game.

However, before you don your maize and blue for a final trip to Ann Arbor, it’s crucial to understand the legal landscape. In Michigan, spreading ashes is generally legal, but there are rules to follow. And one of the main rules is that if you want to spread ashes on private property, you need the landowner’s permission. And you don’t have that from the folks at the University of Michigan.

Michigan News Source reached out to the University of Michigan about the possibility of their fans spreading ashes at the stadium. David Ablauf, Associate Athletic Director, told us, “We appreciate the passion and enthusiasm of our fans and loyal supporters during their life and upon their passing from this earth. We do get requests from time to time to spread a loved one’s ashes in or on our facilities, most notably Michigan Stadium. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, we do not allow the spreading of ashes at our facilities.”

Universities are frowning on any impending delivery of any remains.

Even doing things the “right” way concerning cremated remains at a football stadium doesn’t appear to be very popular with higher educational institutions. A University of Nebraska regent recently found out pretty quickly that her fellow regents weren’t interested in letting die-hard fans be buried under their football field, ironically called “Memorial Stadium.”

Regent Barbara Weitz, proposed an idea to build a columbarium under the football field where fans could have their ashes inurned. Her suggestion was met with laughter. While she said her pitch was meant to be “lighthearted,” with the university’s $58 million budget shortfall, it might not be such a bad idea.

Not good for the grass or soil.

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However, it appears that university officials aren’t too keen on their sports stadiums becoming makeshift cemeteries. Their iconic grass doesn’t take kindly to ashes either, which can damage the turf. Ashes of fans can leave behind more than just memories – they can also harm the grass, creating unsightly patches and causing maintenance headaches.

In an older Washington Post article about spreading ashes at sports stadiums, they point out that ashes can kill grass and mar the soil. In 2013, where Auburn won the Iron Bowl game against Alabama, a fan deposited ashes on the field of Jordan-Hare Stadium and a “tweet” at the time showed the discolored patch of land. It happened again at the Iron Bowl in 2014 at the Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This time the Alabama Crimson Tide was victorious against the Auburn Tigers and the ash spreader, grasping a Ziplock bag said, “These are my grandfather’s ashes and I’m going to dump them on the field” honoring his late grandfather’s wishes as an ardent Alabama fan.

The emotional goal line.

Despite not having the permission of the University of Michigan for fans to live in the Big House “forever,” the desire to rest in a beloved place remains strong according to the survey. That’s because, for fans, the Big House symbolizes lifelong passions, community spirit and a fervent dedication to the university and their football team.

It’s most likely not surprising to anyone that, rules or not, grieving families will still want to bend the rules, scattering ashes in secret tributes that evade detection, whether that means their family member ends up inside – or outside of the Michigan football stadium for eternal tailgating.

Controversy in the end zone: not everyone on deck with ash scattering idea.

Not everyone is on board with the idea of scattering ashes at the Michigan stadium though. In an online posting on mgoblog, Michigan fan Ronnie Kaye says, “I mean no offense to anyone but I think a mere fan wanting their ashes scattered at Michigan Stadium is a little creepy.”

Phil Douma, executive director of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, has said that their organization offers no guidance on how to spread remains, telling the Detroit Free Press, “The funeral profession would hope, once the remains are retrieved, they would be treated with dignity and respect and that can take a variety of forms – and I’ll just leave it at that.”

Cremation stats in Michigan.

In 2023, the cremation rate in Michigan was projected to be approximately 60.5% according to the National Funeral Directors Association. To put this into perspective, with Michigan’s population

estimated at around 10 million, and assuming an average annual death rate of about 0.9%, roughly 54,000 deaths would occur in a year. Given the 60.5% cremation rate, this means that approximately 32,670 people would have been cremated in Michigan in 2023.

The final score: balancing wishes and regulations.

While the notion of Michigan fans resting eternally in the University of Michigan stadium might sound like the ultimate touchdown celebration, it’s riddled with legal and practical challenges. For those set on a sporty farewell, the best advice is to punt this idea and explore other alternatives where sports enthusiasts can celebrate life without officials throwing a flag.