Accusations Against Michigan Football Extend to Housing Market
In recent times, Michigan football has found itself at the center of various accusations, but disrupting the housing supply likely wasn’t one they expected.
During a recent town hall event at the University of Michigan, focused on the Students vs. Billionaires campaign, Democratic senatorial candidate El-Sayed tackled questions surrounding housing challenges in the Ann Arbor area.
He kicked off the discussion by emphasizing the necessity for more housing options, going on to stress that this housing should be accessible to residents who want to live there.
El-Sayed believes that one major hurdle in making housing affordable hinges on Michigan football enthusiasts.
According to him, “The problem is that we are a tourist hub. And why, you might ask? It’s football Saturdays.”
He elaborated, saying, “There are many people with disposable income who utilize platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, purchasing housing units that should ideally be available for locals like you, only to remove them from the market. This action artificially reduces the housing supply.”
Considering that Michigan typically hosts eight home games each year, or sometimes even fewer if there are neutral-site games, one can question the validity of attributing significant market repercussions to what amounts to just a few Saturdays annually.
Even if fans did purchase these homes and kept them off the market for the entire year—which seems unlikely given the infrequent use—it’s hard to believe those purchases would significantly impact the housing market.
Moreover, El-Sayed didn’t touch upon the thousands of jobs created by the Michigan football program for local residents and others in surrounding areas.
Users on social media quickly ridiculed El-Sayed for linking Ann Arbor’s housing situation to football.
One user quipped, “Maybe instead of football… it’s millions of illegal aliens entering the country…”
Another remarked, “I seriously doubt anyone is buying houses in Ann Arbor just to rent them out for six or seven Saturdays a year. That doesn’t sound like a smart investment. It may work if you already own one and just want some extra cash.”
One more user expressed confusion about whether El-Sayed thinks criticizing football, particularly college football, will make him popular.
Challenging Michigan football may not be the best strategy for someone aiming to earn a Senate seat in the state.
It’s also evident that El-Sayed isn’t particularly passionate about college football, as showcased back in August when he mistakenly referred to Ohio State simply as “Ohio” in an interview.
He expressed his excitement for the football season and mentioned, “I can’t wait to beat Ohio. And let’s not forget, JD Vance, Ohio’s JD Vance, is coming to Michigan next week.”
Many noted at the time that a true college football fan wouldn’t casually refer to Ohio State as “Ohio.” This misstep underscores his struggle to present himself as a genuine Michigan supporter.
This might explain his decision now to openly criticize the fans of the team.
