MSU game in person

[Fanaticat98]

I haven’t attended an NU home game followed by a road game the next week in almost 30 years. It was particularly interesting to have my first experience in NRF last week vs. Ball State and then go to Spartan Stadium this week.

First of all, the MSU folks are really nice in general. I remember this from past visits. Parking was not too bad scattered around campus.

NU fan attendance looked really low from my vantage, aside from the large section of player families (I think I saw Mr. and Mrs. Chiles!). I bought tickets in what was designated a visitor section and only saw a couple other NU parties. I looked in the other visitor sections in the corners and couldn’t really see any purple. Pretty low turnout for a ranked team with the Fitz storyline game, nice early fall day, cheap tickets (5 tickets were less than one homecoming ticket at NRF!)

Anyway, Spartan stadium is very…spartan, a shock to the system after last week at NRF. Looooooong walk up several ramps to the upper deck, and one bathroom for like half the upper deck which was worse than the bathrooms at old Ryan Field. Also one food stand that seemed to be out of everything mid 3rd quarter although the stadium wasn’t full.

I don’t know if they still have the money pledged for the rebuild (was that Ishnbia?) but they sorta need it.

Finally, being able to compare week to week, NRF does not at all look like less than half the capacity of Spartan Stadium, at all. It may be in part because Spartan Stadium is all bleachers which are probably much higher seating density.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I haven’t attended an NU home game followed by a road game the next week in almost 30 years. It was particularly interesting to have my first experience in NRF last week vs. Ball State and then go to Spartan Stadium this week.

First of all, the MSU folks are really nice in general. I remember this from past visits. Parking was not too bad scattered around campus.

NU fan attendance looked really low from my vantage, aside from the large section of player families (I think I saw Mr. and Mrs. Chiles!). I bought tickets in what was designated a visitor section and only saw a couple other NU parties. I looked in the other visitor sections in the corners and couldn’t really see any purple. Pretty low turnout for a ranked team with the Fitz storyline game, nice early fall day, cheap tickets (5 tickets were less than one homecoming ticket at NRF!)

Anyway, Spartan stadium is very…spartan, a shock to the system after last week at NRF. Looooooong walk up several ramps to the upper deck, and one bathroom for like half the upper deck which was worse than the bathrooms at old Ryan Field. Also one food stand that seemed to be out of everything mid 3rd quarter although the stadium wasn’t full.

I don’t know if they still have the money pledged for the rebuild (was that Ishnbia?) but they sorta need it.

Finally, being able to compare week to week, NRF does not at all look like less than half the capacity of Spartan Stadium, at all. It may be in part because Spartan Stadium is all bleachers which are probably much higher seating density.

Now we’re complaining about our “road” attendance? Did they have jalapeños at the concession stands?

 

[Fanaticat98]

Now we’re complaining about our “road” attendance? Did they have jalapeños at the concession stands?

I just would’ve expected for a ranked Cats team, playing in the Fitz rivalry game that’s pretty close to Chicago compared to other schools (we don’t go to Illinois or Wisconsin this year), we would have actually had a minimally visible contingent of fans but aside from the player parents, I didn’t see any (just a couple here and there throughout the stands). The sections that were labeled “visitor” on the MSU ticket site were all primarily MSU fans, or empty seats.

 

[ThatadultfromHolland]

It was Parents Weekend at Michigan State, so the tailgates were in full swing. Tom Izzo even spent time in the student section. This was part of a big push this week to boost attendance and encourage students to stay beyond halftime.

One tip: avoid the upper bowl seats at Spartan Stadium if you can. It's a bit of a climb just to reach your seats, the amenities are limited once you're up there, and you're fully exposed to the weather. If you make it back for another game, be sure to grab a Melting Moments ice cream sandwich.

 

[techtim72]

It sounds like a lot of programs have issues with students staying. My solution is giving out coupons for a free Starbucks at the third quarter intermission. Perhaps couple that with putting their logo on the jersey.

 

[NU'06er]

Now we’re complaining about our “road” attendance? Did they have jalapeños at the concession stands?

A jalapeño-less concession stand is hardly a concession stand at all...

 

[GECat2]

I attended a game a number of years ago that the Cats won. The MSU folks were all very friendly. The stadium was not impressive at all.

 

[Hungry Jack]

A jalapeño-less concession stand is hardly a concession stand at all...

Truth.

I doubt that we will ever return to the glory days when Quiznos had a pepper bar, but a quality selection of pickle jalapeños will make any concession stand an instant five star Vendor.

 

[jne381]

I was there one section away from the real visitors section (NE corner). I will say the North end zone section of Spartan Stadium did have some upgrades in the last several years that make it nicer than other parts of the stadium. I go to Spartan Stadium a couple times a year, but I was dressed in visiting team apparel this time, and everyone was still nice. I have never seen anything that would make me think it would be different.

They do have the For Sparta campaign going, and besides redoing all the athletics buildings and the grounds around the stadium, they do plan to do a massive renovation planned for Spartan Stadium. It will certainly make it nicer, but I think a rebuild would be great. I saw the $700 million renovation of Penn State's stadium, and I wonder if you are already spending that much, you could start from the ground up and make it really really nice.

I second the recommendation from above to get the melting moments ice cream cookie sandwich.

 

[Fanaticat98]

I was there one section away from the real visitors section (NE corner). I will say the North end zone section of Spartan Stadium did have some upgrades in the last several years that make it nicer than other parts of the stadium.

Was that the section with player families? We were considering moving down there when it wasn’t full but it filled in pretty much. Seemed like quite a full attendance for a struggling team but it was parents weekend. I live fairly close too so I’d consider going back for a random game and sitting in a section with better access to amenities.

 

[Deeringfish]

I was there one section away from the real visitors section (NE corner). I will say the North end zone section of Spartan Stadium did have some upgrades in the last several years that make it nicer than other parts of the stadium. I go to Spartan Stadium a couple times a year, but I was dressed in visiting team apparel this time, and everyone was still nice. I have never seen anything that would make me think it would be different.

They do have the For Sparta campaign going, and besides redoing all the athletics buildings and the grounds around the stadium, they do plan to do a massive renovation planned for Spartan Stadium. It will certainly make it nicer, but I think a rebuild would be great. I saw the $700 million renovation of Penn State's stadium, and I wonder if you are already spending that much, you could start from the ground up and make it really really nice.

I second the recommendation from above to get the melting moments ice cream cookie sandwich.

I've been thinking about how hard it will be to emulate NRF for some of the more iconic stadiums if it is the wave of the future. What are you going to do, tear down The Big House, The Shoe, The Coliseum?

 

[docrugby1]

It sounds like a lot of programs have issues with students staying. My solution is giving out coupons for a free Starbucks at the third quarter intermission. Perhaps couple that with putting their logo on the jersey.

Years ago , I suggested NU recruit local businesses to provide coupons to students for discounts for food or products at the end of the game- a very simple marketing program to attract students to local eateries and stores

 

[jne381]

I've been thinking about how hard it will be to emulate NRF for some of the more iconic stadiums if it is the wave of the future. What are you going to do, tear down The Big House, The Shoe, The Coliseum?

I am not sure what the answers will be, but besides the history of Michigan Stadium, it is really not a very nice place to watch a game. Spartan Stadium is better, but it could use a lot of work. NRF is very nice because you can see the field from the concourse, and I think most new stadiums do this now. I was at Comerica this past Summer, and it was similar.

 

[hdhntr1]

I just would’ve expected for a ranked Cats team, playing in the Fitz rivalry game that’s pretty close to Chicago compared to other schools (we don’t go to Illinois or Wisconsin this year), we would have actually had a minimally visible contingent of fans but aside from the player parents, I didn’t see any (just a couple here and there throughout the stands). The sections that were labeled “visitor” on the MSU ticket site were all primarily MSU fans, or empty seats.

MSU has not been doing well for a while and this is the begining of the rebuilding and it has not been a good start to the campaign, Hard to bring in a lot of fans with that as the backdrop. And we do not travel that well either

 

[hdhntr1]

Was that the section with player families? We were considering moving down there when it wasn’t full but it filled in pretty much. Seemed like quite a full attendance for a struggling team but it was parents weekend. I live fairly close too so I’d consider going back for a random game and sitting in a section with better access to amenities.

I have only been there once and it was a long long time ago

 

[jne381]

MSU has not been doing well for a while and this is the begining of the rebuilding and it has not been a good start to the campaign, Hard to bring in a lot of fans with that as the backdrop. And we do not travel that well either

Despite MSU's recent woes, that stadium was still doing pretty good attendance wise. Attendance was 67,423.