Mid-Michigan Dining

• 248 Jennison Fieldhouse
• East Lansing, MI 48824
• (517) 355-1610
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A full endzone at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing

Finally!  When we moved here, I was really hoping to shoot a football game at Spartan Stadium and Michigan Stadium.  Spartan Stadium finally happened.  Michigan Stadium will have to wait and hopefully happen next year.  I’ve now shot games at six of the eleven Big Ten football stadiums (Memorial Stadium (IL), Ross-Ade Stadium (Purdue), Ryan Field (Northwestern), Kinnick Stadium (Iowa), and Camp Randall (Wisc)).  From a working standpoint, Spartan Stadium doesn’t rate that high.  Lack of elevators and access knock it down a lot.  Putting the camera deck in a location that’s not cut off totally from the public knocks it down too.  Parking, however, is one of the best.  They let us park not far from the truck which is outstanding.  I don’t have to carry all the stuff I may need two miles.  I can leave my rain gear until it rains.

So, as most of you know, Spartan Stadium sits on the campus of Michigan State University near the other sports facilities on MSU’s campus.  The first thing I noticed is that it looks much bigger from the outside than it does inside.  The luxury suites and press box tower make it look huge, but that structure also takes away a lot of seats.  Still, the facility hold close around 75,000, so it’s not small either. 

My view from the photodeck. As you can see, we left the rain covers on. It was that kind of day.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to walk around very much because my credential limited my access to the TV tower.  Usually, we’re issued all access passes so we can walk around the stadium freely doing what we have to do.  On the photo deck, they actually had a concession stand.  Again, drinks and snacks are usually provided for working media….not at MSU…at least not where I was at.  The concession stand was just typical stadium food.  Pretzels, popcorn, and little snacks that that.  They didn’t really have anything unique, but I didn’t get to see a concession stand in the concourse areas. 

The fan base was also a surprise to me.  I came from Peoria, IL which is home to Bradley University (you should know that name if you watch MSU basketball….they’ve played the last couple years and Bradley damn near beat them last year).  When you go to a Bradley basketball game 90% of the arena is filled with older people.  There is a very small student section.  That’s the feeling I got at Spartan Stadium.  There was a student section, but they didn’t seem to be a huge part of the game.  At Illinois, there are traditions throughout the game where all eyes are on the Block I.  Even seating is huge.  Students are allowed in a half hour ahead of the public in Champaign and it’s a mad dash for the front row seats.  I didn’t see anything like that at MSU.  Students trickled in with everyone else eventually filling up the section.  At Wisconsin, the media isn’t allowed to go anywhere near the student section.  A few years ago, the railings gave away and students got crushed as a TV photog was trying to get video of rowdy fans, so they know to position security on the 10 yard line and no one is allowed past him.  I just didn’t see any tradition other than the “Go Green. Go White” chants. 

Of course, the game was fun to watch.  It was the last home game of the year and the last home game for Javon Ringer and Brian Hoyer.  I just started watching MSU this fall and those two have been a blast to watch.  I am glad I got see Ringer play once before he moves on to the NFL.  I’m not a huge band fan, but college bands are always fun.  Again, MSU was good, but there was just no tradition or nothing special.  Purdue also brought their band and they brought along “The World’s Largest Drum” which is fun to watch.  At Illinois, they have the 3-in-1 which I don’t really understand, but still, it’s a tradition..and it’s when the Chief used to dance.  MSU played Bon Jovi.  They were good, but I just don’t see the tradition I see at the other Big Ten schools. 

Thousands of fans enjoying a cold last home game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing

My overall feeling was that Spartan Stadium is a great place to enjoy a football game, but when it comes to comparison with other Big Ten schools I’ve been to, I’d probably place it right about Ryan Stadium.  I haven’t been to Indiana, Minnesota or Michigan which I’m told just suck, but of the six I’ve been to, it probably rates fifth.  Just the lack of uniqueness among the fans and no visible traditions other than Zeke the Wonder Dog.  The nice thing for fans is that the seats are right on top of the field, so it should be easy to get into the game.  The fans that were there (it wasn’t a sell out by quite a bit, but it was freakin cold) were loud and really into the game, so I can’t say they were lame.  They were just a bit older than I would have expected.  I definitely want to go back as a spectator.  I love living in a Big Ten community and I really want to take advantage of that.  We looked to go to a game this year, but always had something going on when they were at home.  Next year, I look for that to change.