Make Spartan Stadium Great Again
From hosting epic clashes between two Top 25-ranked football teams to a U2 Concert in the summer of 2011, Michigan State's Spartan Stadium was always buzzing.
Ironically, that concert led to a multi-million dollar update to the stadium before the 2012 football season. Including the three more modernized scoreboards. They were an awesome addition. But that was well over 12 years ago.
Aidan Chiles (No. 2) hugs a staff member, following the Spartans' Senior Night home loss against Indiana© Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The buzz about the now 102-year-old stadium is all but a memory. It's a place that teams used to fear coming to. The Spartans played good ball. But the better part of the last seven years has become a footnote compared to the rest of the Big Ten.
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The scoreboards have outlived their 12-year window. Thankfully, this offseason work has been underway to install new ones, plus an upgrade to the West Tower of the Stadium.
The environment alone for a long time, was one of the best in the country, despite its less than 80,000-seat capacity. Still, the crowd was always energized. Outside of the magical Kenneth Walker III season in 2021, Spartan Stadium has seen more losses than wins as of late.
The 2024 season alone was rough, as the Spartans went a woeful 2-5 at home. Who can forget the 2023 season, when the final home game was moved to Ford Field in Detroit? Just for the Spartans to get their teeth knocked in by Penn State.
Sure, it's cold that last game, but here we are again in 2025, MSU will face Maryland at Ford Field in the final week of the regular season. Rival Michigan isn't moving 'The Game' against Ohio State from either Ann Arbor or Columbus at the end of the season or vice versa.
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Attendance for the final games at Michigan State these past few years has seen a decline in attendance. Being bad at football is one thing, but most like to blame the weather at the end of the day for not showing up. It's clear a mix of both.
There was a time when the Stadium was full even in the rain, wind, or snow. Just think of the Mark Dantonio Era, Spartan Stadium was amongst the best venues on any given Saturday. No matter the size, it was a great place to watch football.
Can Jonathan Smith get it back to that level? It's going to take some time, but the 2025 season will provide some tests to see if the Spartans can make Spartan Stadium great again.
With UCLA, Michigan, and Penn State all coming to East Lansing, there has to be some hope, the place will have energy this year.
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