View source for Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Michigan)

{{Short description|American football stadium on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name      = Spartan Stadium
| logo_image =
| logo_size = 200
| image             = 2015 Michigan State vs Penn State Football Game East Lansing 11-28-15 (23088941130).jpg
| image_size        = 250
| caption           = Night view of the stadium in 2015
| address           = 1 Spartan Way
| location          = [[East Lansing, Michigan]]
| coordinates       = {{Coord|42|43|41|N|84|29|5|W|type:landmark|display=it}}
| pushpin_map       = Michigan#United States
| pushpin_relief    = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Michigan##Location in the United States
| broke_ground      = 1923
| opened            = {{start date and age|October 6, 1923}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/11-mg-history.pdf|title=2011 Michigan State Football Media Guide|website=cstv.com|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
| expanded          = 1935, 1948, 1956, 1957, 2005
| renovated         = 2005, 2014
| surface           = Grass (1923–1968, 2002–present)<br>[[Astroturf]] (1978–2001)<br>[[Artificial turf|TartanTurf]] (1969–1977)
| construction_cost = $160,001<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grinczel|first1=Steve|title=Michigan State Football: They Are Spartans|year=2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E38jSujuIPEC&q=%22michigan+state%22|access-date=September 28, 2011|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|location=Chicago|isbn=0-7385-3214-2|page=24}}</ref><br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|160000|1923}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect         = [[Edwyn Bowd]] (1923 field)<br>[[Orlie Munson]] (1957 stadium)<br>[[HNTB]] Architecture (2004 expansion)
| former_names      = {{plainlist|
* College Field <br>(1923–1935)
* Macklin Field <br>(1935–1948)
* Macklin Stadium <br>(1948–1957)<ref name="name change">{{cite news |title=Mich. State Renames Stadium |work=New York Times |date=August 16, 1957 |page=17}}</ref>
}}
| tenants           = [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State Spartans]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br> (1923–present)
| seating_capacity  = 75,005 (2005–present) <ref>{{cite web| url= https://msuspartans.com/sports/2018/7/20/facilities-spartan-stadium-html.aspx | date=June 20, 2018| title=Spartan Stadium}}</ref>
'''Former capacity'''
{{collapsible list|
* 72,027 (1994–2004)
* 76,000 (1957–1993)
* 60,000 (1956)
* 51,000 (1948–1955)
* 26,000 (1935–1947)
* 14,000 (1923–1934)
}}
| record_attendance = 80,401
| website =  {{URL|https://msuspartans.com/sports/2018/7/20/facilities-spartan-stadium-html.aspx|msuspartans.com/spartan-stadium}}
}}
'''Spartan Stadium ''' (formerly '''College Field''', '''Macklin Field''', and '''Macklin Stadium''') is an outdoor stadium in [[East Lansing, Michigan]], United States that opened in 1923. It is primarily used for [[American football|football]], and is the home field of the [[Michigan State University]] [[Michigan State Spartans|Spartans]].  After the addition of luxury boxes and club seating in 2004–2005, the capacity of the stadium grew from 72,027 to 75,005—though it has held more than 80,000 fans—making it the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten's]] sixth largest stadium. It has been nicknamed "The Woodshed".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/msu/football/2021/09/21/mel-tucker-michigan-state-football-the-woodshed/5800994001/| title='How Michigan State coach Mel Tucker wants Spartan Stadium to become 'The Woodshed' once again| access-date=September 21, 2021| publisher=[[Lansing State Journal]]| date=September 21, 2021}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Spartan Stadium 1924.jpg|thumb|left|Spartan Stadium in 1924]]
In the early 1920s, school officials decided to construct a new stadium to replace [[Old College Field]]. The resulting stadium—the lower half of the current stadium—was ready in the fall of 1923 with a capacity of 14,000.  Over the years, the stadium grew.  In 1936, the field's track was removed and permanent north and south endzone seating was added, increasing the [[seating capacity]] to 26,000. This expansion was built as a part of the [[Works Progress Administration]], an agency created by the [[New Deal]] that employed Americans to carry out public works projects.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Gillian Van Stratt |title=The evolution of Spartan Stadium as told through rare historical photos |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2014/08/the_evolution_of_spartan_stadi.html |website=M Live |date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> The facility was dedicated as Macklin Field, named in honor of former coach [[John Macklin]], who put Michigan State football on the map with a 29&ndash;5 record from 1911 to 1915 with victories over big-name programs such as [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]], [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]], [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]], [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]], and [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin]].
After admittance into the Big Ten in 1948, Michigan State increased stadium capacity to 51,000 and the field was renamed Macklin Stadium. With Spartan football attracting national attention under [[Biggie Munn|Clarence "Biggie" Munn]] and [[Duffy Daugherty|Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty]], 9,000 seats were added in 1956. The following season, the east and west sides were double-decked, boosting the capacity to 76,000. That same season, the stadium received its current name, Spartan Stadium.<ref>[http://www.collegegridirons.com/bigten/SpartanStadium.htm College Gridirons, Spartan Stadium].  Accessed June 23, 2006.</ref><ref name="name change"/> The school installed permanent lights in 2017.[http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/football/2016/06/15/spartan-stadium-get-lights-2017-football-season/85930328/]
In 1969, [[TartanTurf]] replaced the natural grass field and a modern scoreboard was added in 1973. In 1978, [[AstroTurf]] replaced the TartanTurf. A new modern video scoreboard was added before the 1991 season. Renovations improving sight lines, field security, handicap access, and club seats in 1994 reduced Spartan Stadium's capacity to 72,027. New turf was also installed in the summer of 1994. In 1998, Spartan Stadium's sound system was upgraded, adding a 21' x 27' Mitsubishi Diamond Vision video board to the south end and a message board to the north end. Home to one of the top turfgrass research programs in the nation, Michigan State installed a natural grass field in 2002. The most recent expansion was completed in August 2005. A new press box, 24 luxury suites, and 862 club seats were constructed on the west side of Spartan Stadium.  This addition made Spartan Stadium the tallest building in East Lansing.
==Homefield advantage==
In 2010–12, the Spartans won 15 straight games in Spartan Stadium, recording the program's longest home streak since winning 19 straight from 1950 to 1953. Michigan State went undefeated at home in back-to-back seasons (2010 and 2011) including marquee wins over Wisconsin, Michigan, and Notre Dame, marking the first consecutive perfect home seasons since 1955–56.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112511aab.html|title=No. 11 Spartans Travel to Northwestern in Regular-Season Finale|website=msuspartans.com|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
==Special events==
===Hockey===
On October 6, 2001, a rink was constructed at the center of the stadium for Michigan State's season-opening game against archrival [[University of Michigan|Michigan]]. Dubbed [[Cold War (hockey)|"The Cold War"]], 74,554 watched No. 1 nationally ranked Michigan State and No. 4 nationally ranked Michigan play to a 3–3 tie.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=6078|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128125235/http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=6078|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-11-28|title=The State News - www.statenews.com|date=2006-11-28|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref> Country artist [[Shannon Brown (singer)|Shannon Brown]] sang during the second intermission. For almost nine years, the "Cold War" game held the world record for the largest [[ice hockey]] crowd in history, before being surpassed by a [[The Big Chill at the Big House|2010 game]] played at [[Michigan Stadium]].
The game is credited with starting the trend of [[List of outdoor ice hockey games|outdoor ice hockey games in large stadiums]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};" | Date
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};" | Away Team
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};" | Score
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};" | Home Team
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};" | Attendance
|-
| [[Cold War (ice hockey)|October 6, 2001]] || [[Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey|Michigan]] || 3-3 || [[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|Michigan State]] || 74,554
|-
|}
===Concerts===
[[File:SpartanStadium1.jpg|thumb|Grandstands as seen in 2008]]
{| class="wikitable" style=font-size:100% style="text-align:center"
|-
! width=12% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Date
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Artist
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Opening act(s)
! width=16% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Tour / Concert name
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Attendance
! width=10% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Revenue
! width=20% style="text-align:center;{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|color=white}};|Notes
|-
| September 9, 1994 || [[The Rolling Stones]] || [[Bryan Adams]]<br>[[Blind Melon]]<br>[[Lenny Kravitz]] || [[Voodoo Lounge Tour]] || 47,797 / 47,797 || $2,128,825 ||
|-
| June 26, 2011 || [[U2]] || [[Florence + The Machine]] || [[U2 360° Tour]] || 63,824 / 63,824 || $5,064,980 || The show was originally to be held on June 30, 2010, but was postponed, due to [[Bono]]'s emergency back surgery. This was the first time they had played in East Lansing since a bar show in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2011/06/east_lansing_prepared_for_u2_concert_goers|title=East Lansing prepared for U2 concert goers|website=statenews.com|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>  It was their first performance in Michigan since 2005.
|}
==Expansion==
On September 3, 2005, Spartan Stadium unveiled an eight-story, {{convert|268947|sqft|m2|adj=on}} expansion which had been under construction since 2003. At a total cost of [[United States dollar|$]]64 million the project created:
*24 luxury suites
*800 club seats
*The "Grand Entrance" featuring high ceilings, glass walls, marble floors and a new home for the original Spartan statue.
*{{convert|18000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} luxury concourse
*Office space for Career Services, University Advancement and the MSU Alumni Office.
*Modern recruiting lounge
*Upgraded stadium-wide bathroom and concourse renovations
*An increase of 3,000 seats, bringing the total stadium capacity to 75,005.
The Stadium renovation was done under a joint venture of Clark Construction and Barton Malow Construction Company.<ref>[http://www.ryf.msu.edu/RYF%20Website%20Video/T1orCable.wmv Video: Inside the new expansion]</ref>
==Video board renovation==
On January 27, 2012, the Michigan State Board of Trustees voted for a Video Board Renovation and Audio Package upgrade. The cost of the renovation was $10 million. Features include:
*One of a kind LED wall measuring 10'x450' spanning the North End zone Wall.
*Two Auxiliary Video Boards in the North End zone to provide 1,654 SF of video area per board.
*One South End zone Video Board, the largest in the Big Ten Conference with 5,412 SF, surpassing current leader Minnesota (5,184 SF).
*Video board was built and installed by Panasonic
*Video, graphic, and content control system installed by Click Effects
*Video replay (control) room built by Comprehensive Technical Group Atlanta
[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Spartan_Video_board_during_installation_testing.jpg New Spartan Stadium Scoreboard]
The new scoreboards were unveiled on August 31, 2012, when the Spartans defeated #24 [[Boise State Broncos football|Boise State]] 17–13. The game was the 12th night game in the history of Spartan Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120831/GW01/308310027/Night-games-create-magical-memories-Spartan-Stadium?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE|title=Lansing State Journal|website=Lansing State Journal|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120901/SPORTS07/309010183/Sean-Merriman-High-tech-scoreboards-spruce-up-Spartan-Stadium|title=Detroit Free Press|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
==Tailgating==
Game days at Spartan Stadium provide opportunity for tailgating.  Popular locations include the tennis courts, [[The Rock (Michigan State University)|"the rock"]], and around the MSU library area on north campus. Open alcohol is permitted on campus during tailgating hours,  [http://gameday.msu.edu/Tailgating.html with the exception of Munn field].
==Traditions==
{{multiple image
|align  =
|direction =
|perrow =
|total_width  = 400
|image1 = Michigan state spartans stadium.jpg
|caption1 = The old view of the south side of the stadium
|image2 = MSU Spartan Stadium Facade.jpg
|caption2 = Stadium facade
|footer =
}}
*"The Spartan Walk" – On the morning of each home game, the team completes a 10-minute walk from their hotel at the Kellogg Center, crossing the [[Red Cedar River (Michigan)|Red Cedar River]], passing the [[Sparty#Statues|Spartan Statue]] and finally into the stadium.  The sidewalks are lined with fans applauding and cheering "Go Green, Go White."<ref>{{cite news |title=Changes to 'The Spartan Walk'|first=Steve|last=Grinczel|url=http://blog.mlive.com/spartansinsider/2007/08/changes_to_the_spartan_walk.html|newspaper=[[Lansing State Journal]]|date=August 29, 2007|access-date=September 1, 2007}}</ref>
*"Zeke the Wonder Dog" – East Lansing's favorite frisbee-catching dog, debuting in 1977 and reemerging as a tradition in 2001. Tryouts for a replacement are held when Zeke becomes unable to wow spectators at halftime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ycn-9062195|title=Rivals.com|website=rivals.yahoo.com|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
*"It's a beautiful day for football!" – Just before kickoff, the PA announcer gives the weather forecast and, with the help of the fans, declares that "it's a beautiful day for football!" This tradition takes place even during games played in poor weather.
*''[[300 (film)|300]]'' – Introduced in 2007, clips from the movie ''300'' were added to the "Thunderstruck" introduction sequence. A clip of Spartan King ''[[Leonidas]]'' shouting, "Spartans! What is your profession?" is played whenever the opponent is in a third down situation. The crowd responds with an emphatic "Ha-Ooh! Ha-Ooh! Ha-Ooh!" while thrusting their fists in the air as if they were carrying spears like in the movie. This is very popular with the football team. On October 16, 2010, ''300'' star [[Gerard Butler]] attended the Spartans' homecoming game. At the beginning of the game Butler walked onto the field repeating the familiar call to fans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gerard Butler Shows His Spartan Pride|first1=Shannon|last1=Shelton|first2=George|last2=Sipple|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20101017/SPORTS07/10170493/1055/SPORTS/Gerard-Butler-shows-his-Spartan-pride|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=October 16, 2010|access-date=October 18, 2010}}</ref>
==Notable games==
*1951 – v. [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish|Notre Dame]] – No. 5 ranked Michigan State blanks No. 11 ranked Notre Dame 35–0 before a national audience on [[NBC]]. The dominant victory propels Spartan football into the national spotlight.
*1953 – v. [[Michigan Wolverines|Michigan]] – Michigan State defeats Michigan for the first time in Spartan Stadium history 14–6 earning MSU a co-Big Ten championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
*1966 – v. Notre Dame – "[[1966 MSU vs. ND football game|Game of the Century]]"  ending in 10–10 tie. ND was ranked No. 1 and MSU was ranked No. 2 for several weeks prior to the game.
*1972 - v. [[Ohio State Buckeyes|Ohio State]] - unranked MSU (3–4–1) upset undefeated #4 ranked Ohio State, 19–12, spoiling the Buckeyes' hopes for an undefeated season and national title.
*1974 – v. [[Ohio State Buckeyes|Ohio State]] – unranked MSU upset undefeated and No. 1 ranked Ohio State, 16–13, ruining the Buckeyes' national title hopes.
*1987 - v. [[USC Trojans|USC]] - On Labor Day night, unranked MSU knocks off #19 USC in a nationally televised season opener, 27–13. The Spartans would go on to win the Big Ten title and defeat USC in a rematch in the Rose Bowl, 20–17.
*1987 – v. Michigan – Spartans defeat [[Michigan Wolverines|Michigan]] 17–11 for their first victory over the Wolverines in East Lansing since 1969.
*1987 – v. [[Indiana Hoosiers|Indiana]] – MSU defeated [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana]] 27–3 to win the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] title and earned their first [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] bid since the 1965 season.  Lorenzo White rushed for a then [[NCAA]] record tying 56 attempts for {{convert|292|yd|m}}.
*1995 – v. Michigan – [[Tony Banks (quarterback)|Tony Banks]] led an {{convert|88|yd|m|adj=on}} drive and threw the winning touchdown to Nigea Carter with 1:24 left in the game to win 28–25 over No. 7 ranked [[Michigan Wolverines|Michigan]].
*1998 – v. Notre Dame – before a national [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] prime time audience the Spartans jumped out to a 42–3 halftime lead en route to a 45–23 win.
*2000 – v. Notre Dame – Wide receiver Herb Haygood catches a 68-yard touchdown pass on 4th down late in the 4th quarter, lifting the (#20) Spartans past (#18) Notre Dame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asp.usatoday.com/sports/scores100/100267/100267369.htm|title=NCAA Football - Notre Dame vs. Michigan State|website=www.asp.usatoday.com|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
*2001 – v. Michigan – Quarterback Jeff Smoker finds [[T. J. Duckett]] in the end zone on fourth down on the final play of the game in a 26–24 victory. A timekeeper controversy resulted in the game being named [[2001 Michigan vs. Michigan State football game|clockgate]].
*2004 – v. Wisconsin – Michigan State executed 2 fourth down goal line stands, and two 99-yard touchdown drives, to stun the 9–0 (#5) [[Wisconsin Badgers|Badgers]] 49–14, ending their hopes of a national championship. The victory marked the 300th win at Spartan Stadium.
*2007 – v. Penn State – Halfback [[Jehuu Caulcrick]] leads Spartans from a 17-point deficit to a 35–31 victory.  MSU scored on 4 of 5 second half possessions, ensuring a trip to their first bowl game since 2003.
*2009 – v. Michigan – The Wolverines scored two late touchdowns to force overtime, the second with 2 seconds left in the fourth quarter. After Wolverine quarterback Tate Forcier was intercepted on Michigan's overtime possession, Spartan running back Larry Caper rushed 23 yards for a touchdown to lead Michigan State to 26–20 victory.
*2010 – v. Notre Dame – Michigan State wins 34–31 when punter Aaron Bates threw to tight end Charlie Gantt on a fake field goal for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. The play was named "Little Giants."
*2010 - v. Purdue - Trailing 28–13 after 3 quarters, the Spartans scored 22 points in the 4th quarter to beat the Boilermakers 35–31 and finish the season undefeated at home, with an 11–1 overall record.
*2011 - v. Wisconsin - Keith Nichol catches a 44-yard Hail Mary pass from [[Kirk Cousins]] as time expires to defeat the undefeated and #5 ranked Badgers 37–31.
*2013 - v. Michigan - Michigan State defeated Michigan 29–6, in which the Spartans defense handed the Wolverines their worst rushing yardage (-48) in school history.
*2015 - v. Oregon - In the first Top 10 matchup at Spartan Stadium since 1966, the fifth ranked Spartans prevailed in a classic, 31–28. This game saw the fans "Stripe the Stadium" and surpass capacity, having over 76,500 fans in attendance. The win gave MSU their 5th win in last 6 attempts vs. Top 10 teams.
*2021 - v. Michigan - The Spartans  played their arch-rivals in the first Top 10 matchup between the teams since 1964. Michigan State, projected to finish last in the Big Ten East in the preseason voting, was ranked 8th in the country and tied for first place in the Big Ten East. The Spartans had a 16-point comeback led by Heisman Trophy candidate, running back [[Kenneth Walker III (running back)|Kenneth Walker III]], who ended the game with 5 touchdowns and 197 yards. MSU won 37–33, advancing the series to 10–4 since Mike Hart called the Spartans “little brother” and also made head coach [[Mel Tucker]] the first coach in school history to start 2–0 against Michigan during his career. This win allowed the team to reach 8–0 for the first time since 2015, when they won the Big Ten title and made the [[College Football Playoff]]. The stadium had over 76,500 attendees.
== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=120>
19961012 05 Michigan State Univ (5601756074).jpg|During a game in 1996
File:SpartanStadiumA.jpg|Goal line and post
File:SpartanStadium.jpg|Exterior view
File:Spartan Stadium, Home of the Michigan State University Spartans, East Lansing, Michigan (21694343766).jpg|Spartan logo
File:Nebraska at MSU (8223699815).jpg|Michigan State v Nebraska in 2012
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums]]
* [[Lists of stadiums]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
{{Michigan State Spartans football navbox}}
{{Michigan State University}}
{{Big Ten Conference football venue navbox}}
{{Michigan college football venues}}
[[Category:College football venues in Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan State Spartans football]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Lansing, Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan State University campus]]
[[Category:1923 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1923]]