Fans heading to Spartan Stadium for Michigan State's season opener against Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4, will find a cashless venue, new food vendors and construction-related traffic delays.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on FS1. It will be head coach Pat Fitzgerald's first game leading the Spartans.
Leave the cash at home
Spartan Stadium now operates entirely cashless, covering all concessions and the 50-50 raffle, according to MSU Athletics. That includes two new Amazon Just Walk Out stands at sections 1 and 23, where fans scan a credit card on entry, grab items and walk out with no checkout line.
New food options from concessions provider Levy include King of the Grill for barbecue sandwiches, Ohana and Fuel'd for orange chicken and sushi bowls. Varsity Bird serves chicken tenders, University Weiner offers specialty hot dogs and the MSU Dairy Store is selling Spartan Swirl ice cream pints. New alcohol options include Cutwater ready-to-drink cocktails throughout the stadium and Craft Standard Cocktails on tap at sections 5, 21, 24 and 211.
Parking lots, prices and closures
Public game day parking costs $40. A cheaper option is Lot 89, the commuter lot, at $20 with shuttle service starting two hours before kickoff. Charter buses cost $100 and RVs $60 at Lot 203 near the MSU Pavilion, first-come, first-served.
Several lots near the stadium close Thursday night. Lots 62 and 124 on the north side close at 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Lots 61, 61SV and 79 on the west and south sides close at the same time. All five reopen at 11 a.m. Friday with a parking pass. Lots 63 and 126 near Breslin Center close at 6 a.m. Friday and reopen at 2 p.m. with a pass.
All other football parking lots open at 2 p.m. Friday. MSU Police will restrict entry into pass-only lots starting at 1 p.m., and the university is asking faculty and staff to leave campus by then. Classes will be held as scheduled.
Construction means extra travel time
The ongoing US-127 Corridor Improvements project from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is slowing traffic near campus. MSU Athletics is urging fans to use GPS navigation, even those familiar with the area, to find alternate routes. As we reported Aug. 28, federal highway officials toured the US-127 rebuild Thursday, Aug. 27.
What else to know
Tailgating is permitted in all public parking areas. Munn Field offers parking with a designated grass space at each spot for tailgating. REVELxp, MSU's fan experience partner, is selling premium full-service tailgate packages there with tent, tables, chairs and coolers.
Tickets are digital only. Fans must save tickets and parking passes to a mobile wallet and display them on a phone for scanning. Screenshots will not work.
The stadium enforces a clear bag policy: clear plastic bags no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches, one-gallon freezer bags or small clutch bags no larger than 4.5-by-6.5 inches. Exceptions apply for medical, childcare or dietary needs after inspection.
For real-time updates on traffic, parking and safety, fans can text SPARTANFB26 to 888777 or download the SafeMSU app.
MSU is 11-0 in Friday openers over the past 16 years, according to WLNS.
