Slapshots, MSU hockey’s student cheering organization, will begin selling tickets for its expanded and relocated section tonight.
The section, which is run by the Student Alumni Foundation, has upped its membership by 30 this year, bringing the total number of available Slapshots season tickets to 144. Passes will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis from 7 to 9 p.m. today in room 333 in the Union. The tickets are $165 this year, up from $140 last season.
Slapshots membership includes tickets to all home hockey games except those during university vacations, plus a Nike replica MSU jersey with the Slapshots logo on the back. Journalism sophomore Samantha Sanders, one of two Slapshots directors this season, said the season ticket package increased because Nike didn’t provide free jerseys, like last year.
But Sanders said the group will get better seats this time around - moving two sections closer to center ice at Munn Ice Arena - to help justify the cost.
“Munn is kind of a quiet arena, so we’re hoping to get it a little more excited this year,” Sanders said. “We want more energy in the arena and we think that moving toward center ice might help us get the whole arena into the game.”
Co-director Russell Lombard agreed that a bigger section equals more spirit.
“We decided that one of our problems was that our section, compared to cheering sections at other schools, wasn’t big enough,” the public administration and public policy sophomore said. “We’re hoping to get louder and crazier and then get even bigger next year.”
Sanders and Lombard are also planning Slapshots road trips to Ann Arbor, Detroit and maybe Columbus, Ohio, for Spartan games this season. Group members also will get access to Great Lakes Invitational and CCHA Tournament tickets before the general public.
Students not interested in Slapshots, still can purchase regular student season-tickets at the Athletic Ticket Office in Jenison Field House. There will be two “split-season” packages of eight home games apiece available. The cost of each package is $64 - the same as last year.
For more information on Slapshots, call (517)355-4458. Applications for regular student season tickets are due to the Ticket Office by Sept. 20. For more information, call (517)355-1610 or (800)GO-STATE.
