Leave the six-pack on the shelf and break out the wine list - the Spartans are going upscale. The MSU Board of Trustees approved Friday a $61 million project that would upgrade Spartan Stadium.

With club-level seating, luxury suites and other upgrades, it will make any Spartan proud and fans of the Big House green with envy.

Luxury suites are expected to cost $35,000-$85,000. Although students might see that price as enough to pay for their education, the ones paying for this luxury will add revenue to an already expensive athletics program.

From the looks of the projected drawing, the stadium's design should fit in well with the rest of the campus.

Its brick facade matches that of buildings such as the residence halls in West Circle Complex, but its modern design is similar to newer buildings such as the Breslin Center or Anthony Hall.

It will definitely be a step up for Spartan fans.

"The Spartan," currently located at the intersection of Kalamazoo Street and Red Cedar Road, will be housed in the atrium of the renovated space. The MSU Alumni Association also will move its headquarters to the addition. Since the association funds the renovations made to Sparty, bringing the two entities together makes sense.

Although the upgraded stadium will add prestige to the school and enhance the beauty of the campus, the athletics department shouldn't celebrate just yet.

Department officials need to keep in mind that the football team hasn't been the best and that fans already are paying high ticket prices to see the team lose games.

It's time for the football staff to step up its efforts to build a solid, winning team.

The project should be ready in time for the 2005 season, and the Spartans can't look bad in their new digs.

If the fans are going to pay for luxury, they should be getting their money's worth by watching a strong team from the comforts of their renovated seats.