A new tailgating schedule extends the time tailgate lots will remain open after students, faculty, alumni and fans were unsatisfied with last fall's seven-hour restriction.
Tailgating for the upcoming season is scheduled to correspond with the kickoff times, making the total time at least one hour longer.
The "7-9-1" approach is a guide for fans to estimate the time tailgate lots will open. If kickoff is at noon or 1 p.m., tailgating lots open at 7 a.m. For a kickoff in the midafternoon, such as 3:30 p.m., tailgating begins at 9 a.m. Although night games are not scheduled this season, tailgating for evening games will begin at 1 p.m.
"The administration is getting (the times) out so people will hopefully not forget about this when they come to our games," said Dave Porteous, chairperson of the MSU Board of Trustees.
Regardless of kickoff time, tailgating after the game ends will last for three hours until lots close. Porteous said this allows fans to stay afterward and let traffic clear before leaving.
Last year's temporary tailgating time was set in October and allotted five hours before the event and two hours after the game ended for football fans to eat, drink and socialize. With the new scheduling, the time available for tailgating is from one to two and a half hours longer.
Tailgating is also exempt from the open-alcohol ban, said university spokesperson Terry Denbow.
"(But only) for those of legal age on campus land within times on game days," he said.
Drew Bell, vice chairperson for external affairs for ASMSU, said irresponsible drinking found at two of last year's home games caused a lot of problems. Last year's tailgating schedule was implemented to preserve the tradition while placing restrictions.
Bell also said drinking games won't be permitted, and the tennis courts will be open only for students to tailgate.
Alcohol-free boundaries will be drawn around the Spartan Stadium to discourage continual drinking while in line, according to the new regulations.
Mike Lang, network engineer for Academic Computing & Network Services, said people will drink when they can.
"There are 30,000 to 40,000 people there," Lang said. "I'm sure there's little to enforce it."
Denbow said the administration has spent the past year listening to students, faculty, alumni and tailgaters to determine a schedule that would include all interests.
"This is to celebrate and preserve the tailgating tradition," he said.
Bell said having people on campus during football games and other events is an important feature of MSU.
"Everyone gets united," he said. "That's the purpose of tailgating."
