But during tomorrow’s game, Francesca will be hearing the sounds of Spartan Stadium from “Football Childcare” at the Peoples Church Preschool, 200 W. Grand River Ave.

The preschool program of the Peoples Church of East Lansing will provide childcare for $40 per game for children under 3 and $35 for children over 3 during the Sept. 15, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 games with an advanced payment. Care begins an hour and a half before the games begin and ends four and a half hours after.

Hogan, a 1988 MSU alumna and former member of the Spartan Marching Band, said the childcare has worked out nicely. She and some of her friends and family have season tickets, so the church has been convenient, she said.

“It’s really easy to take her,” said Hogan, an East Lansing resident. “And it’s great because I’m not just rushing off after the game.”

The church has been offering the Football Childcare program for eight years, in addition to their regularly run preschool, said Tricia Fox, assistant director of the preschool .

What started as a fundraiser for teacher’s training, has come to fill parents’ need for childcare during football games, she said.

About five lead teachers from the preschool program volunteer their time for the Football Childcare, preschool Director Dana Johnson said.

The number of children participating in the program fluctuates, but the childcare program can take about 34 children maximum, she said. About 98 percent of the parents who use the childcare go to the football game, but it’s not required, she said.

“Some come to drop off their children and say ‘I’m going shopping,’” Johnson said.

Children can participate in sand and water play, mold play dough and use the school’s playground and gymnasium facilities while they’re in the program, she said.

Sometimes, they even serve special tailgate food – including pigs in a blanket, chicken nuggets and popcorn, she said.

“We never watch the game because we don’t have a TV, but we can hear it, and we can certainly hear the band,” she said.