Thomas Lewandowski, 4, is held up by his mother, MSU alumna Jennifer Lewandowski, who also holds his sister, Kristen Lewandowski, 14 months, during Breslin Center’s 20th anniversary open house on Wednesday night.
After 20 years on MSU’s campus, Breslin Center is more than a building to most people — it’s a place of memories.
“There are so many times when an alumni of MSU will get married and say, ‘I’m bringing my family here,’” Breslin Center’s Operations Coordinator Nancy Yeadon said.
Yeadon recalled 10 years ago a couple met as ushers at Breslin Center and since have gotten married.
She said the couple came back for photographs on their wedding day and had their wedding invitations made to look like men’s basketball tickets.
“Those are the memories that stick out,” Yeadon said.
Breslin Center celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting an open house from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday.
The open house featured a self-guided tour, including a visit to the men’s and women’s basketball teams’ locker rooms.
The event offered 1989 prices for hotdogs and popcorn and gave attendees an opportunity to shoot free throws on the court.
Opened in 1989, Breslin Center was designed to showcase men’s and women’s basketball as well as entertainment and educational needs for both MSU and surrounding high schools and colleges, said Bruce Earhart, the manager of ticketing services at the arena.
To many people, however, Breslin Center is a gathering place.
Rick Washburn and Shane Sunstrum are part of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America program, and both have fond memories of Breslin Center, Washburn said.
For Washburn, his favorite memory was attending the Bob Seger concert in 1996.
“The saxophone player rocked the house,” he said.
Sixteen-year-old Sunstrum had a different memory of Breslin Center.
“When I was seven, I came to a basketball game with one of my friends. It was my favorite memory. It was great,” Sunstrum said.
East Lansing residents Terry and Shelly Palczewski said MSU has played a big part in their lives.
Although Terry Palczewski graduated before Breslin Center was built in 1989, the couple have since moved back and visit whenever they can, Terry said.
“Our children graduated here. We met at MSU, went to school here, sent our kids here, gave our money here. It just seemed fitting (to celebrate the Breslin Center’s anniversary),” Shelly said.
Although Breslin Center represents the MSU experience for many former and current Spartans, for millions of fans and visitors, Breslin Center means basketball.
According to MSU Athletic Communications, men’s basketball has brought 4,450,544 spectators to Breslin Center in 306 regular season games since its opening season in 1989.
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“For me, Breslin has always been about basketball,” women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant said.
“It’s my third year here, and there are a lot of good memories. Beating No. 1 seed Duke in March, and having fans rushing the court was an amazing experience.”
