Fans, students and alumni will make the hour-and-a-half drive from Spartan Stadium to Ford Field to watch the Spartans play in Detroit for the first time since 1944.

“It’s not too often you get to see MSU play at Ford Field,” 2010 MSU alumnus Philip Golas said. “There’s not just MSU fans from East Lansing, but MSU fans from all over Michigan. Just to see us play in an indoor field will be pretty cool.”

Golas created an event on Facebook to corral his friends for a “Spartans in the D” getaway. He said he and several others are planning to go to the Detroit Tigers game on Friday night, get a hotel to stay and take in all of the festivities.

“A lot of people don’t know that it’s a full weekend event,” he said. “There will be a lot of ‘go green, go white’ chants downtown Detroit this weekend.”

There have been more than 25,000 tickets sold ­­— less than half of the whole stadium ­— for the game. Media and communication technology freshman Alex Dietrich said he believes the ticket sales are low because of the caliber of the opponent that MSU is playing.

“It might be kind of cool to see them, but I wish they were playing somebody more significant,” Dietrich said. “Most people want to see a good game and it probably won’t be that close. A better opponent would make the game more enjoyable.”

Executive Director of the MSU Alumni Association Scott Westerman said the crowd might be larger with a bigger opponent, but there are other factors contributing to low ticket sales.

“The biggest challenge is that we’re not the home team so we couldn’t put it in our season ticket package,” Westerman said. “Certainly it’s not a Final Four game and it’s an early game in the season and it’s not a major opponent like Notre Dame or the University of Michigan. A lot of us Spartans make plans at the last minute, and we’re hoping for a large turnout. The more Spartans we have cheering for coach Dantonio and the boys, the better.”

Not to be discouraged by low ticket sales, the Detroit Tigers are looking forward to an army of Spartans for both of their Friday and Saturday games against the Baltimore Orioles.

On Friday, the Tigers have a ticket opportunity for MSU fans. Anyone with tickets to the football game will get an MSU “Spartans in the D” T-shirt along with a hot dog, chips and a drink for $25. For every ticket sold, $5 will be donated to The Spartan Fund, which benefits MSU athletics.

On Saturday, the Tigers are playing at 7:05 p.m. and are offering fans $2 off the price of admission on select seats by showing your ticket stub from the football game. Tigers’ Vice President of Communications Ron Colangelo said MSU fans can get their “Sparty on” this weekend at Comerica Park.

“This is unique. This energy between MSU and the Tigers is very strong,” Colangelo said. “A lot of alumni who have got wind of the T-shirt want to get one. We’re always trying to spotlight amateur athletes in programs which is an extension of our community outreach.”

The MSU Alumni Association is hosting three tailgates for MSU alumni and friends.

Westerman said anyone traveling to Detroit can find various of activities to celebrate a sports-filled weekend.

“The great thing about this event is that you can wrap it around two things,” Westerman said.

“The Tigers and Spartans are playing within 2 blocks, and that’s rare. It’s an exciting draw. To watch the Spartans play in Ford Field, it will be ultimate magic.”