2,000 new orders for season tickets, and if the university gets enough of a response, it will eliminate the option to purchase single-game tickets.

“The more season tickets you sell, the more likely it is that there won’t be tickets available on a game-by-game basis,” Schager said. “We’re just trying to give people a heads up so that those that may be accustomed to just buying single tickets know they may want to look into buying season tickets.”

The Spartans have experienced a high level of success under head coach Mark Dantonio — who just completed his fifth year with the team — as they won a Big Ten title in 2010 and notched MSU’s first bowl win since 2001. MSU has not lost at Spartan Stadium in the past two seasons, accruing a 14-game home winning streak, the fourth longest streak in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.

Associate Athletics Director John Lewandowski said the performance of the team in recent years contributes to the high demand, but the quality of teams MSU will face at Spartan Stadium also plays a hand in the increased interest.

“You could say, arguably, it’s the greatest home schedule in the history of Michigan State football,” he said. “Going into the year, we have Boise State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Iowa and Nebraska on there, and that’s pretty doggone attractive. When you say six out of seven home games are bowl teams from a year ago, I’m not so sure there’s many teams in the country that can make that claim.”

In a previous statement to The State News, Athletics Director Mark Hollis had indicated he would one day like to fill the stadium
with season-ticket holders alone.

The large number of season-ticket orders rolling in appears to be a step in that direction, but some students voiced concern that a lack of single-game ticket availability would increase the number of students who purchase tickets with the intent to sell their individual game tickets.

“It would make (ticket scalping) a lot worse than it already is,” no-preference freshman Jennifer Hurand said. “The Michigan game usually goes for $200, which is more than what the full season costs. With no single-game tickets being sold, I think prices will shoot up.”

Season tickets for students will go on sale April 7, and are priced at $164 for all seven home games. While the cost might be high for some, chemistry sophomore Isabella Schember said there’s no substitute for cheering from the bleachers.

“People want to see teams more when they play better,” she said. “You just want to be a part of it.”