With Thanksgiving weekend, a harsh student ticket policy and 43-degree weather on schedule, it’s a safe bet to expect a pitiful showing of students for Saturday’s game against Minnesota.
Generating enthusiasm will be challenging at best, even for the last game of the season. Although this could be an opportunity for students to bring family members to see the Spartans play, the strict student ticket policy means season-ticket holders either will have to buy general admission tickets or sit on opposite ends of the stadium.
Football fans aren’t the only ones who won’t be turning up this weekend. Season tickets for the student section don’t include Friday’s basketball game against Mount St. Mary’s or other days when the university is on break.
If the athletics department wants to fill seats, something needs to change to make holiday games more appealing to students or other willing fans.
One option is selling general admission tickets for the student sections, if only for games during breaks, so students can bring their cousins or other relatives with them.
It’s no secret we’ll be hard-pressed to get enough bodies in the student section. We can’t afford to be too picky about who is going to fill those seats as long as somebody is willing to. Anyone committed enough to suffer through the frigid temperatures to cheer on the Spartans has earned that privilege. Allowing students who can’t make it to trade in their tickets would cut down on overbooking the area.
Another option is making Saturday’s football game free to students. It would draw students who otherwise might stay home to check out a game, and it might persuade them to get season tickets next year. International students or students from out of state who plan on staying in the area would have something to do, and the embarrassing image of bare silver seats would be replaced by green and white. Giving even a select number of tickets to the Office for International Students and Scholars could reach more fans and give opportunities to the students in the area who actually can attend.
If few students attend holiday games, cutting season ticket-holders out of the deal will mean even less students will attend. Giving discounted prices still isn’t fair to die-hard fans who paid for season tickets.
It’s sad whenever the student section is empty, but an empty stadium for the football team’s last home game will be even more depressing. Especially given the team’s record this season, students who can attend should rally to support the Spartans. More of an effort from students, but also more encouraging ticket policies, would help keep the stands full during the team’s farewell game in Spartan Stadium and during other games when the university is on break.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “Policy changes could help fill stadium seats” on social media.
