Spartan Stadium is the home football venue for Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Opened on October 6, 1923, it has served as the Spartans’ gridiron home for over a century, growing from a modest 14,000-seat bowl into a modern 74,866-capacity facility that ranks among the largest in the Big Ten Conference.
Nicknamed ‘The Woodshed’ by fans and players for its notoriously loud atmosphere, the stadium has evolved through multiple expansions and renovations, including a $64 million upgrade in 2005 that added luxury suites and made it briefly the tallest building in East Lansing. Today it remains a cornerstone of Michigan State athletics and campus tradition.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Michigan State Spartans (NCAA football)
- Location: East Lansing, Michigan
- Opened: October 6, 1923
- Capacity: 74,866
- Surface: Natural grass
- Record Attendance: 80,401
- Notable Fact: Nicknamed ‘The Woodshed’ for its loud game-day atmosphere
Spartan Stadium Gameday Guide (2026 Season)
- Bag policy: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear freezer bags, or small clutches and camera/binocular cases up to 4.5″ x 6.5″
- Gates open: 1.5 hours before kickoff; suites, MSUFCU Club and the student entrance open 2 hours before kickoff
- Parking: Public game-day parking $40; Lot 89 commuter lot with shuttle $20; RV $60 and charter bus $100 at Lot 203
- Tailgating: Permitted in public parking areas on campus; lots open at 7 a.m. for games starting before 6 p.m., 11 a.m. for 6 p.m. or later
- Payments: Cashless venue, including concessions and the 50-50 raffle
- Re-entry: No re-entry once you leave the stadium
Policies checked against the official team and stadium pages in September 2026. Rules can change game to game, so confirm on the official football gameday page and the official football gameday stadium services before you go.
Spartan Stadium Bag Policy (2026)
Michigan State uses a clear bag policy for football games. Allowed bags are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc or similar), and small clutch bags, camera cases and binocular cases that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″.
Exceptions can be made for medically necessary, child-care or dietary items after inspection at entry. The official pages ThrillZing reviewed do not list a bag check location, so check the official gameday page before you go.
Gates and Entry
Gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff. Suites, the MSUFCU Club and the student entrance open 2 hours before kickoff.
For security reasons, you cannot re-enter once you exit the stadium. Spartan Stadium is also cashless, so bring a card or mobile wallet for concessions and the 50-50 raffle.
Parking at Spartan Stadium
Public game-day parking is $40. Lot 89, the commuter lot, is $20 and includes a shuttle that starts running two hours before kickoff and continues for a reasonable amount of time after the game.
RV parking is $60 and charter bus parking is $100, both first-come, first-served at Lot 203, the MSU Pavilion. Some lots have game-specific closures and reopening times, so check the release for your game. The official pages ThrillZing reviewed do not give ADA parking details, so check the official gameday page.
Tailgating Rules
Tailgating is permitted in public parking areas on campus. For 2026, all parking locations open at 7 a.m. when kickoff is before 6 p.m., and at 11 a.m. when kickoff is 6 p.m. or later. Individual games can have different lot schedules, such as the Friday night opener against Toledo, so confirm the times in the release for your game.
The official pages ThrillZing reviewed do not list grill, tent or alcohol rules here. Check the official gameday page for the current tailgating rules.
Spartan Stadium Gameday FAQ
What is the bag policy at Spartan Stadium? Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear freezer bags, and small clutches or camera/binocular cases up to 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed. Medically necessary, child-care and dietary items can qualify for exceptions after inspection.
When do gates open at Spartan Stadium? Gates open 1.5 hours before kickoff. Suites, the MSUFCU Club and the student entrance open 2 hours before kickoff.
Where can I park for a game at Spartan Stadium? Public game-day parking is $40. Lot 89 is $20 with a shuttle that begins two hours before kickoff. RV parking is $60 and charter bus parking is $100 at Lot 203, first-come, first-served.
Can you tailgate at Spartan Stadium? Yes. Tailgating is permitted in public parking areas on campus. Lots open at 7 a.m. for games starting before 6 p.m. and at 11 a.m. for games starting at 6 p.m. or later, though some games have different lot schedules.
A Century of Growth
Spartan Stadium opened in 1923 with just 14,000 seats, built at a cost of roughly $160,000. It was dedicated as Macklin Field in 1935 before being renamed Spartan Stadium in 1957, by which point capacity had already climbed to 76,000. Subsequent decades brought changes in playing surface, from natural grass to artificial turf and back again in 2002, along with steady expansions that shaped the bowl seen today.
The most significant modern renovation came in 2005, a $64 million project that added club seating and luxury suites and pushed the stadium’s profile above the East Lansing skyline. A 2012 video board upgrade and a 2024 approval of $28 million for further scoreboard and tower renovations have kept the venue current for fans and broadcasters alike.
Game Day at The Woodshed
Spartan Stadium is known as much for its atmosphere as its size. Traditions like the Spartan Walk, where fans line the route as the team approaches the stadium, and the entrance of the team to AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck,’ have become fixtures of MSU game days. Fans also gather to touch the Spartan statue near the stadium before kickoff, a ritual especially intense during rivalry week against Michigan.
Despite not being the largest stadium in the conference, Spartan Stadium is regularly cited as one of the loudest, with permanent lights added in 2017 helping cement its reputation as an intimidating environment for night games.
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Spartan Stadium FAQs
When did Spartan Stadium open?
Spartan Stadium opened on October 6, 1923, originally seating 14,000 fans.
What is Spartan Stadium’s capacity?
As of the most recent renovations, Spartan Stadium seats 74,866 fans, making it one of the largest stadiums in the Big Ten Conference.
Who plays at Spartan Stadium?
Spartan Stadium is the home football venue of the Michigan State University Spartans.
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Photo: Stillnotjayjay / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.