Previous posting on the topic:  http://blog.spartymsu.com/2008/10/19/the-12th-man-spartan-stadium.aspx

A Continuing analysis and study of the crowd at Spartan Stadium…

First of all.. I Love Spartan Stadium, and every thing in it and what it stands for, but, in the quest for continuous improvement, We are reviewing the Fan base... For several seasons I have been watching and taking in the actions, mood, karma of the crowd and have begun to come to some conclusions…

And it is clear that there are areas in the stadium that support the team, screaming,  making noise,  getting up on 3rd down defensive stands... And others where the dull, or older, or  overweight self important fans who are more concerned about the next cocktail and discussing the latest stock trades than what is going on at any particular moment on the field..  Sure we need to sell tickets, but do we need these people ?  They are better suited to AnnArbor than Spartan Stadium...

Dear Mr. Who Ever controls the Stadium seating plans Guy,

1) Best thing you did this year: Move the band.  They are now in section 14.  The band now reverberates better around the stadium. If was difficult to hear in sections 2 – 6. This is also the area ( Sections 2 – 6) where the least Spartan Spirit resides.. the Doldrums.. the area of apathy, a lack of zest.. zeal.. and over all durth of spirit funk.

2) White out worked well.. Green out was a dumb idea… Make sure White out is in warmer weather.. and  pass out Cheap white tees as Fans come in….

3) Worst thing that happened: the lack of fan support at the Wisconsin game.. the 12th man fell down that day.. laid a turd.. didn’t help the team at all… I was embarrassed as a fan…. I Stood for the 3rd and 4th quarter, and I could see all the tops of the heads of all those who only sat in sections 22, 23, 24, 25 and most of 26…..

4) Best 12th Man performance of the year:
a. 1st place in Ann Arbor for the annual Michigan State v. Michigan tilt.  What a game.. the Go Green / GO White cheers are probably still reverberating around that crappy soup bowl of a stadium.  Spartans screamed our heads off.. The Team had to hear us.. We changed the dynamic in the stadium for the Better…
b. 2nd place  goes to the Notre Dame game.. Great crowd ! Great Atmosphere, Great game..

5) What to Improve: First lets look at our Stadium map (Before the Band move).




Changes:
1) You  already moved the band.. GOOD Idea !!

2) Not allowing ticket holders to sell tickets to Opposing fans.. Not exactly rolling out Draconian law, but add some restrictions. But in reality, not practical and  impossible to enforce. Will only happen when the Spartans have several Dantonio Successful years under our belts, then the ticket holders will have a higher motivation to be at the game. In fact, the successful years on the horizon will solve several problems….

3) Get a Johnny Sprit and a Johnny Spirit Jr. to hang out in the dull sections..  And then have roving Sprit dudes pass out Tee shirts and encourage fans to stand and clap and make noise..

4) Change the Jumbo-tron graphics for encouraging noise.. Show Fans cheering, dancing.. take a page from the Piston’s book.. Don’t follow anything the Detroit Lions do… (Poor Drew Stanton…. Feel bad for the dude…). Bring the fans into the game more…

5) Since Encourage fans to openly line up and attend the “Walk to the Stadium”  more.

6) Have Sparty go to tailgates around the campus, go to the many parking lots, like Guiltner  hall and others.

7) Pass out free game rosters and game info rather than pay for a program (smaller version…)

8) Don’t  do or significantly increase the give aways by sponsors in the stadium… At this point they are ignored since they seem to only pick people in sections 3 – 6.

9) More games at 1pm rather than at noon… Gives us more time to BBQ and tailgate.

10) Move the Students to where their noise can be louder in the stadium.. like the good move of the band.. as for now, the “Corner” is loud, but again, the acoustics in the stadium must be considered…

11) Get more students in the stadium.. and their families.. Since Students are the loudest, have them lead Cheers more..  Since you really don’t pay attention to the Cheerleaders.. Because the sidelines are so crowded with people who aren’t in the game.. Sidelines are too full, can’t tell who is a cheerleader and whose just a big donor sponsor important dude…

12) Call us, meet us at the Barrel.. we have more ideas…

Whatever you do Mr. Who Ever controls the Stadium seating plans Guy, you  need to take steps forward just like Dantonio is doing.. Forward progress my friend !

Sparty ON !!!