Michigan State Football Stadium

In 1969, TartanTurf replaced the natural grass field and a modern scoreboard was added in 1973. Later in the 1970s Astroturf replaced the TartanTurf. A new modern video scoreboard was added before the 1991 season. Renovations improving sightlines, field security, handicap access and club seats in 1994 reduced Spartan Stadium's capacity to 72,027. New turf was also installed in the summer of 1994. In 1998 Spartan Stadium upgraded their sound system, added a 21' x 27' Mitsubishi Diamond Vision videoboard to the south end and a message board to the north end. Home to one of the top turfgrass research programs in the nation, Michigan State installed a natural grass field in 2002. The most recent expansion was completed in August 2005. A new pressbox, 24 luxury suites, and 862 club seats were constructed on the west side of Spartan Stadium. This addition made Spartan Stadium the tallest building in East Lansing.

Stadium Traditions

• "Go Green!" "Go White!" - The favorite call and response chant of many Spartans, not just on game days, but whenever they wish to identify one another as true Spartans. On game days this chant can be heard frequently from fans wandering campus. It is also called back and forth rapidly by students at the gate waiting to enter the stadium and later by students in the stands waiting for the game to begin. Sometimes a much slower, ominious sounding, "Go Green! Go White!" chant is called back and forth between the East and West sides of the stadium.
• The Spartan Marching Band - The Spartan Marching Band is responsible for keeping the energy up in the stadium between plays. They play on the field before and after the game and at halftime. During the game, they sit next to the student section. They usually play the same songs every game during the game and play new songs at halftime. Many of the songs that are played during the game incorporate audience participation.
• "It's... A beautiful day for football" - As the public address announcer gives the pregame weather report in the stadium, it is always announced to be "a beautiful day for football," no matter how poor the weather is. Usually the crowd proclaims this along with the announcer.
• "The Spartan Walk" - On the morning of each home game, the team completes a 10-minute walk from their hotel at the posh Kellogg Center, crossing the Red Cedar River, passing the Spartan Statue and finally into the stadium. The sidewalks are lined with fans applauding and cheering "Go Green, Go White."
• "Thunderstruck" - The team enters the field with AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" as the large television screen plays a special video. This is a new tradition starting in 1999, but does predate the use of "Thunderstruck" by The Longest Yard and other football shows/movies in recent years, although notably the movie Varsity Blues used this song in a football montage in early 1999 as well. Prior to this, the song "Ready to Go" by Republica was used for team introductions.
• 300 - Introduced in 2007, clips from the movie 300 were added to the "Thunderstruck" introduction sequence. A clip of Leonidas shouting, "Spartans! What is your profession?" is played whenever the opponent is in a third down situation. The crowd responds with an emphatic "Haroo! Haroo! Haroo!" while thrusting their fists in the air as if they were carrying spears like in the movie. This is very popular with the football team.
• 3rd quarter cheer - Performed by the Spartan Marching Band Drumline in the southeast end zone between the third and fourth quarters.
• "Rowing" - After a touchdown students place their hands on the student shoulder in front of them and rock back and forth producing a "wave like" effect.
• "Key Play" - When the opponent is on their third down or if they are attempting a fourth down conversion, the students in the student section wave their keys in the air.
• Zeke the Wonder Dog - Zeke is a Frisbee-catching dog that is part of the half-time show. A fan favorite. Zeke II retired in 2007, however, a new Zeke (III) has already been appointed. Zeke III is a golden retriever.