The Michigan State University athletic department has announced that tailgating on Munn Field, located across from Spartan Stadium and home to MSU intramural sports, will return this football season seven years after the practice was banned and decades after alcohol was prohibited there.
As reported by the Lansing State Journal, the Munn Tailgate will include parking and tailgating spots on the grass field and the addition of the 517 Beer Garden, with several vendors selling alcohol and food to fans.
According to Matt Wenzel of mlive.com, the new 517 Beer Garden, at the north end of Munn Field and open to all fans, will include multiple bars serving beer, seltzer and craft cocktails. The fully cashless area will open four hours before kickoff with service ending 30 minutes before the start of games.
“We’re excited to introduce The Munn Tailgate as a pregame destination for Spartans of all ages,” MSU athletic director J Batt said in a released statement, according to the State Journal. “Gameday traditions, including tailgating and the pregame experience, are an important part of what makes Michigan State football gamedays special."
Cars will require a parking pass distributed by the athletic department — no general parking is available, and “All-Event” staff parking passes will not be honored. The lot's opening times and rules will mirror those of MSU's general parking lots.
"Tailgating on Munn Field was a popular gameday tradition for decades before the school banned kegs in 1994 and then four years later banned alcohol entirely," Barry Kiel of the State Journal wrote Monday. "That 1998 decision led to a student riot, which resulted in significant property damage and police dispersing crowds with tear gas. The school then completely banned tailgating on Munn in 2018."
The Spartans open their season Friday night against Western Michigan.
"Counting on a record-sized student section this coming Friday to add to our energy and create a home-field advantage," Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith said Monday, as reported by The Detroit News. "... Some unique, cool things at the tailgate at Munn Field that's going to take place on Friday. So just a lot going on to add to the excitement of this particular game and this season."
Batt represents a departure for MSU in more ways than one, according to Connor Earegood of The Detroit News.
"Batt was brought in this June as the first external hire at athletic director in more than 30 years, with a string of predecessors opting to limit tailgating, at the very least those furnished with alcohol, on campus sites," wrote Earegood. "It took less than three months for Batt, a known revenue generator, to make a shockwave."
