The Bobcat Nation

More different than I expected it to be and will take a bit to get used to like any big change. The pavement will be nice as it gets colder, but it was radiating heat to the point it got to be an issue for some people.

The tailgating seems so much more disjointed, at least on the west side, and seemed to be islands of tailgate spots with cars taking up the best spots of past years.

Not a fan at this point but I guess people want to pay to park 30 yards from an entrance. We will just keep parking by the Pike house and make the brief walk while visiting the bookstore.

We park on the north side of Kagy in the first section. There are plenty of open parking spots. Maybe their spots that are paid for but seem to be rarely utilized.

My biggest frustration is that if we’re told that lots don’t open until X time, how come when we show up at X, there’s already hundreds of folks already tailgating. But when we show up prior to X, we get hassled?

94VegasCat wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:42 am

We park on the north side of Kagy in the first section. There are plenty of open parking spots. Maybe their spots that are paid for but seem to be rarely utilized.

My biggest frustration is that if we’re told that lots don’t open until X time, how come when we show up at X, there’s already hundreds of folks already tailgating. But when we show up prior to X, we get hassled?

It was a just weird setup for me. It was like visiting one “suburb” of tailgates and then taking an “interstate” of parked cars until landing on the next suburb. Seemed like much less the giant sense of together we’ve had in the past. Mixed results I supposed. I was at the north of Kagy for a bit visiting some family and it was just … different.

We went into the stadium about 45 minutes early.

PapaG wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:48 am

94VegasCat wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:42 am

We park on the north side of Kagy in the first section. There are plenty of open parking spots. Maybe their spots that are paid for but seem to be rarely utilized.

My biggest frustration is that if we’re told that lots don’t open until X time, how come when we show up at X, there’s already hundreds of folks already tailgating. But when we show up prior to X, we get hassled?

It was a just weird setup for me. It was like visiting one “suburb” of tailgates and then taking an “interstate” of parked cars until landing on the next suburb. Seemed like much less the giant sense of together we’ve had in the past. Mixed results I supposed. I was at the north of Kagy for a bit visiting some family and it was just … different.

We went into the stadium about 45 minutes early.

I learned a few years ago that if we didn’t start heading in to the stadium at that 45 min mark, it was a crap shoot with the east side lines. Missed 8min of the first quarter of Gold Rush one year.

The new additions look nice. We tailgate and the south side of the Fieldhouse parking lot next to Kagy
not only have they quit putting out ash barrels,
But now no garbage cans along the street sidewalk. People love to walk by and throw their garbage into tailgates. One small thing that could certainly be fixed.

kwcat wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:52 am

The new additions look nice. We tailgate and the south side of the Fieldhouse parking lot next to Kagy
not only have they quit putting out ash barrels,
But now no garbage cans along the street sidewalk. People love to walk by and throw their garbage into tailgates. One small thing that could certainly be fixed.

I did see a full size garbage dumpster on the corner of Kagy.

First impressions is the access from Kagy to the stadium is really improved. Much more open and free flowing with no pinch point as previously encountered.
We’re in lot 15, not the reserved numbered spots,I think it is just fine.
As for garbage, 90% of folks do a great job but a few just like to get it in vicinity of dumpster. Worst offenders are fans just strolling by.
Much improved experience overall.

94VegasCat wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 9:01 am

kwcat wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:52 am

The new additions look nice. We tailgate and the south side of the Fieldhouse parking lot next to Kagy
not only have they quit putting out ash barrels,
But now no garbage cans along the street sidewalk. People love to walk by and throw their garbage into tailgates. One small thing that could certainly be fixed.

I did see a full size garbage dumpster on the corner of Kagy.

And a couple big ones each end of the parking lot. It didn’t help with pedestrians on the sidewalk, not having cans to throw garbage in as usual. Anyway, we cleaned up our area as usual.

I felt a little claustrophobic. But that was more to big tailgates that used to be on the west side now being on the east. And the spots are 2 feet narrower and 2 feet shorter. Tough to drive in late as there were so many people. But all in all things that are different but we'll get used to.

Garbage cans...yes it would be nice to have the smaller cans scattered around. But I guess we'll bring garbage bags and take care of trash at end of games.

Honestly the collective should sell small garbage cans that we could buy for tailgates. I'd buy one.

I’ll be honest i was pretty frustrated with the parking. I’m
On the west end and I have two great spots close to the stadium. But why on earth would you add so many more spaces and then completely close two of the entrances?! Made zero sense to me and made it a mess. Can’t imagine that’s practical going forward and I really hope they open the other 2 entrances. Staffing issue or what?

Parked in Lot 13. Easy in and out but we arrived 2 hours early and left with about 2 minutes remaining. Interesting they weren’t scanning the electronic tickets though. Guy just looked at my e-pass and said “ok”

PapaG wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:28 am

More different than I expected it to be and will take a bit to get used to like any big change. The pavement will be nice as it gets colder, but it was radiating heat to the point it got to be an issue for some people.

The tailgating seems so much more disjointed, at least on the west side, and seemed to be islands of tailgate spots with cars taking up the best spots of past years.

Not a fan at this point but I guess people want to pay to park 30 yards from an entrance. We will just keep parking by the Pike house and make the brief walk while visiting the bookstore.

The addition of the pavement is going to be great come the later season games, but as you said, it was pretty brutal yesterday with the heat. Almost to the point where we didn't even want to enjoy a nice adult beverage ( almost).

Felt that the tailgates just were not vibing like they normally are. Was not sure if that was the new layout or something related to the game. With a packed house, I thought the tailgates would be banging more than they were. Hopefully as we get into the later games of the year, hopefully the vibe starts coming back like it has been in years past.

I personally am not a fan of how many people are just using them as parking spots and have eliminated some of the best tailgate spots in year's past. The west side of the stadium was always fun to visit the various tailgates before the games, and now I just feel like I'm walking through a parking lot. Again, hopefully things change and get better as we progress through the year.

We parked in lot 3 by the hedges and getting into that lot caused a bit of congestion on Lincoln getting people in if they had to turn left into that lot. Saw one gentlmen looking pretty frusterated having to wait in traffic to get off campus about 3 hrs before kickoff. Campus probably is not the place you wanna be driving through after tailgating starts.Hopefully they get those kinks worked out quickly. The guys running the entrance did a great job moving people along as quickly as they could.

Overall, I think paving the lots was a great addition, just interested to see the kinks work out as the season progresses.

94VegasCat wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 8:42 am

We park on the north side of Kagy in the first section. There are plenty of open parking spots. Maybe their spots that are paid for but seem to be rarely utilized.

My biggest frustration is that if we’re told that lots don’t open until X time, how come when we show up at X, there’s already hundreds of folks already tailgating. But when we show up prior to X, we get hassled?

Felt the same about the heat. I think maybe have Gold Rush with an 8pm start when it’s 90 degrees out. Will be awesome during those cold games however…. Not sure what the solution is but I vote later start times!
Tailgate spots are much smaller on the East Side of the Stadium with their “improvements”. Sounds like a lot of long time tailgaters were not happy about that considering the price increase.
Navigating in and out of the East side is more difficult too. Seemed like there was less space to drive. Also it seemed like people were driving way faster than normal. (As someone with young children) please slow down!
Are they offering student tailgates again? It seemed like the East side was full of more student tailgates almost like back when I was in college (early 2000s). Not against it, but would be nice if they were more segregated again. I’m not sure if these are greek sponsored or not.
Overall considering the price increase I am sure MSU Athletics will get some complaints 🫣.

We got a spot in the East side tailgate section. Yesterday was a blast. Lots of people out having fun. I wouldn’t mind seeing some more garbage cans placed around some of the spots with larger groups. Overall, the East side section was great. Close to porta potties and the stadium entrance, took us less than 5 minutes to leave. It was a great night.

Also, how early can you get into the tailgates before games? I thought it was 3 hours. We pulled into the East side lot almost exactly 3 hours before game time and it was half full and people had crap set up everywhere.

Space is definitely a lot tighter on the east side, especially the driving lanes. As we were trying to leave the lot, we watched a guy in a truck do about an 11 point turn just to get out of his tailgate spot and make the 90 degree turn.

The pavement will be nice in the bad weather, although you can't secure your canopy with spikes anymore. Sandbags might work OK if you can keep them in place.

I like that they added an extra exit out of that lot. It was blocked for entry but was open when we left after the game. Hopefully that helps the bottle neck single exit that we used to have.

I agree with most posters. My takeaway- that asphalt is brutal. Incredibly hot! We need the small garbage cans back and the recycling cans. What’s with that? The porta potties aren’t good either-too far away. Might as well just wait to go into the stadium. Not sure who planned the layout and why but I am not impressed. Is someone going to wash down the pavement? It’s going to be bad if not. I saw sheriffs horses urinating on it . Little ones are playing football on it and falling. People are driving way too fast also. Not a fan of the big price increase and getting less for it. Enough of my rant.

ilovethecats wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 12:48 pm

I’ll be honest i was pretty frustrated with the parking. I’m
On the west end and I have two great spots close to the stadium. But why on earth would you add so many more spaces and then completely close two of the entrances?! Made zero sense to me and made it a mess. Can’t imagine that’s practical going forward and I really hope they open the other 2 entrances. Staffing issue or what?

So stupid. The 20 lot is supposed to be an RV lot with access at 6:00 the night before. Why padlock any of the gates? Just have people there checking tags, or let the athletic department just handle it. BTW your idiotic first come-first served idea needs to go! What the h—- was parking services thinking!!

GoCats18 wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 2:45 pm

Also, how early can you get into the tailgates before games? I thought it was 3 hours. We pulled into the East side lot almost exactly 3 hours before game time and it was half full and people had crap set up everywhere.

WalkOn79 wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 4:30 pm

ilovethecats wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 08, 2024 12:48 pm

I’ll be honest i was pretty frustrated with the parking. I’m
On the west end and I have two great spots close to the stadium. But why on earth would you add so many more spaces and then completely close two of the entrances?! Made zero sense to me and made it a mess. Can’t imagine that’s practical going forward and I really hope they open the other 2 entrances. Staffing issue or what?

So stupid. The 20 lot is supposed to be an RV lot with access at 6:00 the night before. Why padlock any of the gates? Just have people there checking tags, or let the athletic department just handle it. BTW your idiotic first come-first served idea needs to go! What the h—- was parking services thinking!!

Someone with more pull that I needs to reach out to Waded. Parking services ultimately reports up to her, right?