Hollis: Season Ticket Sales "Awesome"

The economy is terrible, especially in Michigan. Unemployment has topped 14 percent in the state - highest in the nation. So it's absolutely no surprise that 13 percent of MSU football season ticket holders aren't renewing for next year - up from the eight percent in a normal year.

That's the bad news. The good news? So many people are buying season tickets who didn't last year that Michigan State is on pace to sell its more than 60,000 season ticket plans this year - the most it has since 2001.

Hollis, talking to the Lansing State Journal, called the numbers "awesome", adding that orders for a season pack of the $44-per-game tickets ($308 total) had picked up in the past month.

This is positively huge news folks. Football pays for almost every sport MSU offers (men's basketball is the other revenue generator), so butts in the seats on fall Saturdays directly translate to State being able to compete in everything from golf to volleyball to gymnastics.

Part of the success is clearly due to Mark Dantonio's revived football program, and the expectation that great things are to come this year. A recent LSJ online poll asked fans how State would do this year, and the most chosen record was 10-2. That's a bit optimistic in my view (I think 9-3 or 8-4 with a bowl win is more likely) but that expectation has clearly been reflected in orders.

Two other keys: The family and young alumni plans. Family plans are $231 for the season, while recent grads who left school two years ago or less can buy theirs for $175. Student tickets, at $148, go on sale in August.

We'll see if the Spartan sales office can keep up the momentum, but consider this a tip of the cap to a job, so far, well done.