Michigan State is moving its final home game to Ford Field. Here's what East Lansing businesses think of that

EAST LANSING — East Lansing business operators say the Big Ten's move to have Michigan State University's football team play at Ford Field in Detroit on Thanksgiving weekend, instead of at Spartan Stadium, will affect their bottom lines.

The end-of-season, primetime game Nov. 24 against Penn State University will take place on the Detroit Lions' home field, rather than on campus over Thanksgiving weekend, to provide NBC a Friday night marquee matchup.

The change also has necessitated the MHSAA moving its state championship football games from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday for the first time.

While many MSU students typically go home for the four-day holiday weekend, reducing attendance for what often is a cold day in the stands for fans, many East Lansing businesses say they will take a financial hit.

Eric Sudol, general manager of the East Lansing Marriott, said while he’s excited for the game as a Spartans fan, he anticipates the hotel, two blocks from campus at the corner of M.A.C. Avenue and Albert Street, will lose business.

“The economic impact from home football games is significant,” he said. The decision will likely result in the loss of “tens of thousands of dollars” for hotels in the East Lansing area.

Dena McIntyre, manager of the Graduate East Lansing, near the corner of Abbott Street and Grand River Avenue, across from campus, shared similar thoughts.

“We’re super excited for the team, the opportunities they're getting to play at Ford Field. That couldn't be more thrilling for them,” she said. “Obviously, from a business perspective, it's disappointing. The good news is, it's the last game of our season so far to date, so it hasn't quite filled up yet. The impact is small at this point, but it could have been larger."

Sudol said nearly all of his hotel’s 182 rooms are booked well in advance of home games against popular opponents. As of May 26, for instance, rooms for the weekends of MSU’s Big Ten games against Maryland and Michigan are already sold out. Remaining rooms for the Spartans’ Nov. 4 home game against Nebraska are priced at more than $600 per night.

“We are probably the preferred hotel for for many of the fans that would come to the football games, and every year we look forward to home football games and expect to see a lot of our regular guests at a full hotel,” Sudol said. “The decision to move the game to Detroit is certainly going to impact our business over that weekend.”

Sudol acknowledged the game sometimes draws a smaller crowd than others due to the holiday and cold weather, but with the final MSU home game being moved from East Lansing, Sudol is anticipating even fewer bookings.

“Looking at this weekend, in particular, with it being a Thanksgiving weekend, it's normally for us a very slow period because of the holiday,” he said. “So the game was sort of a boost from what we knew would be otherwise a very slow week.”

“At least (the revenue) stays in the state,” Sudol added, highlighting the benefits for Detroit and fans closer to the city.

While hotel operators say they will see a big hit, other business operators are split in the impact of the move.

Crunchy's owner Mike Krueger said he's excited about the team likely drawing more national attention, but he anticipates a downturn in business.

"It's kind of a bummer for us as businesses who sort of rely on that home game for our for our sales," he said. "To lose out on such a big day like that when it's already a holiday weekend — it stings a little bit."

Crunchy's, a bar and restaurant that has served East Lansing since 1982, is on Grand River across the street from campus. It's a favorite of many alumni returning to campus for games and other events. Losing that business, along with much of the student population returning home for Thanksgiving, likely won't be made up by remaining locals watching the game at the bar, Krueger said.

"It's definitely busier," he said when comparing home games to away games. "We'll certainly have people in to watch it," Krueger said. "Unfortunately for us, it's kind of a lose-lose weekend, but, good for the university I think, and if (athletic director Alan Haller) thinks it's a good thing, I certainly trust in him."

Gavin Heaney, manager of the restaurant and bar Barrio East Lansing on Albert Street, doesn't expect his business to change significantly.

“A lot of kids will be gone anyway, so I don't think it'll affect business that much,” he said “And I think it's good for the players to get to go play on like a huge stage.”

Heaney said the eatery generally gets plenty business from people going out and watching games on TV.

“We almost get a similar amount of business on away games as the home games anyway, so I'm not too concerned about business on this specific game,” he said.

Rudy Richmond, assistant general manager of the Jolly Pumpkin, near Barrio on Albert Street, agreed.

“We don't really get too much just because all the students have already gone anyways,” he said. He said scheduling shifts around the Thanksgiving weekend game is historically tough because of its proximity to the holiday.

“It’ll be a little off my shoulders,” he said. “My staff can stay at home longer with their families.”

Contact Sheldon Krause at skrause@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @sheldonjkrause.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: East Lansing businesses: Hotels, bars expect hit from Michigan State football move