RJ Wolcott

Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING - Football fans can watch Michigan State take on Rutgers at Spartan Stadium this weekend for less than the price of a weekend matinee. Or a plate of nachos at El Azteco. Or a pitcher of Miller Lite at the Peanut Barrel.

Currently on StubHub, fans can pick up a ticket for Saturday's noon game for $6. And that's not just for the nosebleed seats. Lower bowl seats near the end zone are going for the same prices as those on the upper decks along the sidelines. As of Monday morning, dozens of upper and lower bowl seats were available for $6 to $10 a person, not including service fees.

For those prices, MSU fans who'd rather forget this year's dismal season can watch Benedict Cumberbatch in the latest Marvel Studio's film, Dr. Stange at NCG Cinema in Lansing Township. MSU football tickets currently sell for less than children's admission to Lansing's Impression 5, which costs $8.50. Pretending MSU football isn't playing by visiting the Michigan History Museum on Saturday would cost the same as actually attending the game. On the plus side, parking is cheaper at the museum.

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The person who got a ticket from Amber Olson did even better. The MSU student and season-ticket holder said selling her ticket to Saturday's game didn't seem worth the effort.

"You see tickets on StubHub going for $6, but they're not selling," she said.

Olson gave her ticket away to a friend who will enjoy going more than she would. She plans to watch the game on TV while studying.

Neither Northwestern nor Purdue has a winning record this year, but fans can expect to pay more than twice as much to watch the teams square off. Tickets for the Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes game Saturday start at $70.

After Spartan losses, ticket market takes a hit

For the cost of an MSU ticket, fans could pay to park in East Lansing for the afternoon and take in free attractions such the Broad Art Museum or the MSU 4-H Children's Garden. For the price of six tickets, MSU fans and their friends can get three buckets of beer and two buckets of pizza nugs at Crunchy's. Plus, the game will be playing on several TVs.

MSU student seats are going for slightly more at the moment, around $8.50 per person on Stubhub. MSU is charging $50 for west upper-level seats for this weekend's game.

It's been a costly season for MSU fans who rely on ticket prices for a profit. Prior to MSU's rivalry game against U of M last month, tickets on the secondary market were going for less than face value.

Prices for next Saturday's home game against Ohio State University aren't much more expensive. Student section seats for that game currently start at $10 per ticket on Stubhub.

Contact RJ Wolcott, who paid $27 in September for a ticket to this weekend's game, at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.