Anne Dorshimer knew last summer she was going to the Final Four on Saturday. As part of an NCAA-sponsored lottery last May, the no-preference freshman was selected to purchase two tickets to the Final Four in Detroit. Now that the MSU men’s basketball team will also be making the 91-mile trip Saturday, Dorshimer is all the more excited she’ll be in the crowd at Ford Field.
“I almost died,” Dorshimer said of her reaction to the Spartans’ Final Four berth. “I was just excited to be going and (now) that the Spartans are going, oh my goodness, it’s just amazing.”
Dorshimer is one of hundreds of Spartans fans planning to make the trek to Detroit to cheer on their team. Whether you have a ticket or not, The State News offers its guide to make your trip a successful one.
Detroit drivin’
With 100,000 people expected to flood the Motor City this weekend, traffic congestion is almost guaranteed, Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Rob Morosi said.
The crowd at the game will be similar to a Detroit Lions sellout, but he said the difference in game time — 1 p.m. for a Lions game compared to 6 p.m. for the MSU game — could create some problems.
“Anyone coming in for the game, I would easily allow an additional hour, not only to work your way through the congestion but also to find parking and be able to walk to the stadium,” Morosi said.
There are no construction closures that would affect drivers coming from East Lansing, he said.
Morosi also advised Spartans fans not to take I-275 to I-96 into Detroit. He said drivers should continue east onto I-696 to M-10 South and take the Grand River Avenue exit. From there, drivers should take southbound Grand River Avenue to the northbound I-75 service drive.
Morosi said parking in the downtown area would be similar to that of a Lions or Detroit Tigers game but that it would be “at a premium.”
Arturo Fausto, a marketing junior who has tickets to the game Saturday, said he and a friend plan to leave at about 9 a.m. on game day.
“We want to get there early and spend the entire day in Detroit,” Fausto said. “Traffic will probably be bad in Detroit, but leaving at that time will give us more than enough time.”
Bar hoppin’
For students who can’t afford tickets to the game, several area bars and restaurants should provide a viable option for enjoying the game.
Cheli’s Chili Bar, 47 E. Adams St., in Detroit, owned by Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, is the official location for Spartans fans to gather in the city. Megan Dieringer, a manager at the restaurant, said she expects a packed house all day Saturday.
The restaurant will open at 9 a.m. game day. Dieringer said some celebrities — including Dick Vitale and Michael Jordan — are expected to make appearances during the weekend.
“We’re expecting a huge Sparty party,” she said.
The three other Final Four teams also have official hangout spots — Connecticut at Hockeytown Café, 2301 Woodward Ave.; North Carolina at Detroit Beer Co., 1529 Broadway St.; and Villanova at Bookies Downtown Tavern, 1265 Washington Blvd.
Students who want to avoid the bar scene can watch the game on large screen TVs along the riverfront close to the Renaissance Center.
Pre-gamin’
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Beginning with the MSU men’s basketball team’s noon Friday practice at Ford Field — which is free and open to the public — MSU fans can participate in a variety of activities.
The men’s practice is scheduled to end at 12:50 p.m. and is followed by practices for the three remaining teams. Parking is free in select area lots.
Following the team practices at 4:30 p.m., the Hershey’s College All-Star game will pit the nation’s top college seniors against one another. Admission to that game also is free.
“Final Four Friday is a great opportunity for fans without a ticket to go to see practices,” said Kurt Kosmowski, spokesman for the Detroit Local Organizing Committee for the Final Four. “We expect more than 100,000 visitors.”
Songwriter Jesse McCartney performs at the AT&T Block Party, which lasts from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and includes performances from Detroit’s best bands. McCartney is set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. following a performance from rapper Big Sean.
The Block Party is free and located just east of the Renaissance Center on the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.
Lodgin’
Deanna Majchrzak, a marketing and communications specialist for the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, said students should consider lodging in Detroit-area suburbs because many of the downtown hotels already are sold out.
“I would recommend checking in with the suburbs, such as Dearborn, Sterling Heights and Troy, where you’re still within a half-an-hour of the game and can get to the main attractions,” Majchrzak said.
For many MSU fans, however, staying in Detroit isn’t necessary when home is close by.
“If we win, I’d like to come back to East Lansing to celebrate with all my friends who don’t have tickets,” Fausto said.
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