Gary at the Final Four

[Scott Westerman]

Spartans fans must find alternatives to Ford Field
by Michael Zuidema | The Grand Rapids Press
Thursday April 02, 2009, 1:20 AM

GRAND RAPIDS -- With Michigan State playing in the Final Four, there is no doubt Ford Field in Detroit is the place to be this weekend.

There's just one problem: Not everyone will be able to get in.

Tickets for this year's Final Four games sold out long ago, so unless your last name is Izzo, the chances of scoring a pair of seats falls somewhere between slim and none.

Scott Hill of Holland found that out. When he saw tickets running for more than $1,000 on eBay and Craig's List, he decided his best bet for a Final Four atmosphere might be in East Lansing.

Hill and a couple friends will head toward campus Saturday night, when the Spartans face Connecticut in an NCAA tournament semifinal.

"I've been down there before, when they made the Sweet 16, and it was pretty crazy around town," Hill said. "We want to get in on the hype. That's why East Lansing is the next best option."

Gary Mescher is one of the lucky few with seats for the game.

The Grand Rapids native and 1975 MSU graduate landed tickets through friends, but he will have family business to attend to before he can depart for Ford Field.

A 60th anniversary party for Mescher's parents begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at Michigan State's Kellogg Center, and he has no intentions of missing tip off.

"I told my dad, 'I hope you don't mind, but at 2:59 p.m. I'm hitting the road,' " Mescher said. "He and I had football season tickets for 25 years, so he understands the affliction.

"Really, it's his fault."

Mescher attended the Spartans' Sweet 16 win against Kansas in Indianapolis.

It also will be the third time he has seen the Spartans play at Ford Field. He attended their losses to Kentucky in 2003 and North Carolina this season.

"I'm hoping the third time will be the charm," Mescher said.