What Does the Club Do To Support MSU Hockey?

This is a question that we on the Board sometimes must answer. We felt that it would be a good idea to let you know exactly where we get our money and where it goes. The MSU Blue Line Club receives revenue in many different ways.

The primary sources until recently were membership dues, luncheon income and the Green and White game. In recent years the 50/50 raffle held at the home hockey games has been the major source of revenue for the club. In the 2001-2002 season, the 50/50 raffle netted over $33,000 (not including the Car War) while the other traditional sources netted over $25,000.

What does the Blue Line Club spend this money on? Well, as you know, the whole existence of the Blue Line Club is to support MSU hockey and the club has done this in many ways.

The Blue Line Club pledged to the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Center the sum of $50,000 payable over 5 years. This year the Club gave the sum of $20,000 directly to the Ralph Young fund earmarked for Spartan Hockey. These make up the direct support of the program but many items are just as important. The Blue Line Club provides a vehicle for the coaching staff to use on recruiting trips. The Club sponsors media promotions which include The Rick Comley Radio Show and the Spartan Sportszone television program as well as print advertisements. The Club paid for one-half of the Bessone-Mariucci traveling trophy between MSU and the University of Minnesota which we will play for during the Hockey Showcase over Thanksgiving Weekend. The Club also donates money to the SLAPSHOTS student spirit section for jerseys. The Club helps underwrite the Senior Night festivities at Munn Arena each year and provides award plaques at the Hockey Banquet.

The Club also provides benefits to the membership in the form of post-game receptions both here and on the road and planned trips to selected away games.

There are many ways which the average member can help the club to support the hockey program at Michigan State. First, renew your membership. Second, attend the luncheons and buy tickets to the Green and White Game. Third, during the season buy 50/50 raffle tickets. Sales this year were up and one winner received the top prize of over $11,000 (Cold War raffle at Spartan Stadium). The level of support that the fans give the team is tremendous and there should be no reason not to sell out every game. Remember, the sale of the tickets is returned to the hockey program in various ways and come on, its exciting watching the drawing of the winner at center ice hoping that you are the big winner.

Well, the real big winner is the Hockey program itself.