The Breslin Student Events Center team has been honored to host the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Boys and Girls for a number of tournaments since 1994 and 2004, respectively.
Ensuring a smooth event throughout two weekends this March required a great deal of planning and collaboration between the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services’ (RHS) Auxiliary Sports Group (ASG) and both internal and external partners. These efforts ensured the MHSAA finals of both tournaments were comfortable, exciting and memorable for players, coaches, parents and fans of the 32 boys and girls teams that participated.
“These tournaments are so special because so many people come together to help create lasting memories for the athletes that play, their families and fans,” Brand Manager for ASG Ean Montague says.
Long but Fulfilling Days
Fourteen-hour workdays are common for Breslin Center staff during the MHSAA Basketball Finals, with staff arriving as early as 6 a.m. and leaving as late as 10 p.m., from Thursday through Saturday for two straight weeks for both the boys and girls finals. Prior to the first game, students help set up gates, metal detectors, barricade signage and the pressroom while the court is readied on the Breslin Center floor.
“It’s fun to see everybody and to see the event come through,” Operations Supervisor for ASG Morgan Munford says. “They’re long days, but at the end of the day you can look back at it and say ‘alright, we did this.’ That’s a really fun aspect of the event.”
Because of the longer day for the Breslin Center team, Munford says shifts are split in half, and the building is closed to give team members time to clean and maintain the building as well as time to breathe. This process is different than what is required for a standard MSU basketball game.
To make the event happen smoothly requires extensive internal and external collaboration, with Breslin Center student team members playing a key role in event operations.
“We love having our students here,” Munford says. “We have students who make the entire weekend. Our students are so needed here. They’re a fantastic resource we have, and they do really well. We love having our students work with us. I’m so proud of them and all our staff.”
Assistant Director for MHSAA William McKoy describes the smoothest of operations while working with the Breslin Center team. “They’ve been around for many years, and they know exactly what our needs are,” McKoy says. “The facility is first-class, and the Breslin Center staff makes us feel not only welcomed but wanted.”
Numerous Partners
In addition to partnering with MHSAA to host the basketball finals, several on- and off-campus partners pitch in to make these events possible. Infrastructure Planning and Facilities helps put together the court, and its custodial team stays long after the games end to clean the building. The Department of Police and Public Safety and Parking Office manages crowds.
MSU Athletics and the MSU Ticket Office also play a role, with the Lansing Sports Commission and East Lansing Fire Department pitching in externally.
Sports Services Manager for the Lansing Sports Commission (LSC) Lindsay Fast says the LSC appreciates partnering with MSU and RHS during the MHSAA finals. “Their professionalism and organization, from top to bottom, helps make for a seamless and pleasant experience for everyone.”
“It means a lot to these teams that get to play on the same court our Spartans do,” Montague says. “It wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration and coordination with partnerships across campus and with the MHSAA and Lansing Sports Commission.”
Community partners and organizations also have a hand in the event, with Unified Special Olympics enlisting the help of LSC and MHSAA to play two games during the halftime pauses of the Boys tournament.
“The joy they bring to the crowd and the smiles and memories for themselves is so empowering and special,” Fast says. “The fist bumps the crowd gave each of them on their way down to the court (and again on their way back up) pulled on the heartstrings.”
It's these moments that make the long days worthwhile for the Breslin Center team.
“They’re long days, but they’re so worth it,” Munford says. “It’s special being able to do both the Boys and Girls tournaments. Everyone is passionate and excited their school made it here.”
Community Event and Passion
Holding the finals at the Breslin Center brings people to campus and the surrounding community, many of them for the first time. Participating teams bring fans, parents, alumni, students and bands from all over the state and as far as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to MSU. Fast says the tournament not only brings economic benefits to the university and Greater Lansing community but gives visitors a special opportunity to explore MSU and the surrounding area.
“It brings a lot of people who might not normally be in this area here,” Munford says. “We kind of treat it as hopefully one day some of these folks might come to MSU, so we want to welcome them in and show them what we have to offer.”
Whether it’s a local high school who made the finals for the fifth straight year or a high school making a four-hour drive for its first appearance, these games provide the Breslin team and MSU community with a unique opportunity to come together.
“It’s something different, and overall, it’s a fun event for everyone involved,” Munford says. “The athletes work incredibly hard, and you can see how badly they want to win and come back to play in the next round. The cheer and dance teams have a blast, and the student sections have themes. It’s a great time for everyone involved.”
The passion fans and students bring to the Breslin Center is unlike any event the building and the surrounding community hosts throughout the calendar year.
“We also get the passion and commitment from our team members working three long days in a row with early mornings and late nights back-to-back, combined with a lot of passion and commitment from our students, which makes it an awesome event,” Munford explains.
This year’s finals stood out with some new schools making appearances at the Breslin Center. Rockford won its first state title in 23 years, and both Freeland and Concord won their first titles in school history. This is what makes the MHSAA basketball finals at Breslin so special — there is a different feeling to it every single season.
“The experience is indescribable,” McKoy says. “To see the players’ faces when they walk in, especially if it’s their first time playing at the Breslin Center, it’s everything to see them recording the walk-in and taking pictures on the floor pregame.”
Munford recalls an interaction with a grandparent during one of the championship games. After her grandson won, Munford says, “She was in tears. She gave him a big hug, and it was amazing to see how much it meant to her.”
Author: Zachary Phelps