That same passion does not seem to translate into the actual games. Fans 3Īs evidence by the crowd at BearFest Village, Missouri State fans love their tailgating. Ebbets Field is another popular sports bar destination located just north of the MSU campus on East Walnut Street. One of the more popular sports bars in town, Bair’s All-American Sports Grill, is located a short walk from the stadium at 631 S. The hub of activity can be found on South Avenue. The Missouri State campus is located only a couple of blocks from downtown Springfield and all of its amenities - including a large number of bars and restaurants. As far as mascots go, Boomer the Bear is around, but is not a very integral part of the game. The only permanent ads can be found on the scoreboard near the southern end zone. One nice aspect of the stadium is a lack of advertising, which equates to a clean and simple look. The playing field is a bit worn down, but the field is scheduled to be replaced following the 2013 season - among other renovations that include the removal of the track and the replacement of the creaky wooden bleachers on the eastern side that are inhabited by MSU students and the school’s band.
The stadium blends in without much effort to the surrounding academic buildings on its northern side. The view from the top is nice for what it is - especially when the surrounding trees start to erupt into oranges, yellows and (fittingly) maroons. No outside food or drink is allowed into the stadium.
Those who want to grab some grub in the concession stands in the lower concourse have the rare task of climbing stairs up to a platform. All five concession stands in the stadium are busy hubs of activity throughout the game. The stands serve Pepsi products ranging from $2-$4.50. Other selections include regular hot dogs for $4, foot-long hot dogs for $7, and jumbo soft pretzels for $3. The most popular options - and two of the most exotic items - are the barbecued nachos with pulled pork for $6 and the Polish sausage hot dogs for $5. “It’s more about a school thing than it is about a football thing”, said one MSU student “We’re just here to support each other and we’re here to have fun.” Food and drink are consumed with the stadium’s tall western side on the horizon. Students and alumni mingle around a collection of tents. The most recent game I attended was the 2013 Homecoming game in which the Bears surprised the nationally ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
Homecoming here is a big deal”, said Dave Rush, an MSU alumnus who had been informed that the largest amount of tents in school history had been set up hours before he spoke.
“I think they do a good job of making it a big event to come back to campus. Others would say that the students and alumni just like to have a good time - and an MSU football game provides a perfect avenue, especially during Homecoming weekend. Some would point to the fact that the village’s growth came as a result from the fact that alcohol is allowed on the premises because technically it’s located off of school grounds (MSU is a dry campus). This is a movement that begins and ends with BearFest Village, an area across Grand Street from the Plaster Sports Complex that blossoms in popularity every year, regardless of the team’s success. When it comes to Missouri State University football, tailgating is a pretty big deal.
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