Facility will be the home for the gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling teams
A new sports arena at Michigan State will be part of a larger mixed-use development on the southwest corner of campus. Specifically, the arena will be located at the corner of Trowbridge and Harrison Roads near the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
The MSU Board of Trustees approved the Spartan Gateway District Project on April 11, 2025. In addition to serving as the home of Spartan gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling, the new arena will also host concerts, Michigan high school playoffs and championship events, and other campus and community events.
In approving the project, the Board also approved bond issues totaling a maximum of $362 million to pay for the arena and other capital projects. The arena is expected to cost $150 million.
Arena capacity will be up to 6000 for volleyball matches and the facility can be reconfigured for wrestling duals or invitationals, gymnastics meets, volleyball camps, and concerts.
The project will hopefully provide a major recruiting boost to gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling. Gymnastics is already thriving , advancing to the NCAA Championships this year. Volleyball is beginning a new era with recently-hired head coach and former Spartan great Kristen Kelsay while wrestling sent three athletes to the NCAA Championships and earned a team scholar All-America honor this year.
The facility is part of a larger 14 acre development that will also include a hotel, housing, retail and restaurants, office space, parking, and possible future academic or healthcare development. This project at Michigan State continues a trend at other universities including Kansas, Iowa State, and George Mason. Kansas has their own Gateway District project while Iowa State has CyTown and George Mason is working on developing a portion of its campus.
The arena is expected to be operational by late 2027 with the parking structure and hotel to follow by mid-2028. Housing, office, and retail spaces should be ready by 2030 while future academic or healthcare facility development is not yet finalized.
Renderings and additional information are available from Brett McCormick at the Sports Business Journal and the Lansing State Journal .