The Munnsters, Michigan State University’s enthusiastic student cheering section, will begin using a membership model for the upcoming 2026‑27 hockey season, doing away with the earlier one‑time fee structure that required a lump‑sum payment for all home games.
Under the new arrangement, students can purchase tickets for individual games during a September selection window, and each membership comes with an official 2026‑27 jersey. Attendance earns points that are tracked separately from the popular Izzone program, though the points system mirrors its structure.
How Points and Incentives Work
Munnsters points are calculated based on membership purchases and game attendance, and they are counted independently of Izzone points. In the Izzone system, higher point totals translate into earlier game selection and priority seating, and the athletics department has indicated that similar benefits may be extended to Munnsters members as the program matures.
The shift comes as the hockey team enjoys a resurgence under head coach Adam Nightingale, who has guided the squad to three consecutive Big Ten regular‑season titles and two straight Big Ten Tournament championships in the past three years. That on‑ice success has heightened demand for tickets, prompting the athletics department to craft a model that broadens access for students.
Section leaders Kailee Chambers and Madison Vollmer previously described the old ticketing process as a "hope and a prayer" because of limited availability, but the introduction of new ticketing packages last season provided a modest improvement. The new membership model is presented as a more reliable pathway for students to become part of the Munnsters community.
Memberships cost $75, with returning members able to secure theirs on August 25 and all other eligible students on August 26. While the model is gaining traction in hockey, football remains the only Michigan State sport that still offers one‑time student charges, which are not tied to a membership structure.