新闻

Michigan State wants to rebuild the east side of Spartan Stadium, a job priced at about $500M, and the athletic department just got a $10M push toward it. Longtime donors Joe and Julie Serra made the funding, as announced on October 1, and it is reportedly the largest donation their family has given to the school. The timing matters as Michigan State looks to bring the nearly 100-year-old stadium up to modern Big Ten standards. The project is expected to add premium seating, improve accessibility and fan amenities, and create new spaces around the stadium. "A powerful commitment to the future of Spartan Athletics! Thank you to the Serra family for your transformational $10 million commitment to FOR SPARTA," Michigan State Athletics' X post read. The stadium opened in 1923, and the funding goes directly into FOR SPARTA, which is the $1 billion campaign MSU launched in December 2025. The Spartans' athletic director, Dan Bartholomae, said the department will direct it toward Spartan Stadium improvements. "Michigan State has been an important part of our family's life for many years, and we are grateful for the friendships, experiences and memories we've shared through this university," Joe and Julie Serra said, according to Malcolm Ridgeway of The State News. "Spartan Stadium is a special place for our family and for so many Spartans, and we're proud to make this commitment and help invest in its future." Michigan State University is planning to replace the aging east side with a new East Tower built around premium seating, suites, and year-round use, with construction starting in fall 2027 and an expected finish by 2029. The Serras aren't new to this. They began contributing to Michigan State in 1989, and this commitment has extended that relationship across nearly four decades. Julie is an MSU alumna and a retired kindergarten teacher, while Joe is the chairman of Fenton-based Serra Automotive, which his father, Albert Serra, founded in 1973. MSU calls it a commitment, with the Serras having supported the school since 1989 and now lending their name to its $1 billion campaign. Bartholomae called the gift "an incredible expression of trust in the future of Spartan Athletics." "We plan to direct their support toward improvements at Spartan Stadium, strengthening a place that means so much to our student-athletes, fans and generations of Spartans," he added. Jacob Kirkham, the Spartan Athletic Foundation's senior vice president, said the Serras' leadership "helps build momentum as we invite others to invest in the future of Spartan Athletics." When the plan launched in December, then-athletic director J Batt called it the most ambitious initiative in Michigan State Athletics history, and MSU said it had already raised $250M. With a $401M gift from Greg and Dawn Williams, including $290M going to FOR SPARTA, Michigan State has a major funding boost behind its plans to upgrade Spartan Stadium and other athletic facilities. At the December launch, MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz said MSU is "positioning MSU to lead in an increasingly competitive landscape." At Breslin Center, the plan calls for premium seating in the lower bowl and courtside suites. It also lists work at Jenison Fieldhouse for volleyball, wrestling, and gymnastics, a new Skandalaris Football Center, and a student-athlete dining facility. Around the stadium, IM West is scheduled to be demolished, with restaurants and a hotel under consideration. Batt said the plan is to play through construction instead of moving games.

Tourism cooperation between Greece and Brazil and prospects for new joint initiatives were the focus of a meeting on Thursday between Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Brazil's new ambassador to Greece, Laudemar Gonçalves de Aguiar Neto. Greek National Tourism Organisation Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos also attended. According to a ministry announcement, particular emphasis was placed on institutional cooperation in tourism, which was further strengthened by the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in 2023. The two sides agreed to work towards deepening cooperation by making use of the comparative advantages of both destinations and developing joint initiatives with tangible results. Kefalogianni highlighted close cooperation between Greece and Brazil within UN Tourism, noting that the two countries share a common vision for sustainable tourism development. She also referred to Brazil's role as chair of the organisation's Executive Council and to prospects for further cooperation at international level. The minister stressed the importance of the Brazilian market for Greece, citing the positive momentum in tourism flows between the two countries, efforts to improve air connectivity and opportunities to further promote Greece in Latin America. For his part, the ambassador referred to the strong foundations of bilateral cooperation and proposed stepping up joint initiatives, including through opportunities offered by the UN Tourism Regional Office in Rio de Janeiro. He also highlighted Brazil's interest in exchanging know-how with Greece in areas including hospitality, improving the tourism experience and diversifying the tourism product. Kefalogianni also referred to the forthcoming European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and initiatives to promote " Brand Europe" in strategically important markets, noting that Brazil is an important market for both Greece and Europe. The minister and the ambassador agreed to promote new forms of cooperation between public and private-sector bodies in the two countries, with an emphasis on exchanging expertise and developing initiatives aimed at further strengthening tourism ties between Greece and Brazil.