The Michigan State men’s basketball team’s 10-day trip to Spain began when the Spartans arrived in Madrid on Wednesday afternoon.
Here you will find everything you need to know about your stay:
The Spartans will spend three days in Madrid, followed by stops in Valencia and Barcelona, playing one game in each city.
Michigan State’s game in Madrid is on Thursday. The game in Valencia is on Saturday and the final game is on Monday in Barcelona.
The following is an update from Day 1 according to a release:
The Spartans departed Detroit Airport at 6:30 p.m. and arrived at Amsterdam International Airport around 8:00 a.m. They then flew to Madrid at 9:30 a.m.
Michigan State landed around noon local time before heading to Las Ventas bullring. This is the largest bullring in Spain and the third largest in the world, with a capacity of nearly 23,800 spectators, according to the team’s tour guide, Ernesto. Mexico and Venezuela have the largest bullrings.
The team did not have the opportunity to witness a bullfight as the events took place in September and October.
Las Vesta, where concerts also take place, was, according to Ernesto, the only venue in the country where the Beatles ever performed.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo told reporters last week what he hopes to achieve from this trip.
“I hope to take a lot out of it,” Izzo said. “It’s a bonding experience, it’s something you practice for at the end of the summer. It’s going to be a good trip in that regard. It’s a very close-knit team. I’m really impressed. We did a lot together this summer. Just got back from my beach house, then we went to (Mat) Ishbia’s, so we did a lot together. In that regard, this trip is going to be good.”
This trip to Spain is a special one for the Michigan State men’s basketball team. The Spartans haven’t traveled abroad since 2015, when Izzo took his team to Italy and played four games. The headliners for this team, which replaced the 2015 Final Four team, were Denzel Valentine, Brynn Forbes, Matt Costello and Devonta Davis.
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