The CEFCU Stadium hosted Sparta Fest on Saturday when the San José State football team played their first spring game.
“Sparta Fest is a celebration of San José State and with all the different sports being played on this nice sunny day,” said San José resident Elisabeth Mardis. “It's a good time to come out and root for the home team.”
Sparta Fest includes the first spring football game at 1 p.m., a baseball match against University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) at 2:05 p.m. and a softball match against UNLV at 3 p.m., according to the Sparta Fest website.
The first spring football game took place at CEFCU Stadium where the San José State Spartans demonstrated their skills to the crowd.
“The spring game involves the football players putting on kind of a demonstration of what their practices are like, and then they scrimmage,” said San José resident Mel Murguia.
Kyler Halvorsen, junior kicker for the SJSU football team, said the San José State football team had just been retrofitted, and he had a good day on the field scrimmaging during Sparta Fest.
Halvorsen said Sparta Fest creates opportunities for athletes to play in front of their family and friends.
“It's more of like a community event just to get people excited for the year,” Halvorsen said. “(I’m) excited for a new head coach and a new team and just (the opportunity to) bring positivity to our program.”
Brian Gonzalez, a San José resident, said Sparta Fest presents an opportunity for SJSU to fundraise by selling tickets and beverages.
Sparta Fest sells ticket bundles for up to $125 that includes food, beverage and a baseball ticket, according to the Sparta Fest website.
Murguia said after the spring football game at CEFCU Stadium his son will participate in Kids Camp and learn how to play football from SJSU football players.
SJSU Football Kids Camp provides kids the opportunity to learn basic football skills from Spartan Football players, coaches and staff, according to a San José State Athletics registration form.
“So we get an opportunity to have our kids come hang out with the players and learn from them,” Murguia said. “It's a big celebration and we love the community and the vibe.”
He said following the football game most fans left to go watch the SJSU versus UNLV games.
Jeff Alton, a Ventura County resident, said he drove up to the event to watch his daughter play her final softball match.
Alton said she had been playing for four years and her final few games were taking place. He said his whole family came out to support her.
“If you guys can make it out to Sparta Fest or any spring games I would definitely encourage (it),” Halvorsen said. “It's a good time.”
