Bronco Athletic Events         
Bronco Athletic Events are “free” to all WMU students.  I say “free” because I learned that every student’s account is charged an athletics events fee.  So if you are being charged for an athletic event, why not make it worth your while and go to a few?  I would venture to say that the football and hockey games are a must for a student at Western Michigan University.

Hockey          
By far the biggest fan base at WMU is for the hockey team.  While they are not the best team in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), hockey seems to present something for everyone.  With hockey games comes occasional violence, vulgar language, Pee-Wee League scrimmages before the actual games, skating team performances, to just name a few.  The zamboni driver even throws candy to the student section during intermissions.  The best part of being in the student section is the cheering and the singing.  If you don’t know Bon Jovi’s song, “Living on a Prayer”, you will know it and come to love it after you attend one hockey game. 

Things to remember when you go to the hockey games: 1)  Always wear a black shirt or jacket.  I have seen students be denied admission to the game because they were not wearing black.  Wear black especially during “Blackout Days”.  2)  Learn the chants because they are a huge part of being in the student section.  3)  Get to the games early if WMU is playing the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, or the University of Notre Dame.  These three schools are WMU’s biggest hockey rivals, and therefore a lot of people attend these games.

Football          
Parking is tricky for these games.  You can pay $20 to park at the Ice Arena, and be shuttled by bus over to the stadium.  Or you could be dropped off by someone and take Big Daddy Taxi back.  If you go the Big Daddy Taxi route, it will be $4 a person.  The only downside to taking a taxi is waiting for them to pick you up from your location.  Time is money you know.

Casinos
Some college students may feel as if gambling is an athletic event. This is even more true for students attending college in the state of Michigan. Casinos are located throughout the state of Michigan. College students gravitate towards them with the hope that they strike it big and have their college paid off.  Then before they know it, the cash that they brought in with them to the casino is gone, and they are driving home without money.  Keep in mind that most casinos only allow persons 21 and older in their establishment.  Below, several successful casino visit approaches will be visited.
 

1)  Before you go to the casino, set a limit for yourself that you are willing to spend.  For example, I like to set a limit of $40 when I go to the casino. 

2)  When you have spent your allotted amount, DO NOT go to the nearest Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), and take more money out.  When you have spent your allotted amount, leave the casino with your head held high. 

3)  Watch other people play the slot machine that you are looking to play.  Get to know the machine before you actually play it.  Look at the ‘Pays Table’ section on the screen of the slot machine.

4)  Don’t wager the maximum bet, wait until you have doubled what you put into the machine before you start upping your wagers. 

Some other things to consider when going to a casino 1) Look up the band(s) that will be playing that night.  These shows are usually free because they are local bands that are trying to get their name out there.  2)  The pop machines are free for all casino patrons, and there is no limit on refills.