After nearly three years with Rivals — and most recently On3 — Spartans Illustrated is moving forward on our own. We’re going independent and we can’t wait to see what the future holds! When On3 acquired Rivals earlier this year, it certainly shook up the industry. While it felt like the writing might be on […]
After nearly three years with Rivals — and most recently On3 — Spartans Illustrated is moving forward on our own. We’re going independent and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!
When On3 acquired Rivals earlier this year, it certainly shook up the industry. While it felt like the writing might be on the wall for us, we wanted to give it an honest shot. We rolled up our sleeves, worked to find our place, and gave it everything we had.
Ultimately, it wasn’t the right long-term fit.
There are no hard feelings here – not with the On3 ownership group, not with Jim Comparoni and his team at SpartanMag. We are grateful for the chance we had to work with some outstanding people these past few months. This experience only sharpened our vision for what Spartans Illustrated can become.
Starting Monday, September 1st, SpartansIllustrated.com will no longer link to our site on Rivals or On3. It will link directly to a site that we’ve spent the better part of the last month designing from scratch, with help from our new friends at Lockerverse.
The new site won’t be perfect at launch, but going independent gives us freedom. Freedom to move faster, to serve readers/viewers/listeners better, and to build Spartans Illustrated in a way that reflects the community we’ve always wanted to be.
It means direct control over our site, our app, and our future.
And it means we can partner with causes that matter — like The Michael Sadler Foundation. Through this partnership, Spartans Illustrated will help expand their GameChang3rs program into mid-Michigan, with 5% of every net subscription dollar going directly to their mission of inspiring underserved youth.
Our goal is to raise enough money to be able to help The Michael Sadler Foundation expand their program from West Michigan to mid-Michigan and into the Lansing neighborhoods that need their assistance.
Karen Sadler knows that this program works. She’s seen it in action, having worked with more than 7,000 kids so far. We are honored to help fund the expansion of this evidence-based literacy program, built on the memory of Mike Sadler, a great Spartan.
Of course, our core mission at Spartans Illustrated remains the same: covering Michigan State athletics with depth, personality, and perspective. We’ll continue to focus on football, men’s basketball, and hockey while also shining a brighter light on programs that don’t always get the attention they deserve — women’s basketball, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, and more.
We’re also proud to continue our partnership with MSU’s Sports Journalism School, giving Spartan students a platform on which to grow and learn while preparing for careers in the field. Over the years, Spartans Illustrated has helped launch young writers into sports journalism — and that tradition will only get stronger in the future.
Yes, the voices you know and trust are still here: Matt Sheehan, David Klein, AndrewTalksHoops, Ryan O’Bleness, Jeremy Dewar, Paul Fanson (Dr. Green and White), Kevin Knight, Jonah and Abby Wilson, and Chase Glasser – plus new contributors like Tessa Cosco and other Michigan State students you’ll meet soon enough.
You’ll still see the award-winning photography of Marvin Hall and the sharp graphic design of Jay Yaney. Together, we’ll keep breaking news, sharing insight, and taking you behind the scenes of Michigan State Athletics.
An important aspect of Spartans Illustrated is community – and we are going to continue to create a space where Spartan fans can discuss anything and everything in our message board (chats). This is also where subscribers will be able to discuss the ins and outs of MSU Athletics as well as get the insider information that explains the comings and goings and the failures and successes.
Also, keep an eye out for the launch of the Spartan Creators Network – a place on our website where newcomers can work to gain your attention and build themselves an audience, while they learn to be great at writing, photography, graphic design, video, audio, or whatever else they might bring to the table.
Our new app (search Spartans Illustrated in the Apple Store or in Google Play) will bring it all together, giving subscribers a direct line to everything we do. There will be no more waiting on corporate approval when we want to change something on our site or in our app – we’ll be able to adapt quickly, update features, and add the things you ask for.
As we move forward, Spartans Illustrated will be built for Spartans fans, informed by our relationships with you all.
We’re also keeping it simple with one premium subscription option of $12 per month. For those who sign up annually, you get two months free – it’s $120 for the year (a $24 savings), plus some fun extra perks (more to come):
- Five free shipping coupons from Nudge Printing ($35 value)
- Access to exclusive Nudge Printing MSU items (this apparel selection will expand over time)
As a reminder, every subscription includes:
- Full access to premium articles, videos, livestreams, and chats
- Insider access, behind the scenes looks
- Early entry to the upcoming Spartan Creators Network, where up-and-coming Spartan creators will be given a platform to grow and connect with a new audience
- A built-in donation to the Michael Sadler Foundation’s GameChang3rs program
This is the next step in Spartans Illustrated’s journey, and we’re excited to take it with you. The independence we’ve gained isn’t just about us — it’s about building something meaningful, sustainable, and deeply connected to the Spartan community.
So here we go. The next chapter starts now.
Regards,
David Harns, publisher
If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email to [email protected].
Category: General Sports
