MSU approves alchohol sales at games this year
Michigan night game plus more alcohol...this should end well.
East Lansing — Michigan State fans will likely be able to enjoy a cold beer at football games this fall after the Board of Trustees approved on Wednesday the sale of alcoholic beverages at the Spartan Stadium.
The unanimous vote means Michigan State will submit an application to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to sell alcohol at four specific home football games, including Sept. 16 against Washington, Sept. 23 against Maryland, Oct. 21 against Michigan and Nov. 4 against Nebraska.
“I travel with the football team to most of the games and for me, it's about the amenities that our fans are able to appreciate in our in our stadium,” athletic director Alan Haller said. “It’s the engagement piece, allowing options for those that want to consume alcohol safely. I've seen it done in other stadiums and I've seen it done where it adds value to the experience.
“So I really want our fans to be able to have those same amenities at our stadiums that they may have when they travel to support our team at visiting stadiums.”
With the likely approval of the license, only four Big Ten schools will have yet to approve alcohol sales, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Nebraska.
The University of Michigan is likely to follow Michigan State’s lead after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in July signed legislation that would allow for the sale of alcohol in college stadiums and arenas. At the time, Whitmer described the law as a way to "curb binge drinking at college sporting events" by cutting down on excessive alcohol consumption while tailgating.
Before the legislation was signed, Michigan State University and Michigan were two of three Big Ten schools that banned the sale of alcohol at sporting events. Nebraska remains the only school banned from selling alcohol.
"Authorizing the legal sale of alcohol at sporting events will bring us on equal footing with other universities, help reduce the likelihood of binge drinking before games, and bring in a heck of a lot more revenue that we can use to improve the student experience,” Whitmer said in a statement after signing the legislation.
At Michigan State, the Spartans will play two home games – Sept. 1 against Central Michigan and Sept. 9 against Richmond – where the policy won’t be in place. The decision to not include the first two games revolved around the time it takes for the permits to be approved as well as making sure the stadium is staffed properly to support the sales.
Board members said they researched alcohol sales at other Big Ten universities to determine potential revenue – Michigan State is estimating it will sell about 12,000 units per game for a gross revenue of roughly $250,000 – as well as the fact it has actually helped when it comes to number of incidents such as binge drinking and arrests.
“We have some very specific data from our Big Ten colleagues that the trustees reviewed,” interim president Theresa Woodruff said, “including a 50% reduction in arrests at the University of Iowa, an 87% reduction in alcohol related incidents at games since the beginning of the sale of alcohol at Penn State. Maryland saw a 71% reduction in alcohol related incidents and at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State University reported 32 arrests and 25 objections for citations and that's down significantly from prior events.”
August 16th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
August 16th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
Indica sales would be a better approach.
August 16th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
Can't blame them. They need the money for Mel's buyout.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
Can't blame them. They need the booze to watch that team.
August 16th, 2023 at 2:38 PM ^
But seriously, how many beers do you think their fan will buy?
August 16th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
Gotta try to fill the stands somehow.
August 16th, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
May be the only reason for cheer in Spartan games this year.
August 16th, 2023 at 9:58 AM ^
Natty light, Lucky Streak or Milwaukees best?
August 16th, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
All 3? Why limit your choices when there is so much shitty beer to pick from?
August 16th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Don’t forget Newcastle. Shit beer for shit team
August 16th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
You might not like Newcastle, but lumping it in with the likes of natty, Hamm’s (which is actually my favorite dirt cheap beer) or Milwaukee’s Best is insanity
August 16th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
Hamms was intentionally left off the list. Even if its just my own bias, Hamms is a 1/2 step above the aforementioned swill.
August 16th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
Agreed
August 16th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Hamm's
August 16th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
Michigan will make its decision 5 years from now. Nothing moves quick here. But honestly, it's not that big of a deal to skip this year.
August 16th, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
I bet it's in the stadium by next year.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
That new locker room is not going to pay for itself.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
Well, I can't imagine it would make the fans any worse than they already get. A few of them might even mellow out.
Also, it doesn't really change the danger our players are in, one way or another.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
I could see state being the first school to have a weed dispensary at their stadium.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
That I could look forward to.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Slot machines in the concourse sponsored by Soaring Eagle.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
This would be wildly preferable to selling booze. they might chill the f*ck out, finally.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
I do think however that it's not really that big of a deal one way or another with almost the whole big ten doing it for several years now with no major problems.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
We also play the majority of the B1G with no major problems.
Except that one dustup... or was it a kerfuffle?
August 16th, 2023 at 12:50 PM ^
The rest of the B1G includes some of college football’s nicest people.
MSU fans are…not that. Michigan fans at Spartan Stadium might be in physical danger.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
big shocker. theyll be just setting up keg stands for anyone who goes to the UM game - free of charge, provide 9 expletives per minute and you throw shit on the field at players. "Scum" indeed
August 16th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
Can't wait for a Michigan fan to get swung on by some belligerent asshole.
There will be a point where the ratings will no longer matter and this "rivalry" is finally over - but it won't come soon enough.
August 16th, 2023 at 1:36 PM ^
Will be the tunnel's fault.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
The team needs the money for their ongoing and very costly Tunnel Trauma Therapy. Listen people, getting over something as horrifying as being goaded into committing assault by an inanimate physical structure is not easy…
August 16th, 2023 at 10:21 AM ^
Double deuce camouflaged Busch light for all.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
I can't wait to "eat a battery" from some drunk booger in green & white this year.
Just wait until they ban alcohol at tailgate areas on both campus' and force everybody to buy overpriced stadium booze.
If you don't think the government will do this, you're kidding yourself. They will ticket / fine people at their tailgates to generate more revenue. It is coming.
Go Blue.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
100% - where there is business, there is push for more margin. They will either innovate it or legislate it. Regulation is cheaper.
Also, I'm going to call MSU fans and players "boogers" from now on, so thanks.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Wow, I can see this dystopian future unfold clearly before me... They will ban alcohol at tailgates. This will naturally inspire demand for bootleg tailgate liquor. Tailgate "speakeasys" will be established in the backs of Winnebagos. Tailgate "Flappers" will be the style amongst the morally corrupt undergrad women. The Chicago Outfit will eventually take over, though, and only through great violence will they eliminate their competitors. In 2029, the "Homecoming Game Tailgate Massacre" will occur, sending a clutch of Blue Hairs to the morgue, and wrecking an otherwise perfect Michigan season.
August 16th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
Germany_Schulz's user name sort of checks out?
August 16th, 2023 at 4:44 PM ^
Not sure if serious but banning alcohol at tailgates would essentially end tailgating. I’m not sure people would continue to pay the price they charge to park if no tailgating (drinking ) is allowed. Also, would be a nightmare to enforce.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
What could possibly go wrong here?
August 16th, 2023 at 2:38 PM ^
For starters, these two could one day procreate.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
I can't blame them. Do you really think Sparty fans can be expected to watch their team sober this season?
August 16th, 2023 at 10:43 AM ^
What could possibly go wrong?
August 16th, 2023 at 10:45 AM ^
If last year was any indication, they'll need to drink a lot during the game in order to cope.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:49 AM ^
What could go wrong?
August 16th, 2023 at 10:52 AM ^
Unfortunately the data did not reveal a reduction in rapes by basketball players.
August 16th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
When calculating the estimated gross revenue did they take into account the fact that Spartan fans will probably not want to stick around beyond halftime for most of their home games?
August 16th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
So when can we expect to see alcohol sales at Pee Wee football and Little League baseball games?
August 16th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
I'm looking forward to them installing retail screens at every seat, so you can order/pay from your chair, watch the ads during the timeouts (those in-stadium are missing out!), and DraftKings pre-installed so you can make parlays while you're watching. Then they just need in-seat catheters so you don't have to get up to pee. And under-stadium childcare so you don't have to be a father anymore. You can watch football forever. Football is love.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:07 AM ^
God I hope so.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
If I may - Snack shops at Little League baseball facilities should be sponsored by the American Dental Association.
August 16th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
What could go wrong giving MSU fans alcohol?
August 16th, 2023 at 11:38 AM ^
They're not giving it away - the fans are paying for it.
And, I just realized something - the cost of a beer in Spartan Stadium may actually be more expensive than the cost of a ticket to watch them play. I'm not sure exactly when - but, I do expect the ticket costs to attend a Spartan game will fall during the course of the season.