OT: U of Texas to start selling beer at athletics events, sensing a wow experience
Now look what West Virginia started, an alcohol arms race in the Big 12. Somehow this is Holgo's fault or if it is not, then it should be. Then again, Colorado was doing this when they were all playing together a while back anyway.
There has been some obvious pressure to get this done per AD DeLoss Dodds:
"We talk about it constantly. If we ever did it, we'd probably start with baseball. There's something about it that doesn't quite feel right, but there's people telling me that it might be safer to serve it than not serve it. It's an issue. I guarantee you we talk about it at almost every other staff meeting."
http://www.burntorangenation.com/2014/2/25/5446520/texas-longhorns-beer…
February 26th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
(It's like a whole other country).
And, like I always say, "Beer, it's not just for breakfast anymore."
February 26th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
It might be safer to serve it than to not serve it? That doesn't make sense to me.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^
the old addage that people drink a lot more before because they can't have it during the games. Or they sneak hard alcohol in to the stadium. "Theyll just get drunk faster by trying to hide it."
February 26th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
I'm just one data point, but I'd fall into that category.
Right now I drink my X beers before the game and then sneak in a few airplane bottles of hard liquor. If I could, I'd just buy a beer (probably just one b/c I'm cheap and they're overpriced).
So for me, I would drink less but enjoy it more.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
the wait in line, etc.
February 26th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
So students would pregame binge if there is no alcohol in the stadium but wouldn't do so if there is unaffordable alcohol in the stadium? I dunno about that.
February 26th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
but assuming you're one of those beer-for-every-meal Canadians, there's likely nothing that can change that behavior.
/s
February 26th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
Yeah, the logic there is a little iffy.
When I think of the crowds at Michigan events vs. the crowds at pro sporting events, I'm glad we have a dry stadium. Students aside, you don't see that many really drunk people at a Michigan game, whereas at pro sports games they're all over.
February 26th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
If it's the bottom line UT is trying to keep safe, it may well be safer to keep the attendees numb to the on-field results.
February 27th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
Logic would assume that if most people are plastered, less people will get riled up.
Besides, it's profitable and people pre-game anyway. Better to get a cut of those dollars than to assume that no one is drinking before games.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
I live in Omaha now, and they serve alcohol at both UNO hockey games and Creighton basketball games. However, they don't serve any at the college world series. Does the NCAA have some sort of governance of this, or is it all up to individual institutions?
February 26th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^
They don't serve any alcohol. Hockey Frozen Four in MN a couple of years ago and the Final Four last year were competely dry.
February 26th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
I've seen beer soldat LSU and UL-Lafayette events (baseball and softball, in this case) - I was down there several years ago on a trip and took in a couple games with a friend that lives in that neck of the woods. Not sure about football in either case. I would have to think that it is up to the schools or what local or state laws would allow.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^
meet Budweiser.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^
What could possibly go wrong?
February 26th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
I get the other side of the arguement for sure, but if legal I'd be all for this for Michigan games.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
This can't end well.
February 26th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
Yea because that's never happened before
February 26th, 2014 at 7:12 PM ^
Go ahead, I'll wait while you flesh out your proposition.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
Whether or not alcohol is served at sporting events, people will drink. It's just a matter of who collects the money.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
i dont see a problem with them selling it but what it will come down to is the over drunk a$#holes spilling beer on people/kids. Can you imagine with how much space people get to sit now how much beer would be spilled in The Big House?
February 26th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
When I first went to games, people were allowed to bring alcohol into the Big House. Sometime in the 1970's, they stopped allowing it. I think all schools should be allowed to sell beer at games.
USF has full bars and beer at football and basketball games. Whiie football is played a Raymond James Stadium, home of the Bucs, the basketball games are played on campus. The stereotype/worst case scenario of a bunch of falling-down, obnoxious drunks ruining games simply doesn't happen.
Alcohol doesn't create assholes, it just allows the "inner asshole" of some people to escape. College events just like professional events, but with the illusion of "amateuerism." If alcohol can be sold at professional events, it should be sold at college events, too.
February 26th, 2014 at 7:15 PM ^
sneaking in wine and beer during the late '60s, usually in one of those goat skin bags. But I don't recall it being allowed or even condoned. They were pretty cagey about hiding things. Pot now, that was totally condoned.
February 26th, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^
I used to bring a 6 pack to the game every week in the early 80's. I never hid a thing. Seems like then people would talk about the good old days when you could bring a keg to the game.
February 26th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
better than people resorting to sneaking it in through flasks, fake binoculars, beer bras and whatever else they've invented.
February 26th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^
hmmmm.... beer bras
February 26th, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
Wow experience would be U of Washington and Colorado selling doobies
February 26th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
Given the state of Colorado football, it might be the only way to increase attendance.
http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-college-sports/ci_24471036/university-col…
February 26th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
the PSD.
February 26th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
has full alcohol service at football and basketball games so fans can leave happy no matter what the score board says.
Their athletic department is a train wreck...
February 26th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
They could sell beer at the Big House only prior to kickoff and for the first quarter. That way people would be in their seats the last 3 quarters.
February 26th, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
February 26th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
I really think more schools need to be open to doing this. Trust me, no college kid at UM has any trouble whatsoever getting alcohol into the Big House or Crisler if they want to. I usually bring a cheap pint of liquor in with me for the late tip Thursday or Friday basketball games, and there certainly isn't a TSA level of security at the entrance. It just makes money sense to serve at the college games. Plenty of students are of age, plenty of the athletes are of age, almost all the other fans are of age, and schools need to give up the "holier than thou" policy of not serving alcohol at NCAA events when doing so isn't even against the rules.
February 26th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
If the extra revenue from alcohol were to go towards lowering ticket prices or improving the gameday experience, it may be worth considering. But we know that won't happen.
February 26th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
We're talking about Texas. Somebody somewhere wants enough cocaine to forget they live there
February 26th, 2014 at 6:48 PM ^
I recognize an Archer quote when I see one.
February 26th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^
Minnesota both lost money and reduced alcohol-related incidents after they started selling beer at TCF stadium two years ago. The theory for the latter is that some people stopped drinking themselves blind before the game knowing they could maintain the buzz inside. The former is incompetence and is not a theory.
February 26th, 2014 at 6:54 PM ^
Yah! Cuz of all dat beer ya drunk der too yet dontchaknow!
February 27th, 2014 at 5:47 AM ^