Univ. Of Maryland Will Allow Alcohol In Byrd Stadium Suites

Univ. Of Maryland Will Allow Beer, Wine In Its  64 Suites In School's Byrd Stadium Next Year

The Univ. of Maryland (UM) has "decided to allow beer and wine sales next season in Byrd Stadium's 64 new suites, but it still won't permit alcohol anywhere else in the stadium," according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore SUN. The 64 suites are part of a $50.8M "expansion of the stadium's Tyser Tower that will also add 440 mezzanine seats." UM Senior Associate AD Brian Ullmann said in a statement, "The controls the campus has developed will provide the proper safeguards for alcohol consumption, while providing the suite holders and their guests with a wonderful game experience." Barker notes the student section at Byrd Stadium consists of 10,000 seats, and many students "are under the drinking age of 21." But UM said that the suite sales "will be carefully monitored." The school also said that "only beer and wine will be sold and that sales personnel will be trained and certified," while drink maximums "will be enforced." Barker notes most colleges, including UM, "don't permit alcohol advertisements inside their stadiums." Meanwhile, at several stadiums, including Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium, suite holders "are allowed to stock their suites with alcohol before game day." UM said that alcohol for the suites "can be pre-ordered but that it must be purchased through Byrd's catering service" (Baltimore SUN, 10/31).