The Univ. of Minnesota is "ready to make beer and wine sales a permanent fixture at Gopher football games," according to Maura Lerner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. School officials reported to the Board of Regents that after a two-year experiment, they found "no significant increase" in alcohol-related incidents at TCF Bank Stadium. There were actually "fewer police calls about rowdy or drunken fans" in '13 than in '10, "two years before the on-site beer and wine sales began." School officials said that they "want to continue the sales after the pilot project expires in July," which would "require legislative approval." UM VP/University Services Pamela Wheelock said, "It seems to be a success." The school in its report said that it "took in $181,678 as its share of the profits" on just over $1M in beer and wine sales during the '13 season. Wheelock said that there are "no plans to add hard liquor, or expand beer and wine sales at other venues" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/14).
HOG WILD: WHOLEHOGSPORTS.com reported Univ. of Arkansas football club-seat holders "will be able to buy beer and wine at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium if a license for the sales is approved by Alcoholic Beverage Control." The purchase and consumption of alcohol "will be restricted to certain areas and won't be allowed in outdoor seating sections." School concessionaire Sodexo "will handle the sales." The school will be the eighth in the SEC to "sell alcohol in club areas during games" (WHOLEHOGSPORTS.com, 2/12).
TROJAN HORSE: Troy Univ. AD John Hartwell on Thursday announced that the school "will sell beer inside Riddle-Pace Field" during the '14 baseball season. He said that the decision "boiled down to two things." Hartwell: "We wanted to increase our fan experience. It also can help revenue, but the main thing was to enhance our fan experience and game day atmosphere." The TROY MESSENGER noted the beers "will be 16-ounce cans, but will be poured in to cups by Sodexo vendors at the concession stand." Troy will become "the eighth member of the Sun Belt Conference to sell alcohol at on-campus athletic events" (TROYMESSENGER.com, 2/13).
