UO students of legal age will be able to buy alcohol, but can't return to the student section with itGETTY IMAGES
Oregon this football season will "expand alcohol sales inside Autzen Stadium but won't allow fans to leave and re-enter" during home games, according to a front-page piece by Christian Hill of the Eugene REGISTER-GUARD. UO will "extend to its concession stands the sale of beer and wine that long have been available in the stadium's executive seating area and at the Moshofsky Center, the indoor practice field next to the stadium that serves as a game-day tailgating venue." UO students who are of legal age "can buy alcohol but can't return to the student section with it." UO said that servers will have "more control to ensure fans don't drink too much." UO Senior Associate AD/Communications Jimmy Stanton said that the school also "plans to triple the number" of Oregon Liquor Control Commission-licensed alcohol monitors who "mill around the crowd -- to more than 100 from about 30." Stanton said that he "didn't have an estimate on how much additional concession revenue the department will receive from expanded alcohol sales." But he added that the athletic department "hasn't budgeted any net revenue because of the change, noting the 'significant accompanying expense that will go along with the project,' including the increase in alcohol monitors" (Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 7/27). In Portland, Sean Meagher reports Autzen Stadium will also now "institute a clear-bag policy used at many sports venues throughout the country." Season-ticket holders will "receive a free clear bag and bags will be available to purchase at the stadium Ducks Store" (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/27).
ABOUT TIME: In Portland, John Canzano wonders why UO "waited so long" to expand alcohol sales at Autzen Stadium. It has "never made sense or felt right to me that Oregon only allowed in-stadium sales in the suites and club levels." It is a "cash grab," but it also "helps the overall product." The stadium experience has been "genuinely affected over the years by fans who walk in and out of Autzen Stadium" to get alcohol from tailgating areas (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/27).
BEER DOWN: In Tucson, Caitlin Schmidt reports the Univ. of Arizona will begin "beer and wine sales ... at Arizona Stadium on Sept. 1." Previously, beer and wine were "available to people with private club or box seats." But on Tuesday the state "granted an extension to the UA's liquor license, expanding sales to all patrons of legal drinking age" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 7/27).
LOOK TO THE FUTURE: Iowa AD Gary Barta said that the school has "no immediate plans to sell alcohol to the general public at Kinnick Stadium." But in Des Moines, Mark Emmert wrote Barta "seemed to open the door to future consideration of doing so in light of what is happening at other universities, most recently Oklahoma State." Barta said, "What happens going forward, if the country continues to see schools adding the sale of alcohol, we won’t be the first. We probably won’t be the last to do it" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 7/25).
