The Univ. of Missouri does not have a firm timeline on when it could begin selling beer and wine stadium-wide after the SEC struck down its ban on alcohol sales, but AD Jim Sterk believes it "could happen by the fall." Sterk appeared Sunday on Columbia-based KMIZ-ABC and said evidence shows that allowing alcohol sales in stadiums generally helps limit "alcohol abuse and binge drinking." That aspect "resonated the most with the presidents and chancellors" at the SEC spring meetings last week. He said, "Let's control it in the stadium as opposed to having it outside where it’s uncontrolled.” MU is conservatively predicting alcohol sales could bring in around $500,000 per year, but Sterk admitted it could be "more if you did football and basketball.” He said, "We’ve been serving alcohol in our premium areas, so it’s just mainly bringing it to the masses of the people and for them to be able to enjoy a game like they would at home if they wanted to have a beer." MU has a contract in place with A-B InBev, and Sterk said, "In anticipation of the rule, we wanted to look ahead and where would we serve alcohol in the stadium. So we’re going to be looking at what they think might be the best venues and we’ll work with our concession rightsholder Levy and figure out the best way to do it” ("Sports Zone," KMIZ-ABC, 6/2).
TAKING HIS CUES: New Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork, who was formally introduced yesterday, will rely on interim AD R.C. Slocum and Deputy AD Stephanie Rempe to determine the school's stance on selling alcohol. Bjork said, "What it does is provide flexibility. I think that's the key. Whatever the local philosophy is, it should apply" (Bryan-College Station EAGLE, 6/4).
