Jun 24, 2009 6:54 pm US/Central
'U' Bans Alcohol In All Sports Arenas
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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University President Robert Bruininks supported Wednesday's decision to go dry, but had initially supported alcohol sales to select seats. Bruininks said he was disappointed lawmakers became involved. (File)
University of Minnesota
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A schmatic of the new TCF Stadium for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
CBS
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Logo for TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.
University of Minnesota
When fans welcome the Gophers to TCF Bank Stadium this fall, they will do it without access to alcohol. The University's Board of Regents overwhelmingly voted 10-2 Wednesday not to serve alcohol in the new stadium.
Some members of the board had hoped alcohol could be served in premium-select seats, such as upper level suites. However, state lawmakers told the University it had to serve alcohol in the entire stadium or not at all.
The select seats where they would have served alcohol would have gone to less than 5 percent of the fans, but those seats would have created about half the revenue on game day. When the state took that option off the table, University officials decided to go dry.
University President Robert Bruininks supported Wednesday's decision to go dry, but had initially supported alcohol sales to select seats. Bruininks said he was disappointed lawmakers became involved.
"I am somewhat grumpy about it because our plan was out there 5 or 6 years ago," said Bruininks.
Other board members agreed with Bruininks.
"If we can sell alcohol in a safe and controlled manner, in which we've done in the last 27 years or so, I don't see why we can't also do it when we have changed locations," said Board of Regents member Venora Hung.
Minnesota now joins the rest of the Big Ten as universities that don't sell alcohol in their
main stadiums. The reaction among students varied from relief to disappointment.
"I guess a little. I guess I can understand why they won't because some students can get out of hand. But it's nice to enjoy a nice, cold beer at a football game," said Hilary Burlingame.
Student Deron Carrington is glad things turned out the way they did.
"I know when Wisconsin comes it can get pretty rowdy," said Carrington. "So I think it's a benefit not to make it available."
According to The Associated Press, the University of Minnesota estimates to lose around $1 million a year in revenue due to its ban on alcohol in all of its sports arenas.
Because the University is a state institution, lawmakers can regulate the conditions of liquor sales.
At the University of Minnesota, Williams and Mariucci Arenas will also be dry facilities.
There are eight Big Ten teams who do sell alcohol in their premium seating. Minnesota now joins two other schools who don't sell alcohol at their football stadiums; Ohio State and Michigan State.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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