Nov 14, 2009 9:08 am US/Central
'TCF' Booze Ban Sours Suite Seats For Other Sports
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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The alcoholic beverages were an appealing perk for those willing to fork over the big bucks. (File)
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It used to be the hottest ticket on ice and in the Barn, but a rule that banned alcohol sales at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Gopher football stadium is affecting hockey and basketball fans too.
It appears suite customers aren't buying what the U is now selling. They were a popular draw and money maker for the U of M -- private suites and club seats for hockey and basketball games.
"You would get free beer and wine and pop and coffee and water," said Gopher Hockey fan Suzie Liedl.
It's a very appealing perk for those willing to fork out the big bucks.
"It's packed. It's almost impossible to get a seat," said Liedl of the clubroom at Mariucci last season.
This year at the game against Alaska "it was probably only about a fourth full. You could very easily get a seat," said Liedl.
No booze led to no-shows in the suite seats.
"I know people who have dropped suites both in Mariucci and Williams Arena because they're not able to entertain their clients the way they think is proper -- make beer and wine available to them," said former North Stars coach and General Manager Lou Nanne.
His firm, Voyager Asset Management, followed suit.
"If we're going to have club seats or a suite, we want to make sure we treat the client in a proper way and we have to make beer or wine available to them, and if we can't, we're not going to be interested in doing that," said Nanne.
That's why an e-mail went out hawking full, partial or single-use suite availability. The cost ranges from around $2,000 to more than $50,000.
"The economy has not helped in terms of people renewing and the alcohol decision has really hurt us as well," said University of Minnesota Assistant Athletic Director David Crum.
The alcohol ban at all three sports venues is costing the university millions of dollars. The university said that revenue loss will only get worse next year, when most football premium seat holders will get a 20 percent refund due to the last-minute booze ban.
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