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SMU considers sale of beer at football, basketball games

MELISSA REPKO The Dallas Morning News
Staff Writer

10 October 2013

Southern Methodist University wants more cheers at athletic events.

In a move to boost attendance and revenue, the school is pushing to sell alcoholic beverages at football and basketball games. Fans could be able to buy a brew by early next year at Ford Stadium and Moody Coliseum.

The city of University Park has signed off on the idea, as have Dallas County and the state comptroller’s office.

The final hurdle is the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, though the university has yet to file for the required permit.

If one is approved, stadium neighbors — already concerned about game-day parking — could have another reason to complain.

On the SMU athletics website, athletic director Rick Hart wrote last week that alcohol sales are “something we are studying.”

“As you are likely aware, the distribution of beer on a college campus encompasses a number of issues which must be properly vetted,” he wrote in an Oct. 4 column, responding to fan questions. “There is a possibility that we could introduce a controlled, responsible model as early as this January when Moody reopens” after a $47 million renovation.

SMU and other universities across the nation already sell alcohol in stadium clubs and suites. The NCAA allows alcohol sales at regular-season events, but restricts sales and advertising of the beverages during championships.

SMU would become the second university in Texas to sell alcohol for general consumption at sports events. The University of Houston sells beer at baseball, basketball, football and softball games. The University of Texas is considering alcohol sales at football, basketball and baseball games.

A buzz about alcohol sales gained momentum last year after a group of SMU students, faculty and alumni considered ways to attract more fans and dollars.

A popular suggestion, especially among students, was selling alcohol. Some students running for campus office made it part of their campaigns.

“It’s been an idea floating around for years,” said student body President Ramon Trespalacios. “It might have been out there even when I was a freshman.”

Before each home game, football fans gather along SMU Boulevard near the stadium with tents, music, food and alcoholic beverages. It’s part of a tailgating tradition called “The Boulevard.”

But SMU has struggled to move the pregame enthusiasm to the stands. Some students head to sports bars or house parties before kickoff, Trespalacios said, and others leave before games are over.

“In America, you usually have beer with sports,” he said. “It’s been a tradition for years. It would bring out fans from the area. It’d bring out students who usually go to the bar instead of a game.”

Police say they don’t know how alcohol sales might affect fan behavior. SMU has its own force, which works with officers from the Park Cities.

Lita Snellgrove, a spokeswoman for the University Park police, said her department was unaware of SMU’s alcohol plans. But if problems were to arise, she said, police would increase their presence.

“Certainly if more incidents came up, we would have to look at ways to address our enforcement.”

Southern Methodist University would be the second university in Texas to sell alcohol to fans in the stands. The University of Houston sells alcohol at games, and the University of Texas is considering alcohol sales.

Universities around the country — including West Virginia, Syracuse and Louisville — already sell alcohol at sports events. Others, including SMU, sell alcohol only in private clubs or suites.

The NCAA allows alcohol sales at regular-season sports events. It restricts sales and advertising of alcohol during its 88 championships, which include the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/communit ... -games.ece

At the end, it seems like the redundancy department of redundancy got ahold of it.

Also, I WANT BEER!!! YESSSSSSSSS

Typical DMN. The NCAA sponsors 89 championships now.

Can't wait for alyssa to see this

Mmmmmm ... beer ...

Automatic 32,000 for every game

At the very least I would expect this to boost: (1) the number of students who show up; and (2) the number of students who stay past halftime. Combine that with the upcoming second year reresidency requirement, and you could see a substantial increase in student participation.

At the very least I would expect this to boost: (1) the number of students who show up; and (2) the number of students who stay past halftime. Combine that with the upcoming second year reresidency requirement, and you could see a substantial increase in student participation. Hart has taken some heat on this board. But personally I like where he's going.

1) I dont think this will boost any attendance and I think it will just lead to disturbances. I think there might be more students but I think regular fans might get annoyed with the drunkards.

At least with how horrible we play, we can make it back through all the beer sales for people to not wanting to remember the game.

SMU_Alumni11 wrote:1) I dont think this will boost any attendance and I think it will just lead to disturbances. I think there might be more students but I think regular fans might get annoyed with the drunkards.

At least with how horrible we play, we can make it back through all the beer sales for people to not wanting to remember the game.

You can get sufficiently drunk on the blvd before farqaud

SMU fans suck. The west side doesn't cheer, gets mad when other stand, and are awful "football" fans. This isn't suppossed to be quiet time with the wife and kids. Ford is mostly dead, it could use some booze to spice it up and make audible noise. I'm tired of it being a boring football environment. If it was an exciting place to be, people would stay longer.

Back during the run for our first bowl game in 2009, it was a lot of fun. Even the little things like making someone do push-ups on the student body when we scored. I MISS FUN

In fact, I think everyone in the stadium should be required to take a shot at the beginning of each quarter. We could call it "blackout the ford"

WHO'S WITH ME?

blackoutpony wrote:

SMU_Alumni11 wrote:1) I dont think this will boost any attendance and I think it will just lead to disturbances. I think there might be more students but I think regular fans might get annoyed with the drunkards.

At least with how horrible we play, we can make it back through all the beer sales for people to not wanting to remember the game.

You can get sufficiently drunk on the blvd before farqaud

SMU fans suck. The west side doesn't cheer, gets mad when other stand, and are awful "football" fans. This isn't suppossed to be quiet time with the wife and kids. Ford is mostly dead, it could use some booze to spice it up and make audible noise. I'm tired of it being a boring football environment. If it was an exciting place to be, people would stay longer.

Back during the run for our first bowl game in 2009, it was a lot of fun. Even the little things like making someone do push-ups on the student body when we scored. I MISS FUN

Im not saying it wont be fun for the single guys out there who can party it up, but our fanbase does have alot of husbands and wifes and also their children. If they see people with beer all around and doing stupid stuff they might not think its a welcoming atmosphere. Thats why Im saying the additional people from alcohol will most likely get netted with those who dont want to come to rowdy fans. Im all for people cheering and the fanbase needs to get that through their heads during a 3rd down etc. I just would want them to do it without the need for alcohol to enable that.

11 - I think you are not really thinking this through. have you ever been to a Ranger game? Cowboys? Mavs? There are kids and families everywhere at all of those games. They seem to have weighed this same decision and come out on the adult beverage side of things.

And by the way - to get the casual Dallas sports people at our game - we have to give them what they are used to. A more upbeat product, and yes...access to an occasional adult beverage.

If you want to stay home and watch Lawerence Welk, then so be it. We have no choice but to do this if we are going to expand past the 15k loyal fans we have.

Seating Solution :
1. put the "family section" (no alcohol) where the visitors now sit.
2. put the visitors between the student/band and new "family section. That way they get cheering for the Stangs in stereo
3. Now the family section can blame any drunken rowdiness on the visitors.

Problem solved for Stang Fans!

SMU_Alumni11 wrote:

blackoutpony wrote:

SMU_Alumni11 wrote:1) I dont think this will boost any attendance and I think it will just lead to disturbances. I think there might be more students but I think regular fans might get annoyed with the drunkards.

At least with how horrible we play, we can make it back through all the beer sales for people to not wanting to remember the game.

You can get sufficiently drunk on the blvd before farqaud

SMU fans suck. The west side doesn't cheer, gets mad when other stand, and are awful "football" fans. This isn't suppossed to be quiet time with the wife and kids. Ford is mostly dead, it could use some booze to spice it up and make audible noise. I'm tired of it being a boring football environment. If it was an exciting place to be, people would stay longer.

Back during the run for our first bowl game in 2009, it was a lot of fun. Even the little things like making someone do push-ups on the student body when we scored. I MISS FUN

Im not saying it wont be fun for the single guys out there who can party it up, but our fanbase does have alot of husbands and wifes and also their children. If they see people with beer all around and doing stupid stuff they might not think its a welcoming atmosphere. Thats why Im saying the additional people from alcohol will most likely get netted with those who dont want to come to rowdy fans. Im all for people cheering and the fanbase needs to get that through their heads during a 3rd down etc. I just would want them to do it without the need for alcohol to enable that.

What in the hell are you talking about? Married people don't drink? Are you serious? Is that an actual belief of yours? They sure as hell avoid the Blvd as you can see....

I've heard it all now... married people don't drink....

You realize that the price per beer is going to be expensive right???