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The Case for Beer Throughout Spartan Stadium

Mark Hollis said today that he's not considering beer sales throughout Spartan Stadium. Here's why he should give it another look.

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

In case you were wondering if Spartan Stadium would have beer throughout the stadium in the coming years, you're out of luck:

I understand where Hollis is coming from. Given the booze-soaked atmospheres created by some Michigan State tailgates, allowing beer sales throughout the stadium may seem like the equivalent of throwing napalm on a tire fire. While beer and wine are allowed for fans in the luxury boxes, most fans don't have that luxury. Hollis might want to take a second look at beer sales within the stadium. Here's why:

  • Other schools have shown a decrease in police incidents after the inclusion of alcohol sales throughout the stadium. After allowing beer to be sold inside Milan Puskar stadium, West Virginia reported a 64.5% drop in police incidents inside the stadium. It's not hard to figure out why - with beer available inside the stadium, fans probably feel less of a need for one last beer bong to maintain their buzz before heading to the gate.
  • Revenue! West Virginia also reported $520,000 in revenue from alcohol sales. Minnesota, another school that allows alcohol sales within its stadium, reported earning $900,000 in beer and wine sales, but that number comes with a catch - the Golden Gophers actually lost about $15,000 when expenses (extra staffing and such) were taken into account.
  • Treat the fans like the adults most of them are. While keeping Spartan Stadium "family friendly" is a valid concern, the students already chant "First Down, Bitch" without alcohol sales in the stadium.  1% of the fans will continue to cause problems.  Give the 99% a chance to enjoy the watered-down light beer of their preference.
While allowing beer and other alcohol inside Spartan Stadium may seem like it may exacerbate further incidents within the stadium, some of the numbers we have from other schools seem to contradict that position. At the very least, Mark Hollis should give it another look.