The Case for Beer Throughout Spartan Stadium

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

Mark Hollis not considering beer at Spartan Stadium. Has not looked at numbers, no interest.

— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) May 14, 2014

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.