Iowa State will sell alcohol for football games at Jack Trice Stadium and basketball games at Hilton Coliseum starting in the upcoming school year, athletics director Jamie Pollard announced in a letter to fans on June 22.
Guests in attendance must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic drinks and must provide sufficient identification at the time of purchase. Fans will be limited to purchasing two alcoholic beverages per sale transaction.
Beer, wine and pre-packaged, ready-to-drink cocktails will be offered at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum.
Fans will no longer be allowed to leave and re-enter Jack Trice Stadium at any point of the game.
Current fan alcohol policies at the Jack Trice Club, Sukup Endzone Club, suites, Johnny’s, Champion’s Club and other hospitality areas remain unchanged.
Alcohol will be available for purchase in the north and south expanded gate areas, and the north and south concourses. They will not be sold at the permanent concession stands located on the east and west concourses to prevent fan congestion. However, there will be a limited number of portable concession locations on the east and west concourses.
No in-seat vendors will sell alcohol. For football games, alcohol will not be permitted on the grass hillsides, the junior Cyclone Club areas. There will be designated stop times for the sale of alcohol during games.
According to Pollard, a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of all alcoholic beverages will support alcohol education, student wellness programming, and public safety enhancements.
“University athletic departments across the country are facing uncertainty and significant financial pressures from rapidly increasing costs,” Pollard stated. “Iowa State is not immune to the challenges or to the financial strain. Over the past year, we have worked closely with university leadership to identify new cost containment measures and increased revenue streams through ticket sales and donations, sponsorship and licensing, and new opportunities to host events in our athletic facilities (concerts, state high school championships, etc.).
“Additionally, we have studied and analyzed the prospect of alcohol sales at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum during athletic events. Many of our peers have successfully taken this step. We are confident that we can initiate the sale of alcohol throughout our facilities and ensure a positive and safe environment for all of our guests.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State to begin selling alcohol at football, basketball games
Reporting by Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
