LSU AD Joe Alleva says beer sales will happen at Tiger Stadium in the future
LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said in March that alcohol sales at college stadiums “would enhance the fan experience” at football games, and now it appears that beer sales may be coming to Tiger Stadium down the line.
The SEC has rules against any of its members selling alcohol at athletic events, but Alleva said Monday that that policy could change in the future.
“As we talk about the fan experience, which is very important, I think there may come a day that we may sell beer at college events at LSU,” Alleva said, per USA Today. “I think at some point – I don’t know if it will be five years from now, 10 years from now – but I think at some point, I think it’s going to happen.”
SEC associate commissioner Herb Vincent told Al.com in March that the conference would review its alcohol policy for neutral site games and off-campus home games, but that the conference had no intentions to soften its stance when it pertains to alcohol sales in on-campus stadiums.
Alleva thinks that policy needs to be reviewed and studied.
“I just think it’s something that we have to study and look at in the future,” Alleva said. “You never say never. I think there’s a possibility that could happen.”
The SEC’s current alcohol policy says that “no alcoholic beverages shall be sold or dispensed for public consumption anywhere in the facility and the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the public areas of the facility shall be prohibited.”
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said in March that he backs the current rule, but would be open to discussion.
“Up to now, we like our rule,” Slive said. “I haven’t heard any concerted interest in changing our rule, but our people would like to talk about it. We’re institutions of higher education and alcohol on campuses has been an issue for a long while. I think this is an area where we want to walk slowly and carefully.”
Schools like Texas and West Virginia have permitted alcohol sales at on-campus sporting events in recent years and have reported no issues. Alleva pointed out that “police related incidents” at West Virginia actually went down after alcohol sales were allowed.
Other schools like Michigan have stated that their stadium will remain alcohol-free.
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