Division I council approves alcohol sales at NCAA championship events
The Division I Council voted Wednesday to approve the sale of alcoholic beverages at all Division I NCAA championship events, a decision that will be finalized when the board meeting closes April 25, per USA Today.
This move comes after two years of the NCAA using the College World Series and Women’s College World Series as “pilot programs” for alcohol sales. According to the “Omaha World Herald,” sales went much better than expected: “During the 2016 series, about 430 alcoholic drinks were sold per 1,000 fans…Draft beer made up about 62 percent of those sales, 36 percent canned beer and 2 percent wine.”
TD Ameritrade Park had 10 fixed concession stands — eight on the main concourse and two in the upper levels — that served alcohol, and fans were allowed to order two drinks at a time.
The pilot program also allowed alcohol sales at the FCS national championship game and all three divisions of collegiate wrestling championships, men’s ice hockey championships, men’s lacrosse championships and women’s volleyball championships. Alcohol service is already allowed at the College Football Playoff games and New Year’s Six bowls.
The sale of alcohol at championship events wasn’t the only change introduced. Under the new rules, recruits who don’t play football or basketball will be able to take official visits starting Sept. 1 of their junior year of high school, rather than having to wait until the first day of their senior year.
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