UNT Says Beer Sales at Football Games Are Ongoing Discussion

[Harry]

University of North Texas leaders say they've long toyed with the idea of adding beer vendors to Apogee Stadium and other campus venues.

Like many college sports venues across the country, no alcohol is allowed in the Mean Green's football stadium.

But Athletic Director Rick Villarreal said it's been an ongoing discussion. He said he has watched closely as other venues tackle the topic.

"It's a trend that we've watched across country," he said. "We've seen that increasingly happen in stadium settings."

Villarreal said there are some real benefits to beer sales, such as new profits. But he also said beer sales could actually have a positive effect on safety.

Right now, tailgating and drinking is allowed in several parking lots around the stadium. While the activities are monitored by safety officials, the lack of alcohol inside can lead people to over-indulge before games, Villarreal said.

UNT specifically has a no-reentry policy at Apogee to keep people from coming and going to consume alcohol during games.

Read more: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/UNT-Says-Beer-Sales-at-Football-Games-Are-Ongoing-Discussion-225582072.html

[oldguystudent]

I just don't understand any of the debate. Practically everybody had access to the deck at Fouts, and you could go to your car, drink a beer, and reenter. Nobody ever said Fouts wasn't a family environment.

[UNTexas]

It's not a debate. People are going to drink no matter what. Why not make money off it?

[SilverEagle]

It's not a debate. People are going to drink no matter what. Why not make money off it?

....and if they are North Texas graduates, or students old enough to drink, they are (in the fine tradition of North Texas) going to drink as cheaply as possible.

[Christopher Walker]

Again, the holdup is a few over-zealous county officials...

[KRAM1]

Again, the holdup is a few over-zealous county officials...

Christopher, I think that situation is now getting worked out. Delayed the decision earlier, but I think that issue has been resolved and now it is just a "decision" process involving if, when, where and how.

Hopefully, those decisions will be made sooner than later and we will have beer sales at Apogee by next season. Pretty late to try to get it all done for this year, but stranger things have happened, right?

[ForneyGreen]

Again, the holdup is a few over-zealous county officials...

This needs to happen, and I have to think that it will. As was mentioned in another thread, live sporting events as a whole (including college football) are finding it harder to get folks to the event. Serving alcohol in Apogee to the non-club attendees would help attendance and bring additional revenue. The negatives are very few. We'll have an occasional spectator escorted out for being irresponsible, but that can be managed.

I don't think the general serving of alcohol would have a negative impact on club-level membership. No doubt that access to alcohol is a current benefit for club-level, but the folks I know that spend that kind of money today are just as interested in all of the other benefits (better seating, camaraderie with other Mean Green die-hards, great service, etc.). I'm working to convince the wife that we need club-level seating next year, and I would still seek club-level seating regardless of general alcohol sales/availability at Apogee.

[UNTexas]

Christopher, I think that situation is now getting worked out. Delayed the decision earlier, but I think that issue has been resolved and now it is just a "decision" process involving if, when, where and how.

Hopefully, those decisions will be made sooner than later and we will have beer sales at Apogee by next season. Pretty late to try to get it all done for this year, but stranger things have happened, right?

I think if they got approval today a beer distributor could have the vendors ready to serve beer tomorrow night. It's not exactly a shuttle launch. I would help move the kegs if it were Coors Light and not Mic Ultra or anything Budweiser. However, one can only dream...

[KRAM1]

I think if they got approval today a beer distributor could have the vendors ready to serve beer tomorrow night. It's not exactly a shuttle launch. I would help move the kegs if it were Coors Light and not Mic Ultra or anything Budweiser. However, one can only dream...

Agree...right there with you. But, having dealt with alcohol on campus for many events, I assure you that it is a tad more complicated and involved and takes way more effort and planning than it should. Just ask some of our craft beer friends how many hoops they have to jump through to get licensed to sell, and then what they have to do to actually sell the beer in various venues. At the Oktoberfest we just did, we had Armadillo Ale Works and Independent Ale on site along with other beers. Neither could actually sell their own beer or even pour it for folks wanting to buy it. They had to sell it to the person with the individual license for this specific event and then the person with the license had to pour the beer and collect the money. No one from Armadillo Ale Works or Independent Ale could touch the money or their own beer that night during the event. Nope, not rocket science, but sure can seem like a SNAFU at times, and much more complicated than the average guy on the outside can imagine. Even when we have had beer donated for events, we have to physically go and pick up the beer. The folks donating it cannot deliver it to us even though they have said they would be happy to do so...then a TABC licensed individual must be on hand to distribute and/or pour the free beer...that person must open the beer/wine and either hand the can or bottle to you or pour the beverage in a cup or glass and then hand it to you. Yep, even when it is given to you free and when you give it away it just "ain't that simple" if you are going to follow the rules. And, trust me...follow the rules...all of them...UNT will if and when it decides to sell beer at Apogee.

You are 100% correct! it is not a shuttle launch. Sometimes I think a shuttle launch would be easier than dealing with some of the rules for events on state property...and I have a bit of perspective as I was a nuclear missile launch officer while serving in the USAF. Ha!

Bring on beer sales at Apogee! Heck, bring on beer sales in the new Union once built and operating! What? Is that asking for too much?

[Christopher Walker]

Agree...right there with you. But, having dealt with alcohol on campus for many events, I assure you that it is a tad more complicated and involved and takes way more effort and planning than it should. Just ask some of our craft beer friends how many hoops they have to jump through to get licensed to sell, and then what they have to do to actually sell the beer in various venues. At the Oktoberfest we just did, we had Armadillo Ale Works and Independent Ale on site along with other beers. Neither could actually sell their own beer or even pour it for folks wanting to buy it. They had to sell it to the person with the individual license for this specific event and then the person with the license had to pour the beer and collect the money. No one from Armadillo Ale Works or Independent Ale could touch the money or their own beer that night during the event. Nope, not rocket science, but sure can seem like a SNAFU at times, and much more complicated than the average guy on the outside can imagine. Even when we have had beer donated for events, we have to physically go and pick up the beer. The folks donating it cannot deliver it to us even though they have said they would be happy to do so...then a TABC licensed individual must be on hand to distribute and/or pour the free beer...that person must open the beer/wine and either hand the can or bottle to you or pour the beverage in a cup or glass and then hand it to you. Yep, even when it is given to you free and when you give it away it just "ain't that simple" if you are going to follow the rules. And, trust me...follow the rules...all of them...UNT will if and when it decides to sell beer at Apogee.

You are 100% correct! it is not a shuttle launch. Sometimes I think a shuttle launch would be easier than dealing with some of the rules for events on state property...and I have a bit of perspective as I was a nuclear missile launch officer while serving in the USAF. Ha!

Bring on beer sales at Apogee! Heck, bring on beer sales in the new Union once built and operating! What? Is that asking for too much?

This situation will soon be a thing of the past due to the Texas Legislature revamping the relevant small brewery laws that have prohibited this stuff in the past (though, I'm betting Roy M. would still want to be the only entity handling the flow of booze and cash in these scenarios).

[UNT90]

I'm more interested in a "concert at Apogee" thread.

Remember that selling point?

Crickets.

[ragpicker]

Alumni side and visitors section only and promote the "A" Train. Check IDs diligently.

[JKvsHimself]

Pretty sure this hasn't been mentioned any yet, but the university has been sending out emails to students about their opinions of possible beer/wine sales within the new University Union.

Heres the email:

"Within the new University Union is the Syndicate. This multi-level entertainment venue houses the One O’Clock Lounge and Stage, multiple televisions, gaming stations, pool tables, and late night food options. It will provide an atmosphere that resembles a sports bar and music club in physical design and amenities. Students will be able to watch football games, sing karaoke, and listen to local artists and much more within this venue.

As part of this design, the University of North Texas is interested in your opinion about the potential of beer and wine being served within the Syndicate. It would be available to individuals, of the legal age to consume alcohol, after 5:00 p.m."

​It's interesting that this is in consideration at the same times as possible beer sales at Apogee.

Edited December 20, 2013 by JKvsHimself

[meangreener]

Pretty sure this hasn't been mentioned any yet, but the university has been sending out emails to students about their opinions of possible beer/wine sales within the new University Union.

Heres the email:

"Within the new University Union is the Syndicate. This multi-level entertainment venue houses the One OClock Lounge and Stage, multiple televisions, gaming stations, pool tables, and late night food options. It will provide an atmosphere that resembles a sports bar and music club in physical design and amenities. Students will be able to watch football games, sing karaoke, and listen to local artists and much more within this venue.

As part of this design, the University of North Texas is interested in your opinion about the potential of beer and wine being served within the Syndicate. It would be available to individuals, of the legal age to consume alcohol, after 5:00 p.m."

​It's interesting that this is in consideration at the same times as possible beer sales at Apogee.

If they have beer at the new Union, all those fees are totally worth it.

[LakeTravis]

I'm more interested in a "concert at Apogee" thread.

Remember that selling point?

Crickets.

What's the point of a concert without alcohol sales?

If you beer them, they will come...to rock

[JesseMartin]

Didn't the Rock Bottom have booze when it was open? I think it closed the year before I showed up, but they still had the sign and the locked entrance right outside the bookstore entrance for a while. I never paid attention to whether or not the Syndicate sold alcohol. Is Dom on here? If so I don't know your username but that's somebody who could answer that question, though he may not know if that was the case before he ran the joint. And of course there was wine at events held in the Eagle Suites; weren't there occasional cash bars as well? If so I never used them but I think there may have been.

My point is that there has been alcohol sold (or "distributed") in the Union before. Why not go back to doing that in the way they mentioned...if it's after 5, and there are events, then people are more likely to go to those events than to look elsewhere for entertainment (Fry Street, the Square, a friend's place...) and UNT will benefit from it...so everybody wins. Why limit the alcohol options to the fancy VIP-type events, and instead open it up for some revenue? I know the licensing requirements are different for the "private parties" which is what made it easier to have wine at the EESAT and Union and wherever they were held, but it seems to me that it would be worth the TABC and other costs involved to get this done.

[meangreener]

Didn't the Rock Bottom have booze when it was open? I think it closed the year before I showed up, but they still had the sign and the locked entrance right outside the bookstore entrance for a while. I never paid attention to whether or not the Syndicate sold alcohol. Is Dom on here? If so I don't know your username but that's somebody who could answer that question, though he may not know if that was the case before he ran the joint. And of course there was wine at events held in the Eagle Suites; weren't there occasional cash bars as well? If so I never used them but I think there may have been.

My point is that there has been alcohol sold (or "distributed") in the Union before. Why not go back to doing that in the way they mentioned...if it's after 5, and there are events, then people are more likely to go to those events than to look elsewhere for entertainment (Fry Street, the Square, a friend's place...) and UNT will benefit from it...so everybody wins. Why limit the alcohol options to the fancy VIP-type events, and instead open it up for some revenue? I know the licensing requirements are different for the "private parties" which is what made it easier to have wine at the EESAT and Union and wherever they were held, but it seems to me that it would be worth the TABC and other costs involved to get this done.

Yes, Rock Bottom had alcohol.

[NM Green]

Bring on the alcohol and see the attendance rise.

It is funny how when you make something less taboo adult decisions seem to follow. Give me choice give me control over my situation.

Living in Vegas for 6 years I loved having alcohol served 24 hours a day. Contrary to what most believe, me and all my friends did not live in casinos and binge drink 24/7/365. However, if I wanted a nightcap at 5:00am is was fantastic having that option and it sure kept us from the 1:59am binge.

GMG