Written by: Nicholas Nussen
A decision by the Board of Trustees has ensured that the debut of football head coach Terry Bowden will not be the only kind of buzz surrounding this year’s kickoff.
According to a news article on the University’s website, the board acquiesced to the wishes of football fans and to the 11-0-1 vote passed in favor of beer sales by the Undergraduate Student Government in November 2011. They voted in May 2012 to allow the sale of beer in the main seating area of InfoCision Stadium.
UA Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill said in the article that the decision was made in response to feedback from season ticket-holders and the student body. He believes beer sales will enhance the spectators’ experience and attract new fans.
According to the UA online newsroom, the new alcohol policy was adopted after the University reviewed similar policies at NCAA Division I universities, including Kent State University, Bowling Green State University and the University of Cincinnati.
Many UA students welcome the change.
Senior education major Brandon Hartman thinks it will “bring a more excited and energized crowd to the games.”
AK-ROWDIES member Brandon Crites initially worried that students would drink too much and cause problems.
After reviewing the safety policies, however, Crites said, “Akron is doing all it can to promote safe, legal drinking in a controlled setting.”
Others doubt that the new policy will attract a significant number of students to games.
Senior biology major Ben Pollock said, “Kids just drink before the games as much as they can, and as cheap as they can, so I doubt this is a big selling point to get more students there; however, I’m sure there will still be a handful of students buying drinks at games, so I’m sure it can’t hurt.”
Spectators who wish to purchase beer will be required to show wristbands and IDs to concessionaire employees, all of whom will have completed an alcohol training class. There will be a maximum of two beers sold per transaction, and beer sales will conclude at the end of the third quarter.
An alcohol-free section will be established, and responsible drinking and safe driving will be promoted.
The complete list of policies can be found in the newsroom on the University of Akron webpage.
