MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents has approved the sale of alcohol in luxury suites and clubrooms at the university's new on-campus football stadium.
The decision by a split board on Friday also allows limited alcohol sales at Mariucci Arena and Williams Arena, where the university's hockey and basketball teams play.
Longtime Regent David Metzen made a lengthy address arguing that keeping the suites alcohol-free would make them harder to sell. "We are in a very, very competitive market," Metzen said, listing the other sports teams in the area.
Two Regents voted against it. Regent Anthony Baraga wanted an alcohol-free stadium. "We could be the poster child," he said.
Regent John Frobenius objected because the policy discriminates based on ticket price.
Earlier this week, a group of Twin Cities area physicians' asked the Regents to delay Friday's vote because, they said, selling alcohol on campus sent the wrong message.
The proposal to sell alcohol at the sports venues had the support of university President Robert Bruininks.
Students who are 21 years old can now buy beer at football games because they're held off-campus at the Metrodome. No other Big 10 school allows drinking in its general seating.
However, several Big 10 schools do allow alcohol sales in their upscale areas, including the University of Wisconsin, Michigan State and the University of Iowa.
The University of Michigan, on the other hand, bans alcohol everywhere.
Fans are also already allowed to drink in clubroom seating within Mariucci Arena and Williams Arena, both on campus. University spokesman Daniel Wolter said there alcohol "can be served, but not sold."
Those rules mean there are open bars in the arenas, so experts say the rules approved Friday that force fans to pay for each drink will probably reduce the amount of alcohol consumed.
That was why many regents voted for the proposal. "We have more control with this resolution than we do without it," Regent Steven Hunter said.
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U Of M OKs Limited Alcohol Sales At Sports Events
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Published: December 13, 2008
Published: December 13, 2008
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