Beer sales to expand throughout Kinnick? No chance, says UI president

AMES — One year after selling alcohol to patrons in Ohio Stadium's suite and club seats, Ohio State announced Wednesday it will sell beer throughout its spacious 104,944-seat facility this fall.

The Buckeyes become the third Big Ten program to sell beer stadium-wide at football games. Minnesota began tapping the league's kegs to all fans in 2012, while Maryland followed in 2015.

Selling alcohol in football stadiums is not foreign on college campuses. Of the Big Ten's 14 schools, only three (Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan) prohibit alcohol sales throughout their stadiums. Eleven schools sell it in premium areas, including Iowa. In 2006, Iowa began selling alcohol when its $89 million Kinnick Stadium renovation included luxury suites and club seating.

But most campuses — including Iowa — are reluctant to sell booze and beer outside of the high-donor areas. Count UI President Bruce Harreld among them.

In 2013, the University of Iowa received the dubious distinction as the nation's top party school by Princeton Review. In 2014 and 2015, Iowa ranked second. In a 2014 poll, The Gazette reported 54 percent of UI students downed five or more drinks in the previous two weeks. That was down from 70 percent five years earlier but still higher than the national average.

With alcohol and binge drinking remaining a major campus topic, sanctioning alcohol sales to students would send the wrong message, Harreld said.

'This is a campus that's trying to drive down binge drinking and we're really going to offer alcohol at our athletic events?' Harreld asked. 'Come on. No, it doesn't feel right. It's not a core value.'

The 10-team Big 12 has a similar ratio as the Big Ten with football stadium alcohol sales. In 2011, one year before it joined the Big 12, West Virginia allowed beer sales. Texas joined the party last year. Every other Big 12 school except Baylor sells alcohol in its premium seating.

Iowa State's $60 million, 40,000-square foot Sukup South End Zone club at Jack Trice Stadium was completed in late August. It features two levels of premium seating and operates two full-service bars. In that section, fans are allowed to bring alcoholic beverages to their seats. Alcohol is allowed in the stadium's traditional suites as well.

But with regard to expanding alcohol sales throughout Jack Trice Stadium, Iowa State President Steven Leath is taking a wait-and-see approach.

'I think what we've done with the Sukup End Zone club where members of that club can bring beverages back and forth is a great experiment for us, but we only have really one year of data,' Leath said. 'Let's see how things go in the future before we jump to any other conclusions.'

In a news release, Ohio State plans to use $300,000 from the alcohol proceeds to fund two year-round police officers not specifically designated for gameday security. The school also will earmark $50,000 to study alcohol consumption 'and its effects on event culture.'

The financial perks are mixed, however. The Star Tribune reported Minnesota lost about $15,000 after its first year of selling beer. Alcohol sales at Texas football games last year generated $1.8 million with about an $813,000 profit, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

But is the financial gain worth the cost at Iowa? Harreld says no.

'Do the math. How much money do you think we could make versus the risk?' Harreld asked. 'Campus safety is a big issue for us. I hear sometimes from some certain fans who believe that we should (sell alcohol throughout the stadium), and I ask them why. They always say the revenue and the money, and I kind of do the math in my head and I think relative to the risk involved for our community and everything else and the increased security forces and all the rest.'

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com