Imagine sitting at an Arizona or Arizona State football game and suddenly hearing the public-address announcer bark, Last call!
Crazy? Maybe not.
Several Arizona representatives have proposed a bill that would open the door to selling beer and wine to the general public at state university sporting events.
My gut reaction was never as I envisioned stadium students sections turning into a raucous gathering of depravity accompanied by an Otis Day and the Knights soundtrack.
And then I remembered they were like that anyway.
Anyone who has been to a football game knows how many undergraduates leave at halftime, go to their dorm room or a tailgate party to drink and then come back, said Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, one of three sponsors of House Bill 2785.
West Virginia University, which began selling beer at home games in September, is making a strong case for taking this bill seriously.
First, some background.
Like most universities, beer and wine already are available in restricted areas of suites at Arizona and Arizona State football games. Additionally, beer will be sold at Wildcats baseball games this season, an opportunity that opened with the teams move to Hi Corbett field.
Twenty major universities, twice the amount from a decade ago, sold beer to non-suite fans at their football stadiums this past season, according to a survey done by the Des Moines Register.
The Arizona bill was introduced by Ableser, Rep. Tom Chabin, D-Flagstaff, and Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, who each represent districts housing one of the states three major universities. The bill would merely create a pilot program to test the issue under the watch of the Arizona Board of Regents and in consultation with the department of liquor licenses and control. Proceeds would benefit the schools athletic departments.
Ive done a ton of work trying to better my community and specifically ASU, said Ableser, who has undergraduate and masters degrees from ASU and is working on his doctorate. The reality is we dont have the T. Boone Pickens and Phil Knights of the world. We dont have huge (fundraising) foundations.
Financier Pickens and Nike co-founder Knight are deep-pocket boosters for Oklahoma State and Oregon, respectively.
The financial struggles of public universities have left many searching for other revenue streams.
That was part of West Virginias motivation, too.
Nothing in my mind sees anything wrong with beer sales, Mountaineers Athletic Director Oliver Luck said. But each situation is unique and has to be treated that way.
The Mountaineers served beer for the first time at their seven home games in 2011. Along with the decision came a very specific set of rules
Sales would be suspended early in the third quarter. Fans no longer would be able to leave the stadium once they entered. The university found that many people who left the facility would drink while they were away.
ASU allows fans to leave and return during games with a hand stamp. Arizona does not.
Representatives from both schools say their policy is not to comment on proposed bills.
The beer sales at West Virginia had an interesting result. Incidents related to alcohol consumption decreased 25 to 35 percent, Luck said. The tighter controlled environment, beefed-up security and a new exit policy made for a healthier atmosphere.
And the athletic department netted about $750,000 from its cut of sales and additional beer sponsorships.
Make no mistake. Luck, who is the father of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, did his homework. He is a Rhodes Scholar finalist, a lawyer, a former NFL player and a well-regarded executive who was determined to consider every angle.
He has received calls from other athletic directors asking about the Mountaineers experience. His reviews are favorable, but he reminds them that each university and community is unique.
What will become of the proposed Arizona bill? Political observers say the outlook isnt good because three democrats are sponsoring it.
At the very least, it could spark conversation. In these times of economic hardship at the public-school level, its a good start.
Reach Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/PaolaBoivin.
