Along with the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (probably), it appears that one of the largest sporting venues in the world will remain alcohol-free as well.
Amid the push by some schools across the country to serve alcohol in stadiums during football games, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon told AnnArbor.com Monday that his institution has no intention of joining the growing trend. Brandon pointed to the liability issue as well as all of the headaches such a move would bring.
“You’ve got to set up places to vendor this stuff and you’ve got to make sure you’re selling it to the right people, not the wrong people,” Brandon said, “and then you’ve got to deal with all the ramifications of alcohol being served in an area where you’ve got a lot of young people and a lot of underage people.
“Sometimes people lose track of the fact that we have to organize and manage 110,000 to 115,000 people all in one tight space, and get them in there and out of there safely. I don’t think serving alcohol is going to make that job any easier.”
Both Minnesota and West Virginia have sold alcohol at football games the past couple of years, and reportedly have seen a decrease in alcohol-related incidents inside their respective stadiums. Many other stadiums, including some in the Big Ten, allow alcohol sales to those in premium seating areas.
UM does not serve any alcohol inside of the Big House, including those in luxury boxes.
Last week, it was reported that, despite the growing demand and pressure from fans, it’s “highly unlikely” alcohol will be served inside the stadium for the annual Florida-Georgia game. The SEC is expected to take up the alcohol issue at its annual spring meetings.