I’ll say it for the record: beer sales in Sanford Stadium are a matter of when, not if.
Why am I so confident of that? Because Greg McGarity just got cover from his mentor.
As the alcohol trend in college football continues to grow, Florida is the latest to jump on that revenue train.
In a press release Wednesday, the university announced that it will begin selling beer and wine at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium beginning with the 2016 football season. The catch, though, is that the sale of alcohol will be limited to the premium seating areas of the stadium, specifically the Holloway Touchdown Terrace and Evans Champions Club. The O’Connell Center, the home of the basketball Gators, will also offer alcohol to its premium seat holders.
The school made sure to note in its release that the decision to allow alcohol inside its sports venues is exactly plowing new territory.
Beer and wine sales are commonplace on campuses across the country, including at softball and baseball NCAA Championships. At least 34 schools sell beer at football games, including at least 14 that limit the sale to luxury suites and/or club areas. UF football suite holders have been able to stock alcohol in their suites for several years.
Yeah, they’re keeping it from the hoi polloi at the start. That won’t last, though, ’cause the great unwashed are where the money’s at.
In any event, stay thirsty, Dawgnation. Beer is coming.
Get The Picture 
Good – longer lines for concessions….and the restrooms
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I predict beer sales at Sanford will go smoother than the other concessions. It wiil be set up at separate kiosks and definitely not staffed by some kid from the Madison County 4-H club.
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Beer sales at Sanford will make no difference to me at all. I drink enough before the games, I use game time to sober up for the ride home.
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Seconded.
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3rd
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McGarity will pick the cheapest most tasteless beer and mark it up double the cost. Think Natty lite.
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Hey! Natty Bo can be good when you’re already hot and drunk.
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What’s the real consensus around here? I’m not a teetotaler by any means, but getting drunk when it’s 100 degrees outside and I’m surrounded by 100,000 people really isn’t my bag. If it’s yours, that’s great. Just don’t talk shit to me and my friends when you go by (as tends to happen).
What’s going to happen at all these schools when they allow both alcohol sales AND open-carry of firearms? You think people will stop coming because they can watch the game in 4K, air conditioning, and clean bathrooms?
Hell, no. People will stop coming because they don’t want to get their asses shot by a drunk ass fan who’s made that Bobo won’t run the damn ball.
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Not allowed to carry at public events and gatherings…that would be interesting, though…It would keep rival coaches from running up a score for spite..Once, the Bear had to don a helmet at Grant Field because those classy Nerds were throwing bottles at the ‘Bama bench..and they also threw fish at the Notre Dame bench…So, no…we don’t need to mix guns and booze (as if plenty of alcohol isn’t already consumed at the games anyhow).
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Georgians have been able to carry guns in bars and nightclubs, where the focus is much more on alcohol than at a sporting event, since 2014. The sky hasn’t fallen yet.
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I am absolutely not against beer. Love it, but not really at a football game. Goes ok with baseball I guess.
That being said, once this happens do we have permission to “officially” refer to that game at that “neutral” stadium, the WLOCP again?
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“That being said, once this happens do we have permission to “officially” refer to that game at that “neutral” stadium, the WLOCP again?”
Post of the day!
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I agree–I am usually more interested in the game I paid to see than I am getting drunk. Drinking goes better with baseball because baseball is boring as shit–and I won’t pay for tickets to see the Braves. Ever.
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You know, it’s possible to drink a beer while watching a football game and not get shit-faced. I know, ’cause I’ve done it. 😉
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I usually go with my kids anyhow–I may have a beer tops when they are around. Baseball is another story–need a solid buzz to make it through.
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And that one beer probably won’t be whatever shit beer will give McGarrity the biggest discount.
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While all of this cheap beer talk is probably true, that would be a damn shame given the quality of the local brews in Athens.
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If Terrapin Liquid Bliss is available at the concession stand, I guess I can forgive a few earsplitting renditions of “Turn Down For What.”
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Most people don’t drink just to get DRUNK…most people.
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There is no way I was watching our offense the second half of last year without drinking.
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LOL! You win the thread.
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I question how big the demand for beer will be by the unwashed masses. I am still going to bring bourbon and suspect many others will do the same. I am sure the cost will be sky high as it is in every other stadium. However, logistically I imagine they will sell the beer out of a separate concession, which will be staffed by professionals meaning if you get a beer instead of a coke you may not miss a quarter of the game.
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Judging from the financials other schools have published about beer sales, I think you can safely assume we masses are a thirsty bunch.
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Yeah, they barely go through a single keg at the average NFL game.
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And they shut down sales at halftime or some shit…
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As long as I don’t have to pass it down the aisle to the drunk next to me.
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you won’t need to pass it to me, I’ll buy as many as I can tote during warm ups and pass out by the half
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The Bull Malt Liquor!
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When is this going to happen?
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Hopefully never…I would think our fans would prefer a nice BOURBON.
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LOL. Wasn’t that long ago you couldn’t find places that carried much better than JD. This new world of significantly better choices is great, ..quite a surge by bourbon distillers, and not just spiking in the US either. Thought they were dead 25-30 years ago, now they are killing it.
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Yup – the Brooklyn hipsters and Europe have surged demand for the stuff the last few years. As a side note – screw the Brooklyn hipsters with their overpriced BBQ (if you make a quality pulled pork sandwich, you can sell it for $20 in Brooklyn) and recently acquired penchant for bourbon. Southerners already out-hipstered them on that front as we were into that long before they’d ever been born.
Good for the bourbon distillers; not good for us when shortages occur and prices spike or brands like Maker’s Mark decide to dilute their formula with more water to meet that demand.
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Their new offering, Makers 46 is pretty pleasant, and decently priced. But I expect the same to happen to high end bourbons as happened to single malt scotches when the patrons of the cigar bars in the 90s made distillers think they could charge anything they liked and feel no pain.
Speaking of $20 BBQ, I was charged $25 last week for a pound and a half of pulled pork, including tax. Wasn’t that long ago it was around $8-9 a pound, then it quickly hit $12.50 lb. last year, now it seems we are at $15. I will have to admit though, it was damned good. Since my bone-in rib-eyes are approaching that range, when not on sale, I suppose it is the price of poker these days.
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Went to Kentucky last weekend for a guys bourbon trail trip. R & R van drove us to distilleries on Friday and Saturday. Tried the Makers Mark 46 for the first time along side the original. Both are good, but still prefer the original. Also visited Bulliet, Buffalo Trace, Willett, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, and Limestone Branch. Mighty fine trip. Everyone was talking about the bourbon crash a few years back and how now you can’t make enough now.
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Bulliet Rye is good stuff. Been on a Rye kick lately.
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Sounds like a fun trip. With all the choices and varieties of flavors, it is like wine, everyone has different favorites. No right or wrong, just preferences. I like that because it spreads the demand and doesn’t accelerate the price so much on a few offerings. Tried all but a couple of those on your list, usually keep 4-5 “regulars” on hand and experiment with one new one most trips to the liquor store.
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$$$
Get that Tennessee swill outta here!
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That ain’t bourbon.
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Never understood why Athletic Director Leeburn never demanded alcohol sales at the game before this.
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Great news! Beer being spilled all around. F-bombs galore. Fights breaking out. The penetrating odor of barf and fried chicken. And wondering if I’ll meet up on the highway with the group staggering out arm-in-arm, singing “Howdja, howdja, howdja like to bite my ass.”.
Reminds me of the bourbon-sloshed Sixties. Welcome back.
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Do you usually watch games in Sanford without hearing F-bombs? The only spot I’ve been free from cursing was in a sky box. The South sideline stands have been full of ne’er-do-wells cursing for at least the last 20 years.
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I know last year that Georgia Southern had BEER available to the premium tickets/seats. Wouldn’t surprise me if they went whole hog soon.
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Then will they be allowed to sell their jersey?
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Couple of things….people acting like we are ALL OF A SUDDEN going to have to deal with drunk people in the stands must not have gone to many games. Not to mention the fact that, as the good Senator points out above, just because you’re drinking a beer doesn’t mean you’re about to be sh*t faced.
And lastly….Creature Comforts and Terrapin on tap? I’m in.
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Those are the seats you have to take an elevator to, right? There are enough drunk fans at the game now. I have already been made to smell like a liquor store by people sneaking alcohol in Now I get the joy of having beer spilled on me as they go up and down the stairs or squeeze by me in the aisle. Yuck!! I hope they let them have a top for their cup.
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maybe beer sells will cut down on the harder bootleg alcohol.
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It’s all about the kids………………………
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Only the most seriously stupid will pay enough to get wasted. Stadium beer is crazy priced. Get the sucker money.
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Bad idea in my opinion….but I can see where the $$ will trump all concerns.
Not totally opposed to only having in the premium areas. I hear that they are looking at renovating club level to be more of an NFL experience. It may have a place there. Skybox already has access to alcohol. It will only work with the unwashed masses if they are tight on cutting off those that are over served.
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Beer sure bring a lot of hits, LOL.
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Fire ADGM for a prohibition aimed at the masses.
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This would never happen under Il Duce’s regime.
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