OT: Beer

[ricohill]

https://fightingillini.com/news/2019/4/1/general-illinois-to-offer-public-beer-sales-at-many-athletics-events.aspx

Illini to sell beer at Football and Basketball games.

"We are continually looking for ways to improve fan engagement and augment our in-game fan experience," said UI Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. "The opportunity to purchase beer at our events was the number one request in a postseason survey of our football ticket holders. Fans indicated beer sales would encourage their use of purchased tickets and would increase the length of time they stayed in the stands. Schools with public beer sales generally see fewer alcohol-related issues. We have spoken with several peer institutions offering beer to ensure we are following best practices for implementing this change. We have studied the issue extensively and, with the collaboration and support of our colleagues in various offices across campus, we feel now is the right time to add this new element to our game-day experience."


We usually follow the lead of Illinois and wonder if this pushes ISU in the right direction to sell beer at games.

 

[gobirds85]

Low hanging fruit. I cannot believe no one jumped on this. OK, here it goes..."we have to be drunk to watch illinoy football, they suck."

 

[DWRedbird]

Say what you will about the Illini but selling beer at redbird and Hancock would increase attendance of casual fans, and turn it into something folks who dont have a rooting interest in the birds would want to attend.

 

[birdlife]

Say what you will about the Illini but selling beer at redbird and Hancock would increase attendance of casual fans, and turn it into something folks who dont have a rooting interest in the birds would want to attend.

100% agree

 

[HT59]

Say what you will about the Illini but selling beer at redbird and Hancock would increase attendance of casual fans, and turn it into something folks who dont have a rooting interest in the birds would want to attend.

100% agree

:text-+1:

 

[isuquinndog]

Maybe you guys are right, but I have a hard time believing that $7 beers will make our attendance jump from 4-5k a game to 7-8k a game if every thing else is even. I just don't think there are thousands of "fans" or people out there that thinks "man, I'd go to that ISU game tonight, but no beer so guess not"

 

[gobirds85]

Since I don't drink beer it's hard for me to say, but I have to believe quinny has a point. For me, it's about the product on the field or the court. Winning cures all.

 

[DWRedbird]

Maybe you guys are right, but I have a hard time believing that $7 beers will make our attendance jump from 4-5k a game to 7-8k a game if every thing else is even. I just don't think there are thousands of "fans" or people out there that thinks "man, I'd go to that ISU game tonight, but no beer so guess not"

It's not so much that people aren't going to games because they can't get a beer, its more that it becomes an option for more people for something to do in town. If they start selling beer you start pulling in people who want to grab a beer with their friends for the weekend night, but don't want to fight the crowds down town, or those that like to have something to watch while they drink. It's then possible to have folks want to return if they have a good time and ISU wins, or possibly to sit and drink with their friends.

Since I don't drink beer it's hard for me to say, but I have to believe quinny has a point. For me, it's about the product on the field or the court. Winning cures all.

Those of us who are on the board don't count. Most of us would attend games whether or not they served beer. But, Blo/No is rife with casual fans who don't have real ties to ISU. Would winning bring in most, absolutely, but throwing beer out there to grease the wheels certainly wouldn't hurt.

 

[TIMMY]

They sell beer at the corn cob and whatever that hockey thing in Bloomington is called. How's their attendance?

But if it gets folks in earlier, keeps them in a little longer, slightly increases revenue and brings in a few newbies great.

Atmosphere and winning are the only things that will have a significant impact on attendance.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

When I was a young professional out of college I was definitely more likely to attend events that served beer. It would also have been a lot easier to get friends to go as well.

 

[Birdman85]

Selling alcohol is such an obvious gain. You that think it isn’t live in a bubble and simply don’t get it. Minor league sports struggle all over the country because they are minor league! People invest in college sports and you know who really invests in college sports? Businesses! So much more likely to buy season ticket to something if they know they can entertain clients or whom ever over a drink. Forward thinking is a hell of a concept.

 

[JHBird]

In the legends room they sell beer. I've been to a couple events up in the Hancock club level and they have a bar there that sells beer. So it's not like they are morally against it. Why not make it available to everybody and not just the big donors? If somebody gets too drunk then just escort them out.

 

[isuquinndog]

Quote from Illini website (I feel dirty now):

A portion of revenues generated by the increased sales will help pay for additional police officers and other additional security measures at home football games.

Think we can sell enough to offset the cost of hiring more security? Because they will need more security. I don't even see security at basketball games besides the red coats.

 

[Phantom]

It might not instantly skyrocket attendance, but it can't really hurt either. The biggest things that will always draw fans are winning and buzz (no pun intended) and if you have both, then people will show up.

Plus, it's another revenue stream. Even after the overhead, it should still bring in some cash. Will it be a windfall? Probably not, but it should be a cumulative gain. Lastly, as long as people stay under control, it can help the atmosphere. Let's face it, people are louder and more energized when properly fueled up. If sustaining a pregame buzz helps keep the whole game get & stay loud, I'm all for it.

 

[RBFANTOO]

In the legends room they sell beer. I've been to a couple events up in the Hancock club level and they have a bar there that sells beer. So it's not like they are morally against it. Why not make it available to everybody and not just the big donors? If somebody gets too drunk then just escort them out.

Hard to argue with your logic. :text-+1:

 

[ricohill]

I would guess the two issues that are stopping them from doing it are hiring people to sell it/monitor id's and losing donors that would have no reason to go to the Redbird/Legends rooms and Club Seats at football (the advantage club seats have is being able to be indoors).

I think right now most of the concession workers are volunteers from local groups. You would have to hire someone to check id's and work beer stands (I would assume it won't be sold at regular concession stands). So I believe they are worried about the staffing it would take for that (heard this from an admin).

The second part is just a theory. Because why in the world would you donate to go to the Redbirds/Legends rooms if you can buy beer everywhere in the arena? Now, if you go in those rooms it is just cheap beer and average to below average food.

Illinois is smart because they are selling cheap beer to regular fans and having premium food and drink options for premium areas. ISU is adding "premium seating" around the concourse or Redbird Arena and I would imagine it will be hard to sell those to begin with, let alone if everyone can buy beer. I would guess the selling point to the new "premium seating" is that you will get beer.

I look at it this way, what would attendance be at minor league sporting events if they didn't sell beer? Can't imagine many would go. I think there are only positives to selling it at the Arena and Hancock. It would probably attract a younger more energetic crowd to Redbird, which is something they desperately need.

 

[SgtHulka]

Quote from Illini website (I feel dirty now):

A portion of revenues generated by the increased sales will help pay for additional police officers and other additional security measures at home football games.

Think we can sell enough to offset the cost of hiring more security? Because they will need more security. I don't even see security at basketball games besides the red coats.

There's always at least one ISU police officer at the arena. Add another, or maybe book a couple of off duty guys for a couple hundred a game. 10 beers would cover the cost of that. :dance:

 

[cubird]

Out of town season ticket holder that barely gets to my seat at game time. Would love to have a cold frosty one by half time.

 

[stats]

I think one of the markets we want to bring in is students. This might bring in a few more of the 21 and 22 year olds, unless it is too expensive or not the kind of beer that college students drink today. I'm not saying I'm old, but we would buy a 6 pack of Bush to start, then drink Blatz or Wiedemanns the rest of the night. It was the economical thing to do.

 

[gobirds85]

I think one of the markets we want to bring in is students. This might bring in a few more of the 21 and 22 year olds, unless it is too expensive or not the kind of beer that college students drink today. I'm not saying I'm old, but we would buy a 6 pack of Bush to start, then drink Blatz or Wiedemanns the rest of the night. It was the economical thing to do.

Solid move here. We always bought something better at first. After a few you couldn't tell the difference between a decent beer and a crappy one. Anyone remember the Wisconsin beer that came in bottles, a case was $4.00 on sale, maybe Buckhorn? Nasty, nasty beer. Sometimes the top of the bottle would break off when you would open it so we had a strainer and a bucket. We would strain the beer so as to remove the glass shards. No way in heck, were we going to throw away beer, even this crap.