By Mary Mogan Edwards, The Columbus Dispatch, and staff
COLUMBUS – Starting this summer, you can get beer anywhere you want in Ohio Stadium, but you can’t bring in large bags.
Beer will be sold stadium-wide at Buckeye football games next season and for that, thirsty fans can thank the good behavior of last year’s drinkers and the efficiency of concession workers.
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“The pilot went incredibly well,” said Jack Minor, chairman of the Ohio State University Athletic Council’s facilities and finance committee. He was talking about the trial program last fall that made beer available at football games only in the club and suite levels.
Officials wanted to be sure about two things: that having alcohol available wouldn’t lead to increased problems with safety or fan behavior, and that it wouldn’t jam up lines at concession stands. Minor said it did neither, even though servers are instructed to check IDs for every beer purchaser, every time.
Like last year, the stadium will continue to sell beer case by case at some concerts and other events, including the Buckeye Country Superfest on June 18 and 19.
Last year’s limited beer sales brought in about $35,000, said Jenn Sutherland, a spokeswoman for Levy Restaurants, which handles concessions at the stadium.
The university has plans for the coming season’s beer money. They’re earmarking $300,000 to pay for two new full-time, year-round police-officer positions for the university police department, as well as $50,000 for research into how the presence of alcohol affects campus events and how to prevent problems. Sutherland said Levy is confident the expanded sales will cover those commitments.
Also commencing with the concert and the International Champions Cup soccer game July 27, bags larger than 5x8x1 inches will be banned from the ‘Shoe as the university implements a “no bag” policy.
Officials say guests with medical or childcare needs will be permitted to carry one bag, no larger than 14x14x14-inches, into the stadium through the Band Center entrance between Gates 10 and 12 or the Press Entrance between the Huntington Club and Gate 23.