Fans might have the chance to buy alcohol at Kroger Field next season. (Photo by Vicky Graff)
No one at the University of Kentucky — or at least no one that I have heard — is saying beer sales at Saturday night’s Chris Stapleton concert at Kroger Field was a trial run for beer/alcohol sales at UK football games this season.
One UK official even told me the beer sales were part of the agreement to be able to host the concert or it would not have taken place.
However, two people I know who worked selling beer at the concert and at other venues for the same company certainly were under the impression it was a trial run.
Draft beer sold from $9 to $13 depending on your choice of beer from what I was told.
“Kroger Field is not set up to have beer sales, so this was the trial run for football,” one person working the event told me. “Alcohol compliance people were everywhere. We had to card everybody and some older folks loved getting carded but some were not happy and said something like, ‘I am 52. Why card me?’ But everybody got carded.”
Even with no wine or alcohol sales, one person said he heard a number that there was over $1 million in gross beer sales.
“The beer was flowing,” one worker said. “Regular concession stands were still there just like they are at football games with non-profits (organizations) working them. But there were beer stations everywhere and it was like being at other concerts or professional sports events I have worked at.”
8 Responses
I’ll say this. I have partaken In pre game festivities and while games have been played. I’m no angel or prude.. The way people conduct themselves at sporting events is really going down the tubes. Great for revenue but people ruin things. I waited 40 something years to go see my favorite pro team in the nfl several years ago and will never go back.. People just get to drunk.
Some do indeed Grant but some do that even without alcohol being sold
That’s true Larry. Some come in already over served..
I’ve worked for Uk athletics for five years now and I worked my first concert every and I think the alcohol sales was definitely a huge success. Yes people got intoxicated but I didn’t witness any physical fights but saw several emergency going thru the stadium. It would boost the attendance and as well make extra funds for the university. It’s no different for them to get wasted during tailgate why not let them enjoy a cold beverage inside.
Thanks for the perspective/information. I am with you. I think alcohol sales are coming. Sold at most entertainment venues and you can’t fix stupid if people get out of control. Just hoping UK will have security to deal with it
I hope not, I am not for it! That said, it will probably happen because of greed. If it does happen, there will be drunks to deal with inside the stadium as the beer will flow like a river. That could create incidents, accidents, and maybe some that cost a life. What an era we live in.
I am in favor of it. The coming season will be our 25th and we’ve seen as much beer/whiskey in the stands without sales as we will ever see with sales. You might accidentally see less alcohol in the parking lots if there were legal sales. I’ll also throw in the usual punch that we shouldn’t have to shell out $50K (Or whatever exorbitant price it is.) for a luxury box to enjoy a beer. I do think there have to be some restrictions such as no sales after halftime/3rd quarter and carding is an ABSOLUTE must.
I’ve been to several concerts, pro and college games that had served alcohol never have witness any incidents or loud mouth. It’s not like half of the attendance is involved when incidents happen it can be control by security with small amount that’s involved. I don’t see any wrong of serving Alcohol at UK games. I know this will be a hot topic that will be do’s and not’s.