A committee of Penn State’s Board of Trustees on Thursday unanimously approved recommendation of a plan for the sale of alcohol in private spaces during university intercollegiate athletic (ICA) events and for general sales at non-ICA events in some venues.
The Committee on Legal and Compliance approved the recommendation and it will be put to a full vote of the Board of Trustees on Friday.
General public sales of alcohol during Penn State athletic events will not be permitted under the proposal.
Penn State already has licenses to serve alcohol at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park and at the Bryce Jordan Center for certain non-ICA events. General beer and wine sales have been permitted at the Jordan Center since a program was first piloted during a series of Garth Brooks concerts last year.
David Gray, senior vice president for finance and business, said Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board representatives monitored the sales at the Garth Brooks concerts.
‘They said it was the most tightly controlled public sale of alcohol in a concert venue they’ve ever seen,’ Gray said.
Allowing alcohol sales in suites and club areas at other venues during ICA events is a matter of ‘hospitality and driving value around the fanbase,’ Athletic Director Sandy Barbour said. But general sales at a limited number of non-ICA events provides an opportunity to bring major events to Beaver Stadium and Pegula Ice Arena.
Barbour gave as examples preseason NHL hockey games at Pegula, and an NHL Winter Classic game, NFL preseason game, concerts and international soccer match at Beaver Stadium.
In fact, Barbour confirmed, Penn State was in discussions about hosting an NHL Winter Classic game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers at Beaver Stadium. The prohibitive costs related to winterizing the stadium ultimately prevented it, but Barbour said it was made clear the game could not happen without permission for general alcohol sales.
‘The inability to serve would have been a non-starter,’ she said. ‘Unambiguously, without ability to serve beer and wine the event’s not coming.’
Barbour also added that 10 other Big Ten schools already sell alcohol in athletic venues, and Penn State’s implementation plan would be among the more conservative.
The plan, if approved, would allow for alcoholic beverage sales and service at the following venues:
Beaver Stadium
For ICA events, controlled sales would be allowed in the Mount Nittany Club and alcoholic beverages would be available for pre-order in private suites. For non-ICA events, controlled sale of beer and wine would be allowed at select events such as professional sports events or concerts.
Bryce Jordan Center
For ICA events, controlled sales would be allowed in club and private event space, and alcoholic beverages would be available for pre-order in private suites. For non-ICA events, continuing the structure of the current pilot program, controlled general beer and wine sales would be permitted during events such as concerts.
As with the current program at the Jordan Center, revenue from alcohol sales would be shared among ICA, Student Affairs and Auxiliary and Business Services.
Barbour said the sales at Beaver Stadium would likely occur when classes are not in regular session. Gray said a decision panel chaired by him and including representatives from Student Affairs and ICA would likely make the selections on which events alcohol could be served at.
Penn State President Eric Barron added that he has recommended revenues shared with Student Affairs be used for alcohol education and abuse prevention initiatives.
Two recent concerts at the Jordan Center — Bruce Springsteen and Luke Bryan — netted $40,000 for Student Affairs.
