How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

[D2D]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Of course, the most obnoxious drunk, screaming and whistling during his team's game, just happened to be seated behind us in the club level. Can you guess what school he was cheering for?

Need a hint. Was he wearing a cheesehead by any chance?

[scoreboard]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

We were at the Fan Fest for the semis waiting in line for a beer in the freezing cold when a guy went up on stage and said he had a historic FF announcement to make. He said "beer and wine will be sold throughout the arena for the first time ever". We promptly got out of the line went into the arena and got a craft beer in a warm environment. Beer had only previously been available in suites at the FF. Of course, the most obnoxious drunk, screaming and whistling during his team's game, just happened to be seated behind us in the club level. Can you guess what school he was cheering for?

[walrus655321]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Try re-reading the bold:

Was the 2018 Frozen Four part of next season?

[Split-N]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

...And with the exorbitant prices at the Garden, you better come with a lot of money if you want to get drunked-up.

Can't argue with that!

[Slap Shot]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Because Minnesota is the State of Hockey, natch.

[CLS]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

They sell alcohol at the Beanpot and Hockey East.

Agree. I was responding to the post that noted that they sold beer at the HE tournament. The alcohol prohibition applies/applied to NCAA sponsored tournaments, not necessarily to tournaments sponsored by non-NCAA entities that had NCAA participants.

... Unless you're way out in the hinterlands, there are almost always a few watering holes within easy reach of the arenas to quench your pre- and post-game thirsts, and I'm frankly not crazy about hordes of immature college kids (I used to be one) getting drunked-up and killing the legitimate fun.

I used to feel that way about the college kids, but I don't any more. For one thing, as you point out there are generally places to drink pre-game. The crowd at both the regionals and more so the finals are mostly middle aged, and there are a lot of families. I've been to regular season games hockey games at home rinks in which the students were a majority of the crowd, and never had my experience remotely affected by drunk college kids. And with the exorbitant prices at the Garden, you better come with a lot of money if you want to get drunked-up.

[UncleRay]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Well they weren't this season, neither Worcester nor Boston (men's hoops) was selling alcohol. I would've thought the Garden would've jumped on that opportunity, maybe there was an issue with the logistics of it but I can't imagine any reason why they couldn't have opened the beerstands

Try re-reading the bold:

Because the NCAA changed its policy on alcohol sales. Here are two articles I found when I Googled it: You Could Be Sipping on Beer and Wine at the NCAA Final Four as Soon as Next Season and NCAA rule changes may lead to beer, wine sales at finals events in Detroit. The Crain's article is interesting because it mentions how much OSU made selling beer at home football games.

Sean

[Split-N]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Didn't pay close attention in Worcester, and I never used the concessions, but I'm pretty sure that beer wasn't being sold...

I was in Wustah and neither beer nor any other alcoholic beverages were being sold, so far as I could tell.

Speaking only for myself, while I do like my beer (Sam, please) and have an affection for bourbon (make it Maker's) I really can't get particularly exercised over whether or not beer and other adult beverages are sold at college sports events. Unless you're way out in the hinterlands, there are almost always a few watering holes within easy reach of the arenas to quench your pre- and post-game thirsts, and I'm frankly not crazy about hordes of immature college kids (I used to be one) getting drunked-up and killing the legitimate fun.

[Tater]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Same thing with the Beanpot. It is (or maybe was) an NCAA-sponsored tournament issue.

Personally, I'm glad to see it. I actually supported it at one time, because I thought it was a minor inconvenience that made sure that you wouldn't have a bunch of drunks sitting behind you. Also it use to me separate admission, so that if you wanted to, you could go grab a beer between games. But with the current setup, where you either can't leave the arena, and/or there isn't time, and you pretty much have to eat in the arena, it's a much bigger deal.

They sell alcohol at the Beanpot and Hockey East.

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

The NHL team is taking a hit already, because that means that it's sacrificing home dates at a crucial time of the NHL schedule.

I'm not sure I entirely agree with this. Sure, they don't close the season out at home, but they still got those home games, likely the week prior. That's still a crucial time.

[Iwearpurple]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Beer stands were closed in Sioux Falls this year.

[CLS]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

According to the Food & Wine article "Late last month, the NCAA’s Board of Governors rescinded its policy banning alcohol sales at NCAA-sanctioned postseason events". From this I would have to believe that regionals are included in the change.

Sean

Didn't pay close attention in Worcester, and I never used the concessions, but I'm pretty sure that beer wasn't being sold. Could have been expectation bias, but I'm pretty sure that I would have noticed.

Regarding the money aspect, I suspect that's a secondary thing. I don't know for sure, but I doubt that the NCAA gets a bite of the concessions. On the other hand, the venues might be willing to bid more (or bid at all) if they're going to make more money on beer sales. The NHL team is taking a hit already, because that means that it's sacrificing home dates at a crucial time of the NHL schedule.

[walrus655321]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

According to the Food & Wine article "Late last month, the NCAA’s Board of Governors rescinded its policy banning alcohol sales at NCAA-sanctioned postseason events". From this I would have to believe that regionals are included in the change.

Sean

Well they weren't this season, neither Worcester nor Boston (men's hoops) was selling alcohol. I would've thought the Garden would've jumped on that opportunity, maybe there was an issue with the logistics of it but I can't imagine any reason why they couldn't have opened the beerstands

[northeastern]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

because God loves us & wants us to be happy.

[AKSWF]

Re: How were they aable to serve beer in St. Paul?

Dolla dolla bills y'all.