Many fans are used to drinking alcohol outside TD Ameritrade Park during the College World Series. Now they'll be able to grab a drink inside the park, too.
The NCAA announced Wednesday plans to allow sales of beer and wine in the general seating areas during the College World Series as part of a one-year pilot program. The decision was made by the Division I Board of Directors last week.
The move sets up the 2016 CWS — and the Women's College World Series, which also will be part of the pilot program — as the first NCAA championship events to allow alcohol to be served to the general public. Alcohol has been permitted in club and premium seats at the event since 2013.
The ruling does not allow for liquor to be sold, and all beer and wine sales must occur at concession stands. Roving vendors will not be able to hawk alcoholic beverages.
The move isn't completely out of the blue. After the 2013 decision allowing alcohol sales on the club level at TD Ameritrade Park, Damani Leech — then the NCAA's managing director for championships and alliances — said the organization would further study the sale of alcohol at the CWS site.
“It's something we'll continue to monitor, and what we particularly monitor is what our campuses are doing during the regular season,” said Leech, who left the NCAA in 2015to become the NFL's vice president for football strategy and business development. “If anything, that's what is going to drive our championships.
“If our fans are getting used to some sort of an experience at the regular-season level and we're not offering it in the postseason, it becomes notable. As more and more campuses start to offer it with greater regularity, that will force the conversation at the national level. We are by no means pushing it.”
That's a concern that was echoed in the NCAA's decision Wednesday.
"The Board of Governors noted that the number of schools selling alcohol at events has increased dramatically, with more schools considering the move," writes Michelle Brutlag Hosick on the NCAA website.
What makes the question delicate in Omaha is that some see the sale of alcohol going against the CWS' core values.
“The College World Series is just a little bit different, and just because it might work at lacrosse or the Final Four that it's going to work at the College World Series,” Leech said in 2013. “I think we always have that conversation before making any decision in regard to this event.”
The NCAA's recent ruling cites a few different reasons to allow a trial run at the championship.
"Part of the impetus for the decision came from school reports that indicated once they started selling alcohol at events, alcohol-related incidents declined sharply," said an NCAA press release. "Theories suggest that making alcohol available in the stadium prevents incidents of binge drinking before events and discourages people from attempting to bring outside alcohol into the venue."
You can read the NCAA's full press release here.
Link to Article--> http://www.omaha.com/sports/beer-wi...cle_1e3dc708-bfb5-11e5-945b-ff53ecc6de1b.html
The NCAA announced Wednesday plans to allow sales of beer and wine in the general seating areas during the College World Series as part of a one-year pilot program. The decision was made by the Division I Board of Directors last week.
The move sets up the 2016 CWS — and the Women's College World Series, which also will be part of the pilot program — as the first NCAA championship events to allow alcohol to be served to the general public. Alcohol has been permitted in club and premium seats at the event since 2013.
The ruling does not allow for liquor to be sold, and all beer and wine sales must occur at concession stands. Roving vendors will not be able to hawk alcoholic beverages.
The move isn't completely out of the blue. After the 2013 decision allowing alcohol sales on the club level at TD Ameritrade Park, Damani Leech — then the NCAA's managing director for championships and alliances — said the organization would further study the sale of alcohol at the CWS site.
“It's something we'll continue to monitor, and what we particularly monitor is what our campuses are doing during the regular season,” said Leech, who left the NCAA in 2015to become the NFL's vice president for football strategy and business development. “If anything, that's what is going to drive our championships.
“If our fans are getting used to some sort of an experience at the regular-season level and we're not offering it in the postseason, it becomes notable. As more and more campuses start to offer it with greater regularity, that will force the conversation at the national level. We are by no means pushing it.”
That's a concern that was echoed in the NCAA's decision Wednesday.
"The Board of Governors noted that the number of schools selling alcohol at events has increased dramatically, with more schools considering the move," writes Michelle Brutlag Hosick on the NCAA website.
What makes the question delicate in Omaha is that some see the sale of alcohol going against the CWS' core values.
“The College World Series is just a little bit different, and just because it might work at lacrosse or the Final Four that it's going to work at the College World Series,” Leech said in 2013. “I think we always have that conversation before making any decision in regard to this event.”
The NCAA's recent ruling cites a few different reasons to allow a trial run at the championship.
"Part of the impetus for the decision came from school reports that indicated once they started selling alcohol at events, alcohol-related incidents declined sharply," said an NCAA press release. "Theories suggest that making alcohol available in the stadium prevents incidents of binge drinking before events and discourages people from attempting to bring outside alcohol into the venue."
You can read the NCAA's full press release here.
Link to Article--> http://www.omaha.com/sports/beer-wi...cle_1e3dc708-bfb5-11e5-945b-ff53ecc6de1b.html
