The first beer kegs could soon be tapped at concerts and other special events inside the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena, although school officials said the move in no way would open the door for future alcohol sales on game days.
Allowing beer sales at the arena would happen strictly in the interest of attracting larger shows to the recently renovated venue, said Tiffany Carpenter, spokeswoman for the UT Athletic Department.
“Primarily, it’s to bring in larger concerts,” she said. “There are absolutely no plans to sell beer at UT athletic events.”
In fact, the Southeastern Conference maintains an alcohol ban at sporting events among all of its member schools. Nevertheless, the change would set a precedent for UT’s otherwise dry campus. UT President John Petersen and other top campus administrators approved the change, Carpenter added.
The beer permit application, filed April 4 by UT’s contracted concessionaire for the facility, Sodexho Operations LLC, is set to be considered by the Knoxville Beer Board at its next meeting Tuesday.
Todd Boyd, Sodexho’s general manager, said he and his arena manager already have attended the Knoxville Police Department’s alcohol server training program and that all of his 50-plus staffers will do the same before the first brew is sold. City ordinance requires at least one manager named on an application to attend the Tennessee Alcohol Server Knowledge class before a beer permit is issued.
Boyd also has worked with KPD to draft a comprehensive plan to prevent underage sales.
“We’re going to make it tough,” Boyd said. “Really, really tough. Every ID’s going to be checked, regardless of how old you look.”
Boyd, who has 17 years in the concession business, said alcohol sales at college sporting events are the exception nationally.
“I can’t see it ever happening (at UT),” said Boyd, whose company has concession contracts with schools throughout the country, including Ohio State and the University of Texas. “Even outside my company, I cannot think of one facility that’s owned by a university that offers beer at sporting events.”
Still, he estimated that beer sales could create the potential to double concession revenues at some shows in the 24,535-seat arena, depending on the event.
Hayes Hickman may be reached at 865-342-6323.
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Comments » 27
tigervol9802 writes:
Pretty hypocritial on the UT administration's part....
Then again, they've got to make up that $3 million shortfall somewhere, right?
I wonder if Hamitlon will attach an athletic department fine to someone underage that gets caught drinking?
ncvol17 writes:
Oh good, more obnoxious drunks of every age at concerts. Now they don't have to chug in the parking lot b4 entering. I can't wait.
wyomingvol writes:
Beer, bier, beer, beer........
Hmm, Beer:30...
Beer, bier, beer, beer........
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dang. Vol BB could really be spiced up if you got a brew when you entered. Ride-a-longs would pick up.
Tngeoff- off subject ck Tennesseeheartlands.com
-header will show you the country around here.
MLS# 816881 there would allow you to herd cats ala youtube. Ck that little homestead out.
BOHICA writes:
How about game nights?
primetimevol writes:
Todd Boyd, Sodexho's general manager...this is the same guy who runs out of hotdogs and sells nachos with cold cheese at football games. Ever since UT outsourced their concessions the quality has (for a lack of a better word) sucked! I have a relative in the local food distribution business that said someone brought it to Mr. Boyd's attention that he was not ordering enough hotdogs for football games. His reply: "Tough, their's a new sheriff in town!"
samjrr writes:
If you booze it they will come.
DandyVol writes:
If the progression continues, pretty soon we'll have a bunch obnoxious, drunken fans just like the fans at the Xavier game.
murrayvol writes:
Ya got trouble, my friend, right here
I say trouble, right here in River City
I say first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon
Then beer from a bottle
An' the next thing ya know
Your son is holding onto the grass to keep from falling out of the yard (w/apologies to Meredith Wilson & Robert Preston - The Music Man)
Won't bother me much being 315 miles west of this budding den of iniquity. I'll betcha beer won't be the only "mind bending potion" available at these gigs.
murrayvol writes:
pdhuff: Same as tngeoff. No connectamundo.
makdadvol writes:
They wont sell beer at Tommy Bowl, but they do in the sky boxes at Neyland. Interesting
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Guys- ck again - http://www.tennesseeheartland.com
At quick mls - enter #816881
Try that or 1-877-489-land.
Vol country indeed. Kool-aid is flowing.
CoverOrange writes:
Dandy, I assume you were making a joke. I went to the Xavier game and found them to be quite civil, even when standing in line for the 3 urinals they have there.
PureOrange writes:
Do we not have enough problems on the campus? Now we need to sell beer to draw more people. If they come for the beer, but will not come for the event, then is that the kind of people you really want on campus?
Lower the bar so that anyone can get over it! That will make us a greater university. Ha!
volboy81#211803 writes:
so is UT or Sodexho going to be held responsible for the first death caused by a drunk driver after leaving Thompson-Boling? Hopefully BOTH!
amyslins writes:
don't worry...ut will never be able to actually sell beer during football and basketball games...that is an actual ncaa rule. if we cannot get a playoff system to pass for years, i can only imagine how long it will take to get beer to pass for every school
deakinbi writes:
Double the revenue leads to:
lowering tuition?
Hirer quality faculty, research, academic facilities? Free books? Lower housing costs? No parking permits? Student activity fees lowered?
We are a university first...
Seems we don't have our priorites in order...
drakosben1#216420 writes:
It's a sad thing to see this happen to a pentacostal school. We'll just have to put more urinals in now. More DUI's also, more SR22s too. Just like having all the alcoholics come into the stadium, just like having all the terrorists land in Iraq. Nothing like chewing a little religion and politics before you hit that fast ball out of the ole ball park!
THE_VOL writes:
Beat those bibles morons!!! I will never understand most on here - female dog when they raise ticket prices, female dog when they add product to generate revenue. In case you haven't noticed EVERYTHING has gone up in cost and if you want to continue to compete in the SEC somebody has to pay. Get over it and STFU!!!!
birddogtails#1349595 writes:
This made me think of my UT days. Miller (I think) had a beer bus that took students to classes. The bus did the main routes around campus. It went on for weeks. A cold brew before and after stats class. 1976 or 77 I think.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Think for yourselves and allow others to enjoys the privilege to do so, too. pd Voltaire
All are welcome.
VolCane7979 writes:
THE_VOL = Epic fail.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Au contraire-"never sell beer at college games". Went to Tenn-Miami at Orange bowl. Chugged a few in the Cuban guys yard. Told my daughter we'd be back by the 3rd quarter, playing Miami at home.
Going up ramp, rounded the corner, and behold!!
A lit Miller Lite sign. I asked the local gendarme and he said sure, you have to buy a ID bracelet for $1.00 and you're good to go. Orange Bowl was owned by city of Miami and the brew flowed. Great day, held Miami without a TD and beat their a##. Many brewski's went down to rap music blaring in Miami that day.
Tenn vs Wyoming at Titan's field, same thing.
VolPowers writes:
I love how beer at an event means the end of the world is coming, despite the thousands upon thousands of sporting events, concerts, etc. that occur each year without armageddon.
Brilliant logic.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
tngeoff, that is indeed a paradise. 775 acres with a 14 acre lake. You could host a Vol party there. The stream is about 50 feet wide all year.
We have about a 10- footer that runs all year.
Truly God's country.
murrayvol writes:
pdhuff: Reminds me of where I grew up (sort of) on Daisy Mt. Always wondered why people from up north would pay all that money to "See Rock City" when I had it in my back yard. Stellar marketing I suppose.
ClockworkOrange writes:
At least now the Colquitt family has a reason to attend these events : ( )
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