Okla-homey
8/26/2006, 08:14 AM
Quite apart from the fact there are is only one conflict with a home OU game this season...
Beer!
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1747/ww060826a1beera1beer26ati7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Beer fans score
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
8/26/2006
Brew will be sold again at Tulsa home games! Tulsa football fans will be able to toast touchdowns with beer during home games this season. After a 10-year absence, beer will be sold inside Skelly Stadium in six contests, starting with Thursday night's opener against Stephen F. Austin.
"It was a cautious decision to do it," said Bubba Cunningham, TU's director of athletics. Cunningham expects positive and negative feedback.
"We're trying to create an atmosphere that's good for our fans," said Cunningham, entering his 10th month as TU's AD. "Some people want to have options on drinks, and we'll have to provide areas for those that don't."
Alcohol-free zones aren't in place yet but will be studied as the season progresses.
Tulsa experimented with beer sales in the 1995 and 1996 seasons. After the two-year trial, sales were ceased by then-president Robert Lawless. Stadium advertisements for beer were erased a few years later. Those also will return in 2006.
A 2005 USA Today survey of 119 Division I schools found that 54 allowed the sale of alcohol through public concessions, in private suites or both.
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1294/ww060826a1beerbeer26dk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
"We've had a lot of conversations (about beer sales) and the consensus was to move in this direction," Cunningham said. "We can control the consumption inside the gates and try to create a positive atmosphere for a lot of fans."
Cunningham said TU is contracted with Sodexho, a food management services company that will manage the beer sales. All vendors have gone through training, beer sales will end after the third quarter, and IDs for customers under 30 years old will be checked.
Initial reaction to TU's decision to sell beer was mixed. Vicki Roberts was disappointed with the move. She is the executive director of the Green Country affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"I'd always been so proud of (TU)," said Roberts, whose daughter was injured in separate drunken-driving accidents. "Now it's just another place to get drunk and go out, drive a car and hurt somebody. Lighten up lady. Sheesh. :O
"I don't know many people to take taxis to football games. I would safely assume that there will be drunk drivers." Roberts said regulation will be the hardest part. :rolleyes:
Nicole Veit, a TU senior and longtime football fan, said she's looking forward to buying her first 16-ounce, $4 cup of beer.
"I'm really excited and glad that they did that," Veit said, before adding that drinking happens "at tailgates outside the stadium before all of the football games." Season-ticket holder Sandy Thompson also applauded TU's decision.
"It's a positive step on the University of Tulsa's behalf from the perspective that it'll bring more responsible drinking," said Thompson, who added that many fans used to leave at halftime to guzzle down beers quickly before the second-half kickoff.
When asked his opinion on beer sales, Tulsa football coach Steve Kragthorpe declined comment. School President Steadman Upham declined interview requests, deferring questions to Cunningham.
TU is a "wet campus" and allows alcohol. Last season, beer was sold in plaza areas just steps from the stadium gates. Cunningham said added revenue was a key, but wasn't the driving force behind the decision.
"It was a factor, but it was one of many in making an appropriate decision," he said. The athletic director didn't disclose financial terms but said beer sales would be a part of the regular concession agreement with Sodexho.
While no Big 12 Conference schools sell beer inside stadiums, TU will become the fourth Conference USA school to do so, joining Houston, Tulane and Central Florida. Among those, Tulsa and Houston have on-campus stadiums. Tulane and Central Florida play at off-campus sites.
One school that has said no to beer is Memphis. The university and city are in ongoing negotiations for a new contract for games at the Liberty Bowl. The city wants to add beer sales. The school doesn't.
Memphis receives a percentage of concession revenue but wouldn't accept money generated by beer sales, said Bob Winn, the school's associate athletic director for external affairs.
"We're in a stance that we're very adamant against the sales of beer . . . ," Winn said. Beer is sold at Tiger basketball games at the FedEx Forum, an arena owned by the city.
Do beer sales at TU football games pave the way for beer to be sold inside the Reynolds Center?
"At this point, we're just trying to enhance the atmosphere of football," Cunningham said. "At this point, we don't anticipate selling beer at basketball games."
Cunningham said Tulsa police have been informed about the policy.
There are no immediate plans to increase security at TU games as a result of beer sales, said Tulsa Police Capt. Richard Lawson, who coordinates off-duty police officers who work security.
Police aren't anticipating a rise in criminal complaints because of beer sales during and after TU games, said Officer Jason Willingham, and he referred to past experience.
"It wasn't a problem then and we don't look for it to be a problem now," Willingham said. "There's always been beer and TU football. It's not going to be really different."
At the conclusion of TU's six home dates, the administration will evaluate whether to continue beer sales.
"Every time we host an event, we assess how we did and see if it was successful," Cunningham said. "We'll see how we do with (beer sales)."
Roberts has seen many families devastated by drunken driving and hopes, at the very least, TU stresses responsibility.
"We'll have signage and encourage that," Cunningham said. "We're also encouraging campus-wide positive life choices.
"Beer will be available, but we want people to make good decisions seven days a week and not just on game day."
Beer!
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1747/ww060826a1beera1beer26ati7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Beer fans score
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
8/26/2006
Brew will be sold again at Tulsa home games! Tulsa football fans will be able to toast touchdowns with beer during home games this season. After a 10-year absence, beer will be sold inside Skelly Stadium in six contests, starting with Thursday night's opener against Stephen F. Austin.
"It was a cautious decision to do it," said Bubba Cunningham, TU's director of athletics. Cunningham expects positive and negative feedback.
"We're trying to create an atmosphere that's good for our fans," said Cunningham, entering his 10th month as TU's AD. "Some people want to have options on drinks, and we'll have to provide areas for those that don't."
Alcohol-free zones aren't in place yet but will be studied as the season progresses.
Tulsa experimented with beer sales in the 1995 and 1996 seasons. After the two-year trial, sales were ceased by then-president Robert Lawless. Stadium advertisements for beer were erased a few years later. Those also will return in 2006.
A 2005 USA Today survey of 119 Division I schools found that 54 allowed the sale of alcohol through public concessions, in private suites or both.
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1294/ww060826a1beerbeer26dk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
"We've had a lot of conversations (about beer sales) and the consensus was to move in this direction," Cunningham said. "We can control the consumption inside the gates and try to create a positive atmosphere for a lot of fans."
Cunningham said TU is contracted with Sodexho, a food management services company that will manage the beer sales. All vendors have gone through training, beer sales will end after the third quarter, and IDs for customers under 30 years old will be checked.
Initial reaction to TU's decision to sell beer was mixed. Vicki Roberts was disappointed with the move. She is the executive director of the Green Country affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"I'd always been so proud of (TU)," said Roberts, whose daughter was injured in separate drunken-driving accidents. "Now it's just another place to get drunk and go out, drive a car and hurt somebody. Lighten up lady. Sheesh. :O
"I don't know many people to take taxis to football games. I would safely assume that there will be drunk drivers." Roberts said regulation will be the hardest part. :rolleyes:
Nicole Veit, a TU senior and longtime football fan, said she's looking forward to buying her first 16-ounce, $4 cup of beer.
"I'm really excited and glad that they did that," Veit said, before adding that drinking happens "at tailgates outside the stadium before all of the football games." Season-ticket holder Sandy Thompson also applauded TU's decision.
"It's a positive step on the University of Tulsa's behalf from the perspective that it'll bring more responsible drinking," said Thompson, who added that many fans used to leave at halftime to guzzle down beers quickly before the second-half kickoff.
When asked his opinion on beer sales, Tulsa football coach Steve Kragthorpe declined comment. School President Steadman Upham declined interview requests, deferring questions to Cunningham.
TU is a "wet campus" and allows alcohol. Last season, beer was sold in plaza areas just steps from the stadium gates. Cunningham said added revenue was a key, but wasn't the driving force behind the decision.
"It was a factor, but it was one of many in making an appropriate decision," he said. The athletic director didn't disclose financial terms but said beer sales would be a part of the regular concession agreement with Sodexho.
While no Big 12 Conference schools sell beer inside stadiums, TU will become the fourth Conference USA school to do so, joining Houston, Tulane and Central Florida. Among those, Tulsa and Houston have on-campus stadiums. Tulane and Central Florida play at off-campus sites.
One school that has said no to beer is Memphis. The university and city are in ongoing negotiations for a new contract for games at the Liberty Bowl. The city wants to add beer sales. The school doesn't.
Memphis receives a percentage of concession revenue but wouldn't accept money generated by beer sales, said Bob Winn, the school's associate athletic director for external affairs.
"We're in a stance that we're very adamant against the sales of beer . . . ," Winn said. Beer is sold at Tiger basketball games at the FedEx Forum, an arena owned by the city.
Do beer sales at TU football games pave the way for beer to be sold inside the Reynolds Center?
"At this point, we're just trying to enhance the atmosphere of football," Cunningham said. "At this point, we don't anticipate selling beer at basketball games."
Cunningham said Tulsa police have been informed about the policy.
There are no immediate plans to increase security at TU games as a result of beer sales, said Tulsa Police Capt. Richard Lawson, who coordinates off-duty police officers who work security.
Police aren't anticipating a rise in criminal complaints because of beer sales during and after TU games, said Officer Jason Willingham, and he referred to past experience.
"It wasn't a problem then and we don't look for it to be a problem now," Willingham said. "There's always been beer and TU football. It's not going to be really different."
At the conclusion of TU's six home dates, the administration will evaluate whether to continue beer sales.
"Every time we host an event, we assess how we did and see if it was successful," Cunningham said. "We'll see how we do with (beer sales)."
Roberts has seen many families devastated by drunken driving and hopes, at the very least, TU stresses responsibility.
"We'll have signage and encourage that," Cunningham said. "We're also encouraging campus-wide positive life choices.
"Beer will be available, but we want people to make good decisions seven days a week and not just on game day."