Colonel football fans now have the opportunity to purchase alcohol inside of John L. Guidry Stadium during football games, making Nicholls State University the third school in Louisiana to allow drinking in the general seating areas.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association forbids alcohol sales and advertising during post-season championship events. Although the selling of alcohol is frowned upon, regular season regulation is given to the universities.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Tulane University are the only other schools in the state that allow alcohol sales in their stadiums.
Nicholls State became number 36 on the list of 120 NCAA Division 1 schools to allow the sales.
At the cost of $6 for a 16 oz. Budweiser, Bud Lite, Miller Lite or Coors Lite, fans who are 21 or older can now “have a great time on a Saturday night after a long week at work and do it within the limits of the law,” associate director of marketing and development Brandon Ruttley said.
Nicholls Athletics proposed the idea to University officials with the hopes of adding to the fan experience while also earning revenue.
“With the tight economy, budget cuts and cuts on athletics throughout the country, the athletic program was looking to make revenue anyway we could,” Ruttley said.
University president Stephen Hulbert gave the final approval for the decision.
“If you can add to fan experience and do that in a good way and also earn additional revenue, then why not allow it,” vice president for student affairs Eugene Dial said.
Fans are also excited about being able to purchase beer inside.
“I think it’s great that they are selling alcohol at Nicholls games. This should at least entice students who are 21 or older to make their way from the tailgate area to the stadium,” secondary education senior Chandler Guidroz said.
Nicholls Athletics will share its revenues from the alcohol sales with Sodexo, the University’s food and beverage contractor.
The Athletic Association gets 15 percent of all Sodexo sales during concessions at athletic events. Because the Athletic Association asked that alcohol be served at football games, Sodexo instituted a surcharge of $2 that will go directly into their account, Dial said.
Sodexo General Manager, Richard Curtis, stated that several measures are being taken to for safety and to prevent potential problems.
The ID of all fans who want to purchase alcohol will be checked, and those who are of age will be given a wristband. The beer is poured from a 16 oz. can into a clear plastic cup so security officers can monitor those drinking. Buyers are only allowed to purchase one beer at a time, and at the end of the third quarter, the selling will stop.
“This allows people to settle down before they go on their way,” Curtis said.
There is also discussion about frozen drink machines in the future, Curtis said.
“We have to monitor the volume and get the opinions of customers.”
On Sept. 24, the first game alcohol was allowed, 429 beers were sold, Curtis said.
