Buying Beer At Ben Hill Griffin Stadium: What's The Deal?

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as The Swamp, is a football stadium located in Gainesville, Florida, on the campus of the University of Florida. The stadium has a capacity of nearly 90,000 people and is known for its passionate Florida Gators fans. In addition to thrilling football games, the stadium offers a range of amenities for spectators, including the sale of alcoholic beverages such as beer. This paragraph introduces the topic of purchasing beer at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, setting the stage for further exploration of this aspect of the stadium's offerings.

Alcohol sales at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

On 3 October 2020, a pilot programme was launched, allowing beer sales throughout the stadium for the game against South Carolina. The pilot was deemed a success, and fans were permitted to take all beverages back to their seats. Beer and wine are also sold in the Holloway Touchdown Terrace and the Evans Champions Club, as well as in premium seats at the O'Dome, which is undergoing a $65 million renovation.

The University of Florida Athletic Association expanded alcohol sales to include baseball, softball, and lacrosse games for the Spring 2020 season. Alcohol sales include 12-ounce beers, eight-ounce wines, and 12-ounce seltzers. Fans must present valid photo identification to prove they are over the age of 21 to purchase alcohol.

The stadium has multiple beer stations, and there are no lines for drinks or food. The beer stations are conveniently located near the student section, and there are multiple large bathrooms nearby.

Beer stations in the stadium

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium does sell alcohol, including beer. Beer sales were introduced for a game against South Carolina on 3 October 2020, and the pilot programme was successful. Beer and wine are sold in the Holloway Touchdown Terrace and the Evans Champions Club at football games, and in premium seats at the O'Dome.

There are multiple beer stations located near sections 20 and 22, which are in the lower level of the stadium. Rows 22-27 in section A and rows 30-39 in section 20 are stadium seats with backs. These sections are covered by an overhang, providing shade, and many of the upper rows have chairbacks. Sections 20 and 22 are also close to multiple big bathrooms and have quick entry and exit. However, they are also near the student section, where there are multiple bouncing balls hitting people.

Types of beer sold at the stadium

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, located at 157 Gale Lemerand Dr, Gainesville, FL, serves a variety of beer and other alcoholic beverages. The stadium introduced a pilot beer sales program during the game against South Carolina on October 3, 2020, which was a success. Since then, beer has been available for purchase throughout the stadium.

• Head Beer Coach by First Magnitude Brewing Company
• Miller Lite by Miller Brewing Company
• Michelob ULTRA by Anheuser-Busch
• Head Ball Coach by First Magnitude Brewing Company
• Big Wave by Kona Brewing Hawaii
• Belgian White by Shock Top Brewing Co.
• 420 Extra Pale Ale by SweetWater Brewing Company
• Luna by First Magnitude Brewing Company
• Keypunch by Urban Artifact
• Modelo Especial by Grupo Modelo

In addition to beer, the stadium also offers wine and selzters, providing a range of alcoholic beverage options for fans to enjoy during the games.

Alcohol sales at college football games

The University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is one example where alcohol sales have been introduced. A pilot program during a game in 2020 offered beer sales throughout the stadium, and fans were allowed to take beverages to their seats. The University of Florida Athletic Association has also expanded alcohol sales to include beer, wine, and seltzers at baseball, softball, and lacrosse games.

Other universities have followed suit, with UCLA, Washington, and several Pac-12 Conference schools selling alcohol throughout their stadiums. As of 2023, about a third of all Division I FBS schools sell beer at their football venues, and smaller schools are also starting to offer alcohol sales.

While alcohol sales can boost revenue for athletic departments, there are concerns about the impact on the collegiate atmosphere and potential safety issues. Some universities, like the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin, have opted to take a cautious approach, introducing alcohol sales at basketball and hockey games first and monitoring fan experience metrics before deciding on broader implementation.

The University of Iowa conducted a study to examine the impact of in-stadium alcohol sales on alcohol-related emergency department visits and EMS calls. Interestingly, they found a decrease in alcohol-related EMS calls during home game days in 2021, although the result was not statistically significant. Researchers suggested that fans may drink less at tailgate parties knowing they can purchase alcohol inside, and long lines and drink limits may also curb excessive consumption.

Alcohol sales at other sports stadiums

Alcohol sales at sports stadiums have been a topic of debate and concern for many years. While some stadiums have chosen to ban alcohol sales altogether, others have implemented various alcohol control policies to manage the potential risks associated with alcohol consumption at sporting events. These policies include limiting the number of alcoholic beverages per sale, requiring age identification checks for patrons who appear under a certain age, and offering alcohol-free sections.

The effectiveness of these policies varies, and there have been reports of alcohol-related problems such as assaults, drunk driving, and intoxicated patrons at stadiums that serve alcohol. In response, some stadiums have made the decision to ban alcohol sales entirely, while others have implemented additional measures such as limiting the number of drinks sold per person and discontinuing sales earlier in the game.

The University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium previously had a ban on alcohol sales, but introduced a pilot program allowing beer sales for a game in 2020. The program was successful, and beer and wine are now sold at certain locations within the stadium during football games. This change aligns with the trend of more universities selling alcohol at sports events to increase revenue.

Other universities that have introduced alcohol sales at their stadiums include West Virginia University, which began selling alcohol at football games in 2011 and generated an additional $700,000 in revenue. The University of Texas and Ohio State University also experienced significant financial gains after starting alcohol sales at their stadiums.

However, the introduction of alcohol sales at sports stadiums has sparked concerns about the potential impact on public health and safety. A study at a large Midwestern university examined the effect of alcohol sales during football games on emergency medical services (EMS) calls and emergency department (ED) visits. Interestingly, the study found no significant increase in alcohol-related emergencies or ED visits after the introduction of alcohol sales.

In summary, the sale of alcohol at sports stadiums remains a complex issue with financial, social, and public health implications. While some stadiums have successfully implemented alcohol sales with careful management and control policies, others continue to grapple with alcohol-related problems. As more universities consider selling alcohol at sporting events, further research and evaluation are needed to understand the full impact of these decisions on various stakeholders.

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