Buying Beer At Rupp Arena: What's The Deal?

Alcohol sales at sporting events have been a divisive topic for the University of Kentucky. In 2021, the university decided against selling alcohol to the general public at home games, but this policy was reversed in 2023. This change was influenced by the successful sale of alcohol during the 2023 baseball season and the experiences of other universities. Alcohol sales are now permitted at Kroger Field and Rupp Arena, but only for patrons in luxury areas, such as suites and clubs. The University of Kentucky is not alone in this decision, as other SEC schools have also chosen to limit alcohol sales to premium seating areas. The university has stated that the decision to sell alcohol in these areas was not motivated by potential profits but by a desire to maintain a family-friendly environment in the general seating areas.

Alcohol sales at Rupp Arena are limited to luxury areas

While alcohol is now available at sporting events in Kroger Field and Rupp Arena, it is confined to luxury suites and clubs, which are private areas that patrons pay for access to. These areas are separate from the general seating, where families and other fans without access to the luxury areas are seated. The University of Kentucky's athletics director, Mitch Barnhart, has stated that the decision to limit alcohol sales to these areas was made to maintain a family-friendly environment in the general seating areas.

The University considered the feedback from fans and the potential impact on ticket sales before making this decision. Barnhart acknowledged that there are vocal opponents on both sides of the issue and that it is a divisive topic. However, he also stated that the possibility of increased revenue from alcohol sales was not a factor in their decision-making process.

The University of Kentucky has also implemented rules and regulations regarding alcohol sales, including limiting the number of drinks sold per transaction and cutting off sales by a predetermined point in the game. These measures are in place to ensure the safety of fans and maintain a positive experience for all attendees.

While alcohol sales are currently limited to luxury areas, the University has expressed a willingness to re-evaluate this decision in the future, taking into account the experiences of other SEC schools that have implemented similar policies.

Beer and wine are available at events in luxury areas

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at Rupp Arena, except through the Central Bank Center's approved caterer, Levy/Hardwood & Oak. Alcoholic drinks are also not allowed to be auctioned off without a temporary permit from the Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

However, beer and wine are available for purchase by patrons in the luxury areas of the arena during events. This decision was made by the University of Kentucky, which manages the arena, following the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) decision to allow individual schools to choose whether to sell alcohol in general seating areas.

The University of Kentucky's athletics director, Mitch Barnhart, explained that the decision was based on the desire to maintain a family-friendly environment in the general seating areas, where there are more people and it is more challenging to control alcohol consumption. He also mentioned that feedback suggested that season ticket sales would not significantly increase with alcohol sales in these areas.

The sale of alcohol in the luxury areas of Kroger Field and Rupp Arena is restricted to private suites and clubs, where patrons have paid for the privilege and can make their own decisions regarding alcohol consumption.

Alcohol sales at Kroger Field and Rupp Arena began in 2023

The change in policy was influenced by the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) decision in 2019 to allow each school to choose whether to sell alcohol at athletic events. The University of Kentucky waited to research the issue before implementing alcohol sales at Kroger Field and Rupp Arena. The university's athletic director, Mitch Barnhart, stated that the decision was made after observing the successful management of alcohol sales at other universities and the positive behaviour of fans during the pilot program.

The sale of alcohol at University of Kentucky games marks a shift from previous years, where alcohol was only available in premium luxury suites. Now, fans in general seating areas can also purchase alcoholic beverages. The university has implemented measures to ensure responsible alcohol consumption, including limiting the number of drinks sold per transaction and cutting off sales at predetermined points during the game.

The introduction of alcohol sales at Kroger Field and Rupp Arena provides fans with additional options during games and contributes to the overall fan experience. The university carefully considered this decision, taking into account the feedback from fans and the potential impact on the fan environment.

Alcohol sales are limited to stationary locations in public areas

Alcohol sales at the University of Kentucky's Rupp Arena are limited to stationary locations in public areas. This means that alcohol is only available for purchase at fixed concession stands or kiosks within the arena, and not through roaming vendors. The decision to allow alcohol sales at sporting events was made by the university in 2023, following a change in policy by the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2019. The SEC lifted its ban on alcohol sales in all but premium seating areas, allowing individual schools to decide whether to sell alcohol in general seating areas.

The University of Kentucky's athletics director, Mitch Barnhart, initially expressed hesitation about selling alcohol to the general public at sporting events. In 2019, he stated that the university would not sell alcohol in the 2019-20 school year, citing a desire to maintain a family-friendly environment. However, alcohol was already being sold in premium luxury suites at that time. Barnhart acknowledged the potential for backlash from fans who felt it was hypocritical to sell alcohol to wealthy suite holders but not to the general public.

In 2021, Barnhart reiterated that the university was not ready to address public alcohol sales, stating that the decision was more difficult in public areas where families were involved. He also mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic and various other issues had shifted the focus away from the alcohol debate. However, he left the door open for reevaluation in the future, stating that it was not a yearly decision and that he wanted to gather information from other schools that had implemented similar policies.

Finally, in 2023, the university announced that it would start selling alcohol at football and basketball games, including at Rupp Arena. This decision was influenced by research, the experiences of other universities, and the successful sale of alcohol during the 2023 baseball season. The university emphasized that alcohol sales would be carefully managed, with limits on the number of drinks sold per transaction and a predetermined cutoff point during the game.

Alcohol sales are cut off at a predetermined point in the game

The decision to sell alcohol at sporting events was not taken lightly by the University of Kentucky. Mitch Barnhart, the university's athletics director, stated that the school wanted to maintain a family-friendly environment and that the decision was not based on potential profits. The university also considered the feedback from fans, the successful sale of alcohol during the 2023 baseball season, and the experiences of other universities before making their decision.

While alcohol sales are now permitted at Kroger Field and Rupp Arena, there are still some restrictions in place. Alcohol is only sold in stationary locations in public areas, and there are limits on the number of drinks sold in a single transaction. These measures are intended to control alcohol consumption and maintain a safe environment for fans.

The University of Kentucky's decision to sell alcohol at sporting events was met with some backlash on social media, with some critics pointing out the apparent hypocrisy of allowing alcohol sales in premium luxury suites but not in general seating areas. However, the university has stated that it will continue to monitor the situation and may reevaluate its decision in the future.

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