STrib: University of Minnesota could add cocktails, bottle service into the mix at stadiums

[BleedGopher]

Per Steph:

Fans at several University of Minnesota sporting events could sip some cocktails this fall — and eventually have bottle service in suites — under a plan before the Board of Regents.

The proposal from the U's Athletics Committee would allow fans to purchase canned and batched cocktails at concession stands in Huntington Bank Stadium, Williams Arena, Maturi Pavilion and 3M Arena at Mariucci as soon as fall. It would bring full-service bars to club rooms and limited bottle service in suites in the 2025-26 season and allow in-seat "hawking" in the football stadium, except in student sections, the following year.

Athletic director Mark Coyle and Jon Steadland, the university president's chief of staff, told the Board of Regents on Friday the plan would respond to fan feedback and place Gophers venues on par with other Big Ten and Twin Cities professional sporting facilities.

Steadland said having "as premium an offering as you possibly can" would benefit suite sales.

University of Minnesota could add cocktails, bottle service into the mix at stadiums

Athletics Director Mark Coyle said Big Ten competitiveness and fan experiences are driving the proposal to expand liquor offerings and sales in the stands.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[maroonfive]

If this is the case it is time to do something with the 3rd deck. Make more suites, open suites, a club, a bar, a restaurant, and some seating. Do something. It is wasted space. The stadium is 15 years old. Put a partial roof on it to capture more sound. Even if it brings the total capacity to 60,000 that is enough. If we want to play with the big boys lets go. It is a new era in college football.

 

[1983]

We have bottle service in our row.....

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

I hear wisconsin is adding a beer bong section.

 

[fmlizard]

We have bottle service in our row.....

someone slipped in a bottle of Fireball, eh?

 

[STPGopher]

someone slipped in a bottle of Fireball, eh?

I was just going to post that. I've seen many mini-fireball bottles floating around...

 

[UMwolverine]

I would be surprised if some of those suites didn't already have full bars. Probably not supplied by the university, but it would only make sense to allow the big spenders to bring in their own bartenders and supplies.

 

[PMWinSTP]

We have bottle service in our row.....

Walk through the student see section some time after a big game...

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Good idea and it should be done for sure

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Only 3 schools in the country charge more for a beer than the gophers.

 

[Word]

Only 3 schools in the country charge more for a beer than the gophers.

How do the Gophers compare to the Twins, Wild, etc?

 

[UpAndUnder43]

How do the Gophers compare to the Twins, Wild, etc?

The cheapest beers at gopher games are more than the cheapest at twins and Vikings. Not sure on wild or wolves. Target center was expensive for the BTT I thought. Like $14-16 for a beer

 

[Pompous Elitist]

If this is the case it is time to do something with the 3rd deck. Make more suites, open suites, a club, a bar, a restaurant, and some seating. Do something. It is wasted space. The stadium is 15 years old. Put a partial roof on it to capture more sound. Even if it brings the total capacity to 60,000 that is enough. If we want to play with the big boys lets go. It is a new era in college football

Hotel casino FTW, Biff Tannen-style.

 

[GopherMarroon]

I thought everyone had that. Time to match the market or fall behind.

Consumers in the Minneapolis area have many choices to spend their money on. Pro sports. Concerts. Live shows. Dining out.

Gophers need to get with it.

 

[Gopher Ally]

So I won’t have to smuggle in Fireball when it’s 20 below?

 

[pharmacygopher]

I'm still bringing my captain Morgan in!

 

[HitMeAgainIAmStillMoving]

Hotel casino FTW, Biff Tannen-style.

Serious question. Could they lease part of the third deck to one of the local tribes? Would tribal rules then apply?

To be fair I dont think adults should tell other adults what to do but then again I am to the left of Timothy Leary.

 

[Word]

So I won’t have to smuggle in Fireball when it’s 20 below?

Probably a lot cheaper to bring your own.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Serious question. Could they lease part of the third deck to one of the local tribes? Would tribal rules then apply?

To be fair I dont think adults should tell other adults what to do but then again I am to the left of Timothy Leary.

In the spirit of the current private equity talk the university could sell a controlling interest in the facility property for a pittance, then pay escalating rent to play games there. Everybody wins.

 

[Ope3]

Only 3 schools in the country charge more for a beer than the gophers.

How many have Surly Hell though?

 

[UpAndUnder43]

How many have Surly Hell though?

I’ve never had a Hell at a gopher game. Didn’t know they had it.

 

[Ope3]

I’ve never had a Hell at a gopher game. Didn’t know they had it.

More of a "go to" for me once we get into true fall weather.

 

[pharmacygopher]

If this is the case it is time to do something with the 3rd deck. Make more suites, open suites, a club, a bar, a restaurant, and some seating. Do something. It is wasted space. The stadium is 15 years old. Put a partial roof on it to capture more sound. Even if it brings the total capacity to 60,000 that is enough. If we want to play with the big boys lets go. It is a new era in college football.

We're never going to need a full 3rd deck IMO, so agreed. Use that space for something unique. Target Field has fun full service bars. CHS has beer garden/green space to sit. Can totally do something unique that people would pay money to enjoy.

Put some bathrooms to eliminate some of the concourse congestion too

 

[Swaggerson]

Per Steph:

Fans at several University of Minnesota sporting events could sip some cocktails this fall — and eventually have bottle service in suites — under a plan before the Board of Regents.

The proposal from the U's Athletics Committee would allow fans to purchase canned and batched cocktails at concession stands in Huntington Bank Stadium, Williams Arena, Maturi Pavilion and 3M Arena at Mariucci as soon as fall. It would bring full-service bars to club rooms and limited bottle service in suites in the 2025-26 season and allow in-seat "hawking" in the football stadium, except in student sections, the following year.

Athletic director Mark Coyle and Jon Steadland, the university president's chief of staff, told the Board of Regents on Friday the plan would respond to fan feedback and place Gophers venues on par with other Big Ten and Twin Cities professional sporting facilities.

Steadland said having "as premium an offering as you possibly can" would benefit suite sales.

University of Minnesota could add cocktails, bottle service into the mix at stadiums

Athletics Director Mark Coyle said Big Ten competitiveness and fan experiences are driving the proposal to expand liquor offerings and sales in the stands.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

A couple of questions for the group:
1. Will the new options increase the number of folks over-served at the game?
2. Will the new options encourage incremental fans to attend the games?
3. With the addition of beer/wine a few years ago the main thing I noticed was more trips to the bathrooms for folks? Will beer drinkers shift to cocktails and reduce this?
4. Will fans now leave their tailgates in time to see the kick-off? Or will this have no impact?