Q: I was surprised to learn that Wake Forest is adding a third site at its football stadium for the sale of beer and wine at games. Doesn’t the NCAA prohibit the sale of alcohol at on-campus athletic events? Which other colleges allow alcohol sales at on-campus athletic events?
—Mark Taylor, Carrollton
A: Schools, athletic conferences or university systems, not the NCAA, decide if alcohol sales will be allowed at athletic events. Wake Forest is one of more than 30 schools that allow alcohol sales at football games, a group that was joined by Troy, North Texas and Southern Methodist this season as schools with smaller football programs search for ways to increase revenue. Alcohol sales could bring in $200,000 a year to Troy, athletic director John Hartwell told the Associated Press. The school's athletic budget is $20 million a year.
Schools that allow alcohol sales in on-campus stadiums, according to the AP: Akron, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Houston, Kent State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisville, Minnesota, Nevada, North Texas, SMU, Syracuse, Toledo, Troy, Tulane, UNLV, UTEP, Western Kentucky and West Virginia.
Schools that allow alcohol sales at off-campus stadiums: Connecticut, Georgia State, Hawaii, Massachusetts (three games at Gillette Stadium), Memphis, Miami, San Diego State, South Alabama, South Florida, Temple and Texas-San Antonio.
The Southeastern Conference and the California State University system are among the groups that have policies against alcohol sales in general seating areas.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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