Michigan State commits to stadium alcohol sales, but timeline up in the air

EAST LANSING — It's too soon to say if alcohol sales will happen inside Spartan Stadium at Michigan State University's first football game, but officials are considering their options with several weeks to spare before game time.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill Tuesday allowing for alcohol sales at the state's public universities' football, hockey and basketball games.

MSU's first football game of the 2023 season is Sept. 1 against Central Michigan University. Schedules have not yet been released for MSU's men's basketball and ice hockey.

"The university acknowledges the new law," MSU spokesman Dan Olsen said in a statement to the State Journal. "There are a few steps for us to take before we’re able to offer this option at MSU and we are working through some of the logistics related to that.

"We cannot speak definitively at this time on whether we would be ready by the fall. We are, however, committed to identifying a process by which this can happen, keeping safety and the fan experience in mind.

Marlon Lynch, vice president and chief safety officer for MSU, spoke in support of the bill at hearings before the Legislature, saying that other institutions with stadium alcohol sales have seen a reduction in excessive drunkenness and have not had to alter their law enforcement patrols.

“There has not been an increase regarding additional police and public safety staff that has been needed,” he said. “Any challenges associated with the sales and have been particularly of note have been the concessions themselves, as far as the long lines and finding space within the venues to conduct the sales.”

More: Whitmer signs bill allowing alcohol sales at college football, basketball games in Michigan

The legislation took immediate effect because it passed both houses of the Legislature by wide margins, in the Senate 36-2, and the House by an 85-23 vote. One of the two Senators to vote no was Sam Singh, D-East Lansing.

Several groups including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Michigan Alcohol Policy Promoting Health & Safety opposed the bill.

Schools could apply for licenses for 100 total days during a calendar year.

Olsen previously told the State Journal in June the university is "supportive" of the legislation. If the university were to have alcohol sales, a new policy would need to be approved by the Board of Trustees and the university would need to apply for a license with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, he said.

The Board of Trustees isn't scheduled to meet until Sept. 16, meaning trustees would have to call an additional meeting before the season opener on Sept. 1 if they wanted to allow alcohol sales from the outset.

The bill signing now makes it possible for both MSU and the University of Michigan to have alcohol sales at sporting events, something most Big Ten schools already allowed. In the Big Ten, the University of Nebraska still does not permit sales. The NCAA began allowing alcohol sales in athletic venues in the 2018-19 season.

Whitmer said in a Wednesday release the bipartisan bills — alcohol sales at college sporting events and permanent liquor-to-go sales — are about fairness, safety and revenue.

“Michigan State University and the University of Michigan are two of three Big Ten schools prohibited by law from selling alcohol," she said. "Authorizing the legal sale of alcohol at sporting events will bring us on equal footing with other universities, help reduce the likelihood of binge drinking before games, and bring in a heck of a lot more revenue that we can use to improve the student experience. I am proud that we are getting this done and making fall evenings at the Spartan Stadium or the Big House safer and more fun.”

She predicted binge drinking to decrease as people wouldn't feel a need to excessively drink prior to games with access to alcohol inside of stadiums and arenas.

More: Michigan State ‘supportive’ of stadium alcohol sales as bill passes House committee

Rep. Graham Filler, R-St. Johns, sponsored the House version of the proposal and has advocated for the issue for several years. He believes the policy is a matter of reducing binge drinking, fan enjoyment and cutting back on government bureaucracy. On Wednesday, he applauded the new law in a Wednesday press release allowing for alcohol sales at the state's public universities.

“Imagine sitting in the stands at Spartan Stadium on game day with a cold beer in your hands surrounded by all the contagious energy of the crowd – that’s the kind of experience that unites fans from all walks of life,” Filler said. “But the ability for college sports stadiums to sell alcohol is not just about creating a more enjoyable experience for fans, it’s also about fostering a responsible and safe environment. By promoting responsible consumption, implementing age verification measures, and offering diverse beverage options, we can create an unforgettable experience where fans revel in the game while enjoying their favorite drinks in moderation.”

MSU already sells alcohol in Spartan Stadium suites because the suites aren't connected to the stadium.

State Journal Reporter Sheldon Krause and Detroit Free Press reporters Arpan Lobo and Clara Hendrickson contributed to this story.

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Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at 517-267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU committed to allowing Spartan Stadium alcohol sales