Michigan State University expanding alcohol sales to basketball, hockey games

Mike Ellis, Lansing State Journal
Updated ·2 min read
People wait in line to purchase beer before Michigan State's football game against Washington on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
People wait in line to purchase beer before Michigan State's football game against Washington on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

This story has been updated to include information on alcohol times, locations and costs at the new sites.

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University is planning to extend alcohol sales into basketball and hockey seasons, according to a news release from the university.

The university introduced beer and seltzer sales for the first time during football season.

The sales will expand starting on Jan. 4 at the Breslin Center for the men's basketball game against Penn State followed by the hockey game at Munn Ice Arena (against the U.S. National Team Development Program) the next day and women's basketball, against Maryland, on Jan. 9.

The three sports have, combined, almost 50 home games in the regular season schedule. Alcohol sales have happened at four football games, starting halfway through the season due to a state law change earlier in the year. People who have used the suites at football games have been allowed to buy and consume alcohol previously since the suites are considered to be separate from the stadium.

The upcoming sales at basketball and hockey games will be for 16-ounce beer cans or 12-ounce seltzer cans, for either $10 or $12, depending on the brand. Options will include Oberon Eclipse, Sparti Parti, Founders All-Day IPA, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, Labatt Blue, NUTRL (seltzer) and Short's Local's Light.

Rules include:

  • ID is required, and there is a limit of two beverages per transaction

  • Alcohol can't leave the venue

  • Recycling is encouraged

  • Fake IDs will be confiscated and violations will be reported to law enforcement, students could face school discipline procedures

Sales will start one hour prior to announced start time at each location. At Breslin Center, sales will close at the beginning of the second half of the basketball game. At Munn Ice Arena, sales will close at the end of the second intermission.

At Breslin Center, alcohol will be sold across from sections 131/133 and 122/124.

At Munn Ice Arena, alcohol will be sold in each of the four corners of the concourse.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State expanding alcohol sales to basketball, hockey games