Northern State University plans expanded beer sales at football games this season
Fans going to Northern State University football games at Dacotah Bank Stadium this season will be able to tip back a cold one.
Like other state universities in South Dakota, Northern will offer expanded beer sales, said Director of Athletics Nate Davis.
Last year, during inaugural season at Dacotah Bank Stadium, beer sales were only allowed in premium seating areas. This year, all fans 21 and older can sip on a brew no matter where they are sitting.
Davis said the idea of expanded beer sales came from college students across the state.
"Good on the students at the regental institutions," he said.
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The hope is, Davis said, expanded beer sales will get more people, especially students, to games. That means more eyes on advertising and sponsorship efforts in the stadium, which helps the university, he said.
In June, the South Dakota Board of Regents approved the sale of alcoholic beverages at athletic and fine arts events on college campuses, easing the premium seating regulations.
Logistics still being worked out for beer sales at Dacotah Bank Stadium
Davis said there are still details to be worked out before the football season begins. But, he said, beer cannot be sold at the regular concession stands. There has to be a separate point of purchase, he said, and Northern wants to make that as convenient as possible for fans.
He said he expects there will also be beer sales at basketball games and other events on campus, but the first step is getting some experience during football season, seeing how it goes and what lessons can be learned.
Other universities are offering branded beers specific to the school, and while details are still being worked out, Northern State is moving in the same direction, Davis said. That would involve some type of partnership, he said.
Per regents policy, sales can begin an hour before the start of a game or event and must be discontinued about three-quarters of the way through. For football, Davis said, that means sales will end after the third quarter.
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He said it's nice that the six public universities in the state are going through the process together as opposed to one school racing to be first.
South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota have already announced they will offer beer sales during the upcoming season.
Revenue will help Northern State
Revenue from beer sales will go to the Northern State University Foundation, which helps fund scholarships and other initiatives. That's a positive, Davis said, but there's a misconception that selling alcohol at campus events is just a revenue grab.
It's also about the fan experience and allowing them to better enjoy the games, he said.
While Davis is in his first year at Northern, he said the feedback he's heard from last year is that selling beer in premium seating areas was a great experience. That, combined with Wolves football games moving to campus, generated a lot of excitement, he said.
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Now, thanks to the initiative of students, more fans can have a beer, if they so choose, Davis said.
"I think it'll be a great experience for people who come to games, (for the) game day atmosphere," he said.
The Wolves open the season at home against Upper Iowa at Dacotah Bank Stadium on Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://nsuwolves.universitytickets.com/. The remainder of Northern's football schedule follows.
Sept. 10: at Wayne State, 6 p.m.
Sept. 17: Minnesota State, Mankato, 6 p.m., Dacotah Bank Stadium
Sept. 24: at Augustana, 1 p.m.
Oct. 1: at University of Mary, TBD.
Oct. 8: Winona State (homecoming), 2:30 p.m., Dacotah Bank Stadium.
Oct. 15: at Minot State, TBD.
Oct. 22: Concordia-St. Paul, 6 p.m., Dacotah Bank Stadium.
Oct. 29: Minnesota State, Moorhead, 1 p.m., Dacotah Bank Stadium.
Nov. 5: at Bemidji State, 1 p.m.
Nov. 12: Minnesota-Duluth, (Senior Day) 1 p.m., Dacotah Bank Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Beer sales OKed at football games at Northern's Dacotah Bank Stadium
