For the first time, fans attending University of Maine hockey games at Alfond Arena and football games at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium will be allowed to take certain alcoholic beverages to their seats.
Fans will be able to purchase beer, spiked seltzers and wine at the game and bring those beverages to the stands beginning at the end of September. Outside alcohol will continue to be prohibited.
UMaine started offering alcohol, except hard liquor, at the Alfond Arena hockey games for the first time last season. But fans were only allowed to drink in a beer garden located in the arena and couldn’t bring the drinks to their seats.
There has been an outdoor beer garden at UMaine football games for several years with the same stipulation: Drinking was limited to just the beer garden itself.
For football games, starting on the Sept. 27 home game, alcohol will also be available at concession stands for the first time.
UMaine athletic director Jude Killy said the changes stem from a desire to enhance the fan experience, and the fact that “we didn’t have any alcohol-related incidents at either beer garden last year.”
This move expands a pilot program for stadium alcohol sales, according to the athletic department.
UMaine upgraded its beer garden for football last year to include high-top tables, more room, more picnic tables and a better viewing space. Fans can watch the game from the beer garden because it has been located behind one of the two end zones, depending on construction.
“The feedback we received from the fans was super positive,” Killy said, referring to the addition of the hockey beer garden at Alfond Arena and the upgrade of the one at the football field.
Killy said they will establish alcohol-free sections, and that they will look to accommodate season ticket holders who want to move into a section where alcohol is prohibited.
Alcohol will also not be permitted in the student sections, he said.
Killy noted that students who occupy the balcony section behind one of the goals at Alfond Arena aren’t allowed to take any beverages, including non-alcoholic beverages, into the balcony.
The first time alcohol will be allowed to be brought into the stands in Orono will be the Sept. 27 football game against North Carolina A & T. That will kick off at 3:30 p.m.
UMaine hosts Stonehill for its home opener on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Alcohol will not be allowed in the stands for that game.
Alcohol, including hard liquor, has been available to fans who reserve luxury boxes or suites for hockey and football games. Hard alcohol will not be available at concession stands or the beer gardens.
The football beer garden is available to all ticket holders age 21 and older, space permitting, and will be open 60 minutes prior to kickoff.
All sales of beer, wine and hard seltzers will conclude at the start of the third quarter at UMaine football games.
All alcohol purchases will be limited to a maximum of two drinks per person at any one time. To ensure responsible service, all serving staff are TIPS-certified (Training for Intervention Procedures) and will work closely with security staff to confirm valid identification.
Once identification is verified, patrons will receive a wristband upon entry into each alcohol-purchasing location.
There will be more specifics pertaining to alcohol sales at UMaine hockey games coming at a later date.
Killy stressed that the university is making sure to do this in a “responsible and educational way” with safety at the forefront.
He said that security and staff will continuously monitor all seating locations, locations and beer garden areas and noted that UMaine remains committed to fostering a welcoming family-friendly environment.
Killy said alcohol sales did “better than expected” last year and it generated revenue for the university.