OT: Alcohol sales at Staples/March Madness?

Submitted by WichitanWolverine on
I want to start off by saying last night was an incredible experience, thanks in part to the Staples Center staff and security staff. Also, the overwhelming percentage of Michigan fans (85%+ by my estimation) made it truly sound and feel like a home game. But because the bars were swarmed with the Michigan faithful before the game, it was hard to get a drink. We decided to just bite the bullet and buy overpriced arena beers. But they were not selling any alcohol from what we could tell. They told us it was a March Madness rule. So my question is: is this actually an NCAA rule? Are the other venues selling? I could have sworn back in 2013 in Atlanta they were selling at the game but maybe I’m misremembering. Anyway, just curious if anyone has the answer because I thought it was strange. Still was one of the best days of my life with or without the booze! Go Blue!

fishgoblue1

March 25th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^

Went to Bankers Life for the 1st two rounds last year.  No alcohol.  Been to the B1G tourney a couple times.  No alcohol.  I think it is an NCAA rule.

LSAClassOf2000

March 25th, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^

Oh yes, the same organization that can apparently take a moralistic view on booze can turn around and threaten the eligibility of those it is nominally trying to protect over things like the presence of cream cheese and eating too much pasta. The mission of the NCAA is....indecipherable by normal means. 

tlo2485

March 25th, 2018 at 4:02 PM ^

They sold beer at Madison Square Garden for the BTT this year. I can personally attest. They also sold it at Barclay's the couple of years Michigan was out east for non conference tourneys.

tlo2485

March 25th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^

As far as I know, it is up to the conference/host school/venue (including state and local rules for liquor sales) if they want to sell it. That is why some schools sell it for football games, some don't.

I have no idea if there are rules specifically for the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but I highly doubt it. My guess is Staples chose not to sell and it was easy for them to just blame it on the NCAA instead of arguing with people.

Do they sell it in Detroit when M/MSU play their tourney there each year?

drewro02

March 25th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^

I’m Omaha for 8 years. They never served beer inside the stadium, but I was fortunate enough to sit in the box Suites a few times. If you were inside the box they served alcohol and if you walked out to the seats allocated to your box, you had to put the drink in a plastic cup. Guessing it is an NCAA rule at NCAA tournament events. Was disappointed to not be able to get one in Staples yesterday.

VectorVictor05

March 25th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^

No alcohol at official NCAA events (except apparently in private suites). Bowl games, conference tournaments, home games, etc are not officially sponsored ncaa events. Weird rule for a money focused group like emmert and crew.

Couzen Rick's

March 25th, 2018 at 4:22 PM ^

I looked this up earlier - I could have misunderstood, but I believe the gist is that there is no alcohol at NCAA sanctioned events, meaning stuff the NCAA officially hosts and puts on.

However that does not apply to all NCAA related events, and is usually left up to the venue. That's why you can get alcohol at bowl games and certain venues in the regular season/Conference tournaments hosted by the individual conferences.

Carcajou

March 25th, 2018 at 8:55 PM ^

I agree with what I think you mean. Without looking it up, I think "NCAA sanctioned events" means events that the NCAA does not run themselves (bowl games being a good example), distinct from NCAA run events, such as tournaments and

"stuff the NCAA officially hosts and puts on".



Not to nitpick, just to clarify and avoid confusion in the future.

MGoBrewMom

March 25th, 2018 at 4:28 PM ^

Except the “we” was me + my 14 year old daughter. But I wanted a damn beer. By the time I was parked and got tickets from StubHub location, it was 4 and everything was packed, so we went inside. In 2 minutes I found out I could NOT get a beer: insert>super mad faced emoji. I survived, but.. that was a bummer. Then, two FSU fans were wandering around in the isle in front of us with little plastic cups. Not sure where they got those. Luckily, there was plenty to be happy about! My water tasted fine along with Seminole Tears.

DCGrad

March 25th, 2018 at 4:29 PM ^

rule for the tournament, but as others have said it's not universal. BTT at the Verizon Center had beer. Maryland Stadium allows beer sales. Wake Forest sells beer at BB&T field. One would think the NCAA would allow beer sales for revenue purposes but I guess not.

NightTrain5

March 25th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^

I’ve been to NCAA tourney games before, and there was no alcohol for sale. The arena even covered up alcohol advertising. I can’t remember for sure which games I was at but I think at the Butler/Duke final all of the cup holders at the seats normally had a beer logo for Colts games, and every one was covered by a sticker.

I also remember there were no alcohol sales at M’s First Four game against Tulsa in Dayton because I remember my friend’s face when he found out the bad news.

Baba Booey

March 25th, 2018 at 4:58 PM ^

No booze at the Alamo. They won't sell alcohol at ncaa tourney games because they are ncaa-sponsored events. Oakland hosted the tourney at the Palace in 2013 so no alcohol. The BTT is not ncaa-sponsored so they can sell it because those arenas normally do.

Mr poonsniffle

March 25th, 2018 at 5:26 PM ^

The only time I purchased alcohol in a tournament game was when I was in a private box in Lucas oil stadium. The other sites did not sell alcohol.



There are quite a few football stadiums that sell alcohol during NCAA football games. Maryland had a good selection of microbrews in the stadium for the Michigan game last year. Minnesota sold beer but you had to technically walk outside of the stadium into a fenced in area on the street. I hear Ohio stadium also sells alcohol.

Michigan Philosophy

March 25th, 2018 at 6:46 PM ^

Sell alcohol at all large sporting events, college or pro. It makes money and reduces risky drinking behavior. Also legalize all drugs for the same reason. I guess that is a different OT thread tho..

Michigan Philosophy

March 25th, 2018 at 6:46 PM ^

Sell alcohol at all large sporting events, college or pro. It makes money and reduces risky drinking behavior. Also legalize all drugs for the same reason. I guess that is a different OT thread tho..

Michigan Philosophy

March 25th, 2018 at 6:46 PM ^

Sell alcohol at all large sporting events, college or pro. It makes money and reduces risky drinking behavior. Also legalize all drugs for the same reason. I guess that is a different OT thread tho..

UNCWolverine

March 25th, 2018 at 6:56 PM ^

I was there in 2013 and at the FF in 2008 and pretty sure they didn't sell beer.

Why did you thank the security/staff at Staples? Did something out of the ordinary happen?

WichitanWolverine

March 25th, 2018 at 7:43 PM ^

I thought the staff was very helpful with getting everyone in and helping them to their seats ASAP. And my wife accidentally brought in a small bag of potato chips we grabbed at Union Station scrambling to get to the game. She said she forgot about them and would throw them out and the security guard said “nah, keep them. They overcharge you guys enough for everything else.” Thought it was a funny comment and nice gesture.