Beer Sales a Welcomed Addition to Boone Pickens Stadium by Most Fans

STILLWATER — Gone are the days of leaving Boone Pickens Stadium at halftime to get your alcohol fix.

The no re-entry policy now prevents that from happening without re-purchasing a new ticket. But beer sales, which was introduced to football games for the first time Thursday in OSU’s home opener, is the big reason why you won’t hear much of a fuss from fans about it.

“I think beer sales are great for the university,” said OSU fan Rod Carver, who was in attendance for the season opener. “At tailgates and at halftime, everybody is drinking beer anyways. Since they don’t let people go out now, I think the university will cash in on it from a monetary standpoint.”

“It’s nice having the option to buy it in the stadium,” echoed Chris Ingram, another OSU fan who took advantage of the new offering. “Price is a little high, but it’s nice having the option available to you.”

Beer goes for a whopping $8 bucks per 16-ounce cup in Boone Pickens Stadium, which has no shortage of places to get your fix. According to Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World, there are 22 stand-alone points of sale littered throughout the stadium — all of which is overseen by Sodexo.

After speaking with a number of drinkers and non-drinkers for this story, it’s clear safety is the biggest concern about the new sales. But beefed up security — coupled with cutting off sales at the end of the third quarter — are reasons most fans believe it won’t be a problem.

“You have to drink a lot of beer to get really wasted,” Marilyn Pulliam, an OSU fan who was happy to see beer offered, said flatly. “I don’t see people drinking six beers at a game. We’re not going to invest the time to get up from our seat, stand in line and miss the game. We want to watch the game! I think others will feel the same.”

OSU fan Marilyn Carson shared the same concern most did about safety, but brought up a unique perspective about how it might impact local businesses.

“What I want to know is how it will impact local establishments and their sales,” said Carson. “To me as a traditionalist, I hate what it might do to other businesses.”

Nonetheless, calling beer sales popular would be the equivalent of labeling Elvis Presley as an average singer. It was a smash hit among most I talked with who were willing to speak on the record — the Game 1 lines to grab a brew reflected as much.

“I was like 25-people deep when I stood in line,” said Carson. “So I probably won’t be doing that during games, but I’m glad the option is available.”