Husker fans react to approval of alcohol sales at Nebraska sporting games

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Next year, if you go to a Husker football or volleyball game, you’ll finally be able to buy a beer.

A change that Chris Proulx as a dedicated Husker fan is cautiously optimistic about.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Proulx said. “I hope people can just drink responsibly and enjoy this new opportunity.”

It’s a decision approved by the Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday, with only one regent voting against the idea.

Those in support believe selling drinks at football games will help cut down on binge drinking.

Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen referenced a study from the University of Iowa.

“What in theory has happened as Dr. Gold referenced in the University of Iowa study,” Dannen said. ”Because there is less hurry and drink before we go into the stadium because we can’t drink during the game, or go out at halftime and hurry up and drink as much as we can’t drink in the second half,” He said. “That is what is noticed as being eliminated.”

Before the vote, Nebraska stood as the only Big Ten school not to approve alcohol sales at football games.

Currently, you can buy alcohol at basketball and softball games, along with special events.

Tom Incontro and his daughter Abby see this as a positive impact.

“I think it’s a great way to make money and I think it’s a great way to bring people to the stadium and keep them there,” Incontro said. “I think it might actually be a way to tone down the heavy drinking.”

The University will plan to invest a portion of the money brought in by alcohol sales into drinking safety programs.

Dannen also said that Nebraska will be working with Homeland security after this football season for a security analysis at Memorial Stadium.

Regents noted Creighton and UNO both saw similar outcomes to Iowa, after they allowed alcohol sales.

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