I heard a rumor that they don't allow any beer at Rice Eccles! Is this true? How can you be a soccer fan if you can't have any beer?!? Nevermind the articificial turf - THIS may be the real reason to build a new soccer specific stadium in Salt Lake City.
just like most stadiums located on university property... ohio stadium at THE ohio state university doesn't sell alocohol either.
Loyal U of U Man Wade Bills has the full story on U of U booze. Wade, are you lurking here? You are allowed to have it in the parking lots before the game and if you are very enterprising, you may be able to smuggle some in. Also, like I mentioned in a previous post, Visiting Supporters Of Sea Level Clubs + Real Beer, Not Our 4% Grocery Store Crap + 4500 Feet Of Elevation + 95 Degree Heat At Kickoff For An ESPN Game = Not A Good Combination
There are no beer sales at the University of Richmond stadium generally, and during Richmond Kickers games, but they had a "beer garden" setup that took an armband to get into for the US/New Zealand friendly there last year. Any chance of a similar exception for the SLC MLS club?
Hell, it seems I'm always here lately. Amazed at the amount of traffic in this section. Looks like a lot of people that haven't been to the Blitzz or Salt Ratz are going to come out to see the MLS. As I noted earlier, STATE law forbids beer at Rice-Eccles, but it IS allowed in the parking lots. People that smuggle beverages into the stadium tend to bring in something stronger than beer. (A bottle of whiskey for example is a lot smaller than the beer containing the same amount of alcohol.) If history is any example, there is less than zero chance of the Utah State Legislature changing the rules for the MLS. Those wanting to buy a beer in the stadium will have to wait until the new SSS. (Beer will most certainly be allowed there the same as at professional venues for basketball, baseball, & hockey).
Who is going consume it? 50 % of the people at utah soccer games are under 21. At least half of the adults are LDS who do not drink. That puts us at 25% available at least half that group should be designated drivers who should not. The rules in Utah stadiums say no beer after the seventh inning or middle of the second half. So prudnet drinkers might get 1 or 2 drinks. Utahs tough Dram Shop law means the opperators of the staduim must be vigilant to to prevent drunkedness and can bear some responsility in drunk driving injury suits. Other than the Sting games at the old ball park and 2 Blitzz games at Franklin-Covey the only beer soccer has been at the E-Center with the Freezz indoor. Beer sales were dead and barely paid the cost of the concession and labor. WHY WASTE THE INDUSTRIAL SOLVENT, FUEL VALUE AND CARBONATION BY-PRODUCTS OF NATURES PROTEIN CONCENTRATION PROCESS BY DRINKING IT?
No... that means there are 75% of the crowd available to get the 25% home... exxxxxxcellent... Actually, how can they pedal everyone home unless they have a Schwinn-sidecar or multiple seats or a big F'n basket between the handlebars? Ha ha hahhhhhhhhhhhhh, until the middle of the 2nd half, that's easily... uh... 3 beers by the 67th-1/2 minute for the prudent, maybe a dozen for the not-so-prudent. Yeast is God's child/creation too, let it procreate in barley sugars and be bottled or kegged by God's wishes for merriment. Did Jesus change water into wine or wine into water mah friend? You're right, this set up screams HARD ALCOHOL!!! Just funnin', from a kid brought up the RLDS way (Mormon lite)
Remember that little trade show/ski race we had back in Feb. 2002? -The Dutch were allowed to set up Heineken House and the Germans & Austrians also had "hospitality houses" where they were allowed to serve real beer. -Some country was using a faculty house on the U of U campus, and serving alcohol. (France?) -The Brewpubs were pouring your beer into a plastic cup & letting you walk the streets with it so they could turn their tables faster. With Dave Checketts at "forward" and guys like Jon Huntsman & Spencer Eccles "on the back line", maybe there will be a Revelation that Rice Eccles can serve beer. It will be watered-down, overpriced Budweiser; of course. But Money Talks. Or in this case Money Reveals Prophecy, the prophecy being that beer sales will help the Salt Lake Rockchucks make money. It probably won't happen, but I won't be surprised if it does.
To bad it takes the state legislature to change things. Sure these guys have the money to create some pull. The legislature "gets revelation" very slowly and nothing would change fast enough to effect the new MLS team. As a side note, it isnt the Jon Huntsman that is apperantly in on this deal. It is his son Jon Huntsman Jr. He still has money, but no quite the same coffers that his Dad has to draw on. But, he is running for Governor and he could create some pull from that spot to go along with his money.
I remember watching coverage of the Olympics and one of the newscasters from a local Sacramento station was overheard saying on-air "Where can you get some booze in this town!" They actually did a follow-up story on that accidental quote and showed all of the places you mentioned, along with a side on why Utah has the alcohol laws it does. So given the UoU set-up does this mean if you are caught drinking is R-ES that you can be arrested? Last place I want to wind up is in a Utah jail!
While there might possibly be some differences between MLS and college football policies at RES, after many years of following the Univ. of Utah football team, the only times I've seen people removed from the stadium for drinking have been when they have been behaving poorly enough to disrupt other fans. For the most part the worst that usually happens is security takes away their bottle. I hope the beer issue doesn't become a devisive issue with the local fans. Many fans may be dissapointed they can't drink in RES, while there are other local fans who do not approve of drinking (especially when it is against the rules). Hopefully all fans can peacefully coexist as the new team needs the support of all potential fans to succeed.
By "watered-down Bud", I meant the Utah Grocery Store 4% beer that the Delta Center & Franklin Covey sells; as opposed to the 5.5% or whatever that most sports facilities in other states sell but which you have to buy in a state store here.