University of Maine hockey fans will be able to buy beer at Black Bear games beginning next season.
The university announced on Wednesday it will create a beer garden likely to be adjacent to the school’s Alfond Arena where the UMaine men’s and women’s hockey teams play their games.
It will be open to all ticket-holders at least 21 years of age and further details will be released this summer.
UMaine athletic director Jude Killy said there are a “lot of logistics” that will have to be worked out, including what kind of facility it will be and exactly where they will put it.
“There will be a lot of people pulled into the conversation,” he said.
He also said it will be a pilot project that will be assessed at the end of the next season.
UMaine is one of just three schools among the 11-team Hockey East men’s league that doesn’t sell beer to the public at its hockey games. Northeastern University in Boston and the University of Vermont are the other two.
However, people who rent luxury boxes at Alfond Arena have access to all types of alcohol.
There is a beer tent at home football games and it can also be purchased at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, where the UMaine men’s basketball team played two regular season games.
The football beer garden will be upgraded and there will also be improved student ticketing procedures for hockey and football games and a new arena lighting system.
Bangor Daily News readers were previously polled as to whether or not they would favor beer sales at hockey games. Of the 227 who responded to the survey, 152 were in favor and 75 were against it for a 67 percent majority.
“We are pleased to look at ways that we can enhance the game-day experience for our fans,” said Killy. “We will continue to look at future possibilities that will help create a great game day atmosphere for our fans and give our student-athletes and coaches a true home advantage.”
Last fall, Boston College athletic director and former UMaine AD Blake James, Providence College AD Steve Napolillo and University of New Hampshire AD Allison Rich said the selling of beer/wine has been beneficial and a revenue-producer.
Napolillo said the selling of beer and wine has been a “home run” and a “win-win” for the institution and the fans.
“College hockey is a business and it’s not enough to be just a family-friendly option any more,” said Hockey East associate commissioner Brian Smith in October. “You need to be able to engage a different variety and wide spectrum of fans who want to come to games for different reasons.”
He also pointed out that it increases attendance so student-athletes are receiving a better experience because they are playing in front of larger crowds.
Rich said they are always looking to provide their fans with the “best game-day experience we can.”
James said the addition of beer and wine sales at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill beginning during the 2017-18 season wasn’t a game-changer but it did provide some useful revenue.
“We feel it can be profitable,” said Killy.
The men’s hockey team has reached the Hockey East semifinals and will also play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season this year. The Black Bears played in front of 11 sellout crowds in 17 games at Alfond Arena.
