Nebraska regents approve alcohol sales at Husker football, volleyball games

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — You’ll be able to enjoy an ice-cold adult beverage at all Husker sporting events starting next fall.

On Friday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents expanded the sale of alcohol in a 7-1 vote.

That means beer will be flowing for football games at Memorial Stadium and volleyball games at the Bob Devaney Center.

Alcohol sales were already permitted at Nebraska basketball, baseball and softball games. Nebraska was the only Big Ten school that didn’t serve alcohol at football games.

NU President Dr. Jeffrey Gold said a portion of the revenue from alcohol sales will go toward an investment in “alcohol safety programs.”

UNL student Caidyn Carraher said the decision has been a long time coming.

“It’s something else to do,” he said.

Carraher said will stay around longer “still having fun at the game, whether it’s a blowout or not.”

Another student, Maggie Fisher, said selling alcohol at the games might change the environment at Memorial Stadium.

“It’s not my favorite idea,” she said. “I like the idea of Memorial staying a family-friendly place, and obviously, being able to buy alcohol there is not going to help that.”

Fisher is worried fans will get out of control while under the influence.

That’s the same reason Regent Kathy Wilmot cast the only vote against the idea.

“We’re overlooking the fact that these are family events, we’re setting examples,” she said. “We’re putting things out there that we say we often want to protect our children from. And so I guess I feel like we’re sort of selling our soul.”

Another woman said the decision is a good idea because less people will be rushed to drink before the game starts.

And Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen also told the board that prior to the vote.

He said the current attitude among many fans is, “Hurry up and drink now, before we go into the stadium, because we can’t drink during the game.”

Dannen said allowing alcohol in the stadium will change that.

But he said it won’t affect the tailgating tradition.