RENO, Nev. (AP)- Beer sales will continue at Nevada̢۪s Mackay Stadium during the upcoming Wolf Pack football season with stepped up security and increased monitoring at concession stands, university president Milton Glick said Tuesday.
School officials had considered banning beer sales after a number of fans had expressed concerns that “alcohol had a negative impact on their game-day experience,â€Â Glick said.
“Yet, at the same time, these fans also said that they didn’t necessarily want the removal of alcohol, provided that measures were taken to improve the security and the behavior of certain fans at our home games,â€Â he said.
As a result, Glick said that at least for the upcoming season, sales were continue on the basis of one beer per person at a time and cut off at the conclusion of halftime.
“We’re going to improve security. We’re going to have tougher gate control,â€Â he said.
“We are hopeful that by continuing the limited sale of beer at our home games, as well as adding several new steps in our safety and fan behavior awareness program at Mackay, we will be able to find a good middle ground for all concerned,â€Â he said.
Glick said an online survey conducted by the university showed that 78 percent of season ticket holders supported the continued sale and consumption of beer and alcohol.
At the same time, 51 percent felt that the sale of beer and alcohol had a negative impact on the fan- and family friendly environment.
Glick said the university also took into account a student Senate resolution passed earlier this year that reiterated support of the current alcohol policy.
Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth said other changes will include additional training of security, ushers and sales personnel; encouragement of fans to report unruly behavior; new methods for such reports to be expeditiously handled by security; heightened awareness of the fans responsibility to create a fan- and family friendly venue through more signs and game-day policy information.
The university will enforce a “no toleranceâ€Â policy inside Mackay Stadium for any inappropriate behavior, she said.
If a fan is ejected, they may face arrest. If the fan is a season ticket holder, they will lose their season ticket privileges.
Fresno State sophomore Abdul Binsaeid, a finance major, disagrees with the decision.
“Nevada is a different state, prostitution is legal, just because Nevada has it doesn’t mean California should,â€Â he said.