Texas Tech basketball: Beer to be sold at USA for first time
Today’s Texas Tech basketball home game against Kansas State marks the first time that beer will be sold at a Red Raider sporting event.
As if the United Supermarkets Arena did not already have one of the craziest fan bases in the nation, starting today, the Texas Tech basketball team’s home atmosphere may become even more chaotic. That is because beer will be sold today for the first time at any Texas Tech sporting event.
Last month, the university’s board of regents approved alcohol sales at all sporting events to go along with slashed concession prices and other game day improvements (mostly at Jones Stadium). Tech is likely using the United Supermarkets Arena as a testing ground for the implementation of the new alcohol policy so that they can iron out any unforeseen issued before next fall’s football season.
https://twitter.com/TechAthletics/status/1080914741709754368
Texas Tech joins a growing list of schools that are trying to find new ways to improve fan attendance in an age when the public is able to consume multiple games at one time in the comfort of their own home. But unlike the Texas Tech football crowds, Texas Tech basketball fans have been showing up in record numbers.
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Today’s game is already sold out, something that was once unheard of in the 15,000-seat USA for even games against Texas or Kansas. But now, Tech has sold out a game against a team that incites almost no ill will from the fan base as Red Raider basketball is the hottest ticket in town.
Last year, Tech posted a 17-1 record at home thanks in large part to crowds that were as intense as any in the Big 12, if not the entire nation. But it will be interesting to see if beer sales will have any noticeable impact on the overall behavior of the crowd.
After all, while sober last year, the students made unfortunate national news when they berated OU freshman star Tre Young with a profane chant and stormed the court after beating West Virginia leading to one student being punched by a Mountaineer player.
Ultimately, there will likely not be any huge changes in the atmosphere and fan behavior as beer sales will become part of normal life just as it did when we all turned 21. In fact, some studies suggest selling alcohol at college sporting events may actually decrease binge drinking.
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Regardless, today’s game will be historic for fans of the suds. For many, being able to buy a beer while at a Red Raider sporting event is a dream come true. Now, you can realize that dream for just $8 a pop.