I believe that reversing the ban on alcohol at University of Colorado sporting events is a great opportunity that the university is currently not taking advantage of. Doing so will represent positive change for the athletic department, CU students and fans, and the university as a whole. Based on figures from other universities, alcohol sales at sporting events, specifically football and men’s basketball would likely amount to over $1 million in additional revenue per year, an extremely lucrative boost to these lagging finances. This would make the department more financially self-sufficient and the additional funds could be utilized in a multitude of advantageous ways. The CU athletic department is regularly struggling financially and on average only makes about $1 million in profit per year (on $60 million in total revenue) and this is even with the university subsidizing roughly 25% of their yearly operating costs. Just two sports-football and men’s basketball actually produce profit; all of the other sports operate at a loss. On top of that, this year because of CU switching conferences from the Big-12 to the Pac-12 they had to forfeit their TV revenue for one year and also pay a sizable exit fee. The result was a $16 million deficit for the year. $6 million of that deficit was taken care of through private donations but the athletic department had to borrow $10 million from CU-Boulder and the Colorado University system in order to make up for the difference. In addition to this the athletic department is still paying off an $8 million loan it took in 2006 for, among other things, paying off the contract of fired head football coach Garry Barnett. The financial issues both for the university and the athletic department are further exasperated by the fact that Colorado ranks 48th in the country in terms of state funding for public education.

In order to improve finances the athletic department has undertaken unpopular measures such as scheduling football road games at powerhouse programs with no return trip. Essentially they are trading a paycheck for a guaranteed loss, a practice that is extremely unpopular amongst CU fans, and, while initially profitable, can have long-term detrimental effects both financially and competitively. They also are seriously considering whoring out the naming rights to Folsom Field, and in doing so would allow for one of the original buildings on campus and a historic structure whose name has stood for 89 years to be taken over by consumerism. Similarly, it seems ironic that that our basketball arena is named after a beer company and yet it is somehow ‘taboo’ to sell beer in that arena. It’s also  strange that the university is willing to spend $7 million to put up new scoreboards and tens of millions into facilities improvements all in the name of enhancing the fan experience and yet they refuse to do something that would enhance the fan experience and not only wouldn’t cost them anything but would actually make them money.

An additional issue I hope reversing this ban will address is safety and the fan experience. Currently there is heavy binge drinking that routinely takes place prior to games. Because patrons are not allowed to bring alcohol into stadiums or purchase it once inside they are instead forced to get their fill prior to games. Binge drinking can have direct personal consequences such as alcohol poisoning and it can lead to increased amount of and more severe cases of intoxication and in turn disorderly conduct. People become a danger to themselves and a danger and nuisance to those around them. The result is a less safe and less enjoyable stadium atmosphere. Just last year West Virginia University repealed a ban on alcohol sales at their sporting events and the result was fewer alcohol related incidents then in pervious years. In our culture alcohol and athletics are strongly linked. People will always be drinking at games regardless of CU’s policies; they might as well be the ones who control, regulate, and are the beneficiaries of this practice. Furthermore with regards to the fan experience I see a lack of accountability on the part of the athletic department to appease their fans. While there is much more that goes into this then just alcohol sales, fans are by in large unhappy with the general product being produced. There are approximately 30,000 season ticket holders between football and men’s basketball and tens-of-thousands of other fans who purchase single-game tickets. These tickets are not cheap. These are CU’s customers and as with any business the athletic department should be accountable to their patrons. It is the fans who cheer for the teams, purchase tickets, merchandise, apparel, and concessions, and the fans are the reason why ESPN and Fox are willing to shell out $3 billion (over $20 million a year to CU) for the rights to broadcast games. In essence, the fans subsidize the athletic program and thus failure to create a quality product is not only in poor taste but can also be detrimental to the financial issues described above. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Colorado produces some of the greatest beer in the world and the combination of beer and sports is a time-honored American tradition. It’s time for CU to reap the benefits of this custom. Please sign the petition and help to bring the prohibition of Folsom (prison) to its well justified end. Go Buffs.