Cracking a beer is often as much a part of the football tailgate experience as the game itself, and in recent years college stadiums have been making that easier than ever.
A new poll by The Associated Press shows more and more college stadiums have started offering some level of alcohol service during games.
The AP polled 69 schools, including those in the Power Five conferences and Notre Dame in Indiana, and found that 55 of them, or 80%, now publicly sell alcohol during game days. Some of the rest of those 69 schools may also sell alcohol in controlled areas of the venue, like suites.
Michigan football analyst resigns amid sign-stealing investigation
The NCAA is investigating Michigan for allegedly sending people to opponents’ games to record video that would be used to decode their signals.
Alcohol sales in college stadiums picked up speed nationwide after college football's Southeastern Conference relaxed rules around serving it during games in the late 2010s. Before then, just 20 schools had alcohol for public sale in their stadiums.
Some schools moved quickly to offer alcohol in the following years. Others, like the University of Michigan, are phasing in alcohol sales at other collegiate stadiums before opening the taps for football fans.
While stadium offers still don't typically compete with the prices fans pay for their tailgate beers, sales have nonetheless become a new revenue stream for athletic programs, sometimes bringing in millions of dollars in an athletic year.
