Kentucky will begin selling alcohol at baseball and softball games this spring, the university announced on Friday afternoon.

The Wildcats will begin a pilot program for alcohol sales in those sports this spring. However, no other spring sports will be included in the program, per the release.

“Our priority is, as always, to positively impact our student athletes and the experience of our fans,” athletic director Mitch Barnhart said in a release. “As has been our longstanding practice, we approached this deliberately, keeping in mind our priorities and principles.  We focused on data and the lessons learned and best practices from other institutions.  After careful consideration of these factors, we concluded that the time is right to implement a pilot program at baseball and softball games this season so that we can learn more.”

Here are more details from the press release regarding this pilot program:

  • Alcohol beverage sales will include beer and seltzer products, sold in cans or cups
  • Sales will have a limit of two per transaction.
  • Identification check will take place at each transaction.
  • Alcohol sales at baseball will conclude at the completion of the top of the seventh inning (i.e., middle of the seventh).
  • Alcohol sales at softball will conclude at the completion of the top of the fifth inning (i.e., middle of the fifth).

Kentucky baseball’s home-opener is on Feb. 21. The Wildcats’ softball program will begin its home slate on March 8.

It’s possible Kentucky will begin selling alcohol at football games in the coming years. As of February 2023, Kentucky is 1 of only 3 SEC teams (Georgia and Auburn) that does not allow alcohol sales in general seating areas at football games.

The SEC lifted its stadium-wide ban on alcohol back in the spring of 2019.