Mitch Barnhart announces beer and seltzer sales coming to football and basketball games
By Keith Farner
Published:
Mitch Barnhart on Friday at a year-end press conference announced that Kentucky would sell beer and seltzer at all athletic events this coming season.
UK has already tested beer sales at baseball and softball games this season, and has not seen any alcohol-related issues. It went well as fans enjoyed it, and there were no issues reported, Barnhart told the media.
The SEC in 2019 allowed alcohol sales, but UK chose to not participate until this past spring. At UK baseball games, Bud Light and Bud Light Seltzers cost $9, and Michelob Ultra was $10.
When the first announcement was made in February, Barnhart said the Wildcats took their time on the issue.
“Our priority is, as always, to positively impact our student athletes and the experience of our fans,” Barnhart said. “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.”
Kentucky will begin the 2023 football season at home against Ball State on Sept. 2. The Cats have 7 home games on the 2023 slate — Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
