Texas A&M sold alcohol to fans in general public seating areas for the first time in the 2019 season. Aggies AD Ross Bjork is pleased with the results.

The athletic department announced this week that alcohol sales generated $1.3 million in revenue (split between Texas A&M athletics and its concession partner). According to a report by Hope Barnett of KBTX-TV, the athletic department surveyed 2,500 people, with 40 percent saying they purchased alcohol at an Aggies football game in 2019.

“The person who sits in the upper deck, the top row, now has the same sort of amenity as the person who has the private suite,” Bjork told Barnett.

Bjork noted that local brews did well at Kyle Field.

“Having the local flavors in there is a neat thing for our community and for our fans,” Bjork said.

Arrest concerns come with increased access to alcohol, but Texas A&M saw positive results.

“I think Aggies always want to do things the right way,” said Bjork. “We did not see an incremental increase; in fact, at some games, there were actually less compared to some games in the past with a similar crowd.”

The 2019 season was the first time the SEC allowed alcohol sales. Out of the conference, Texas A&M’s numbers from alcohol sales closely align with West Virginia’s revenue from recent seasons ($1.4 million in 2018, $1.3 million in 2017).