Joshua ClaytonThe wait for a stance on alcohol sales in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium during the 2019 season could soon be over.
Ole Miss Interim Athletic Director Keith Carter says the administration will meet later this week with hopes of reaching a consensus for the upcoming football season. Carter expects an official announcement sometime next week before the Rebels’ home opener against Arkansas on Sep. 7.
Six SEC schools have confirmed they will sell beer and wine to fans in general seating of their football stadiums since the conference lifted its ban early this summer. Multiple schools have also already announced that alcohol will not be sold in 2019, but Ole Miss has yet to make a statement in either direction.
“It’s taken a little longer than we hoped, but I think we’re nearing the finish line and hopefully we can make that announcement in the near future,” Carter said.
The university’s three-month silence on the issue was amplified by an announcement from Southern Mississippi last week that they will begin to sell alcohol in M.M. Roberts Stadium this season, disgruntling most fans and boosters.
“We know that alcohol sales in our athletic venues is something that’s going to happen at some point. I think everybody on campus feels that way,” Carter said. “We just want to make sure that whether it be for football or basketball or baseball, we have all the resources and have done our due diligence to make sure we can handle that.
The athletics department has made several moves this offseason in an effort to improve ticket sales and fan experience with additional ticket purchasing options, party decks and upgraded concessions. Carter said season ticket sales are still not where they would like them to be.
“At the end of day, we’d love to sell out from a season ticket standpoint, but I think our industry is changing. The way people are getting tickets and consuming our games has changed. For us, it really doesn’t matter if you bought your ticket as a season ticket or as a walk-up ticket or a flex pass, we just want you there supporting our team.”
The university will also release other changes to improve fan experience next week as the home opener approaches, but all focus remains on whether Ole Miss will take the next step and sell alcohol in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2019.
