New Orleans Hornets and Miami Heat fans who attended the preseason exhibition game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center were able to purchase beer at concession counters – a rare feat at the dome.
Athletic Department officials said fans will also be able to drink alcohol in Tiger Stadium at the upcoming Saints games.
Associate Athletics Director Herb Vincent said the University and the Hornets executives discussed serving alcohol in order to help fans enjoy the game the same way they would if it had been played at the Hornets’ usual home venue, the New Orleans Arena.
Both the PMAC and Tiger Stadium do not serve alcohol during University athletic events.
“We’ve worked with both the Hornets and the Saints to provide the same experience to their fans that they have at the Superdome and the Arena,” Vincent said.
Vincent said the atmosphere at the arena was not much different from a normal basketball game played in the PMAC.
“I walked around during the first half of the game,” he said. “Everything went smoothly, and there was no change in the atmosphere. We also made sure all the precautions were taken to avoid selling alcohol to people under the age of 21.”
He said Tuesday’s game was not the first time vendors have sold alcohol in the PMAC.
“We allow alcohol to be served at private functions, like Mardi Gras balls in the PMAC,” he said. “But each event has to be approved by the chancellor before they can serve alcohol.”
David Heidke, director of LSU Dining, said each event where alcohol is sold has to be approved on a case-by-case basis.
“If we are asked to serve beer, we have to get a permit to do so,” Heidke said. “We had to get a special event permit from the Louisiana Alcoholic Beverage Commission.”
Vincent also said the University’s selling of alcohol at professional sporting events should not be interpreted as a move to serve alcohol at University events.
“We have not and will not be selling alcohol at LSU athletic events,” he said.
Contact Jeff Jeffrey at [email protected]