UA basketball fans will have a chance to enjoy a cold beer at McKale Center starting next season.
The Arizona State Liquor Board on Thursday gave the green light for the university to sell beer and wine to fans during home basketball games.
The five-person board was unanimous in its decision, assured by UA officials that the university would take a number of precautions to make sure alcohol is handled responsibly at McKale Center.
Board member Michael Widener pressed two university officials on how they were going to ensure alcohol sales will not impact traffic after UA games.
UA Associate Vice President Joel Hauff assured the liquor board the university has traffic control measures already in place and those are not unlikely to change — since many of the games already sell out.
Widener noted the UA has been selling alcohol — albeit in smaller venues — for a number of years.
"This is not your first rodeo," he said.
University officials had initially hoped to start selling alcohol at McKale as early as January, confident that would occur after getting the backing of the majority of the Tucson City Council in early December.
A written complaint filed by a former administrative law judge who was concerned that selling beer and wine would lead to a rise in violent crimes, minors consuming alcohol and DUIs, delayed the board's vote to Thursday.
UA officials said beer and wine will be sold at McKale in plastic cups, no bottle or cans will be allowed. Cost will range between $6 and $8 a cup, they said.
