Beer flows into Perkins Stadium
October 3, 2017
Beer will be available for purchase inside Perkins Stadium concession stands beginning with the UW-Whitewater Warhawk football home opener Oct. 7. Sales are anticipated to continue for the rest of the season.
Fans will no longer be allowed to tailgate during games, but can still tailgate before and afterwards. Also, once fans leave a game, re-entry will not be allowed, said Assistant Chief of UW-Whitewater Police Services Matthew Schwartz.
“We will likely reallocate some of our staff or resources, but overall, it [beer sales] will have little impact on staffing,” Schwartz said.
Conversations about beer sales were ongoing, according to grounds crew leader Mike Miller. There should not be any issues of cleaning up more trash around the stadium after games, he said.
“We will have appropriate trash receptacles for the disposal of the containers, but it will not involve having more staff cleaning up afterwards,” Miller said.
Conversations on the possible addition of beer sales at Perkins Stadium circulated at UW-Whitewater for several seasons. Meetings were held over the last few years regarding potential alcohol sales at the stadium, said Schwartz.
The UW-Whitewater police do not expect the incorporation of beer sales and the changes to tailgating to increase rowdiness in fans, but do expect that the new adjustments will require a learning curve.
Julie • Oct 4, 2017 at 10:17 pm
The university has changed the policy & we can now leave & return to the stadium as before. Your response was awesome. Such great traditions here!
Tina • Oct 4, 2017 at 7:14 pm
I don’t drink beer…why should I be penalized by not being able to leave a game and return. If I want food I have to eat what’s for sale instead of eating my snacks? Will you then allow that to be brought in? What about smokers who want a cigarette? Will there be an area now? Leave it the way it was…if it’s not broken don’t try to fix it!
Chris • Oct 4, 2017 at 6:36 pm
As a recent UWW student, love that they are selling beer at Perkins. However, I’m extremely disappointed in the changes to tailgating. Going back to the games, especially going back for homecoming, tailgating all day is one of my fondest memories. I understand why they might want to have no re-entry, and I get the risks and downfalls of the tailgating, but anyone who has every experienced UWW tailgating knows its one-of-a-kind. Students and future students will be missing out on a memorable experience. I know almost all of my peers would agree that the tailgating all day is one of the best things about games at Perkins, but I get it, UWW admins and the city love to get rid of things that make UWW appealing and unique.
Anyways, wish the policies for tailgating wouldn’t change, and would love to see how people are reacting to it. Otherwise, good article, keep repping great student journalism.