UNCW Board of Trustees approves sale of alcohol at Trask starting Saturday

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The UNCW Board of Trustees has approved the sale of alcohol at athletic events at Trask Coliseum starting Saturday, Oct. 26.

Sales will begin with UNCW’s home women’s exhibition basketball game against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday.

A vote on alcohol sales at other UNCW facilities will take place in January or February.

Aramark, the university’s food service provider, has received a temporary ABC permit and a license from the City of Wilmington. The ABC permit will be made permanent in January.

Beer and wine sales will begin when gates open 90 minutes before tipoff for basketball games. Sales will stop at the first media timeout in the second half of men’s games and at the beginning of the third quarter of women’s games.

Only one alcoholic beverage will be allowed to be purchased per transaction, per state law, but there is no per-event limit. However, officials say that alcohol will not be served to those who are clearly intoxicated.

Beer only will be sold in cans or plastic bottles.

UNCW student Christopher Eron applauds the move, saying “honestly, I think it was one of the best things that UNCW could’ve done because from a funding point of view, it’s going to give them a lot more money that they don’t have to fund raise in other ways."

Student Skylar Johnson believes that the availability of beer will at Trask Stadium will discourage harmful and illegal drinking behaviors.

“I think if you can legally purchase it there it would be a little bit easier than trying to drive there under the influence, a little safer maybe for some folks," he says.

Most beer and wine will be $8 per unit with the university splitting the profit 50/50 with Aramark, who will cover the cost of the sales. The university’s profit will go toward the athletics department.

UNCW junior Kaitlin Mitzler isn’t old enough to buy alcohol yet, but her parents are excited about taking full advantage of this new announcement.

“I think parents would definitely like it as well because I know that my parents like to go and grab a couple of beers at sporting events so I think it would be great for them as well," she said.

Wristbands, which are required for alcohol purchases, will be available at station upstairs and downstairs at the C gate.

There will be one station selling alcohol downstairs. There will be up to eight registers in use upstairs in the Golden Hawk Room.

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