USC trustees to consider alcohol sales at sporting events

The University of South Carolina will consider selling alcohol at sporting events, school officials said Monday.

The school has released few details about the proposal, but USC spokesman Charles Bloom confirmed the board of trustees will hear a proposal to sell alcohol at sports venues at the board’s Tuesday meeting.

It’s unclear which facilities would be allowed to sell alcohol. t’s also unclear whether sales would include just beer and wine or other alcoholic drinks too.

Trustee Charles Williams would likely support the sale of beer and wine at Williams-Brice Stadium, he said.

“I don’t have a problem with it,” Williams said. “They don’t have any problems with it in professional stadiums.”

Until May 2019, the Southeastern Conference prohibited sale of alcohol to general admission ticket buyers. Shortly after the SEC lifted the ban, USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner told 107.5 FM the school would not sell alcohol during the 2019 football season.

Alcohol has been sold at Williams Brice during non-sporting events before. Last year, the company that runs Williams Brice’s concessions, Aramark Sports and Entertainment LLC, received a liquor license to sell alcohol for the Jay-Z/Beyoncé concert, according to a previous article from The State.

The proposal is listed on the minutes for both the executive governance committee and the full board of trustees, meaning the proposition could pass as early as Tuesday.

The Board of Trustees will meet at 9 a.m. at the Pastides Alumni Center, on Senate Street, on Tuesday, Dec. 17.