Is NC State Trustees Vote a step toward the end of “Pass-outs”?
By Tyler Young
The NC State Board of Trustees vote to approve alcohol paves the way for end of “pass-outs” policy.
On Wednesday, the N.C. State Board of Trustees voted to approve beer and wine sales at football and basketball games. Beer and wine had previously been available only in suites at both football and basketball and in special areas prior to game time at basketball games.
This vote could mean a lot for the atmosphere at games – and not just in the way alcohol usually does (for better or worse). In-stadium alcohol sales at Carter-Finley could be the catalyst that ends a polarizing policy at State football games.
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The so-called “Pass-out” policy is designed to allow someone to leave the stadium and return to their tailgate at halftime for whatever purpose they see fit and re-enter the stadium on the same ticket. This policy has some flaws that get exposed around the start of the third quarter, particularly in big games.
Carter-Finley has a spectacular atmosphere for big games. Having experienced many stadiums both in the stands and on the sidelines, there are few that can beat a big night game at the Carter. That is what makes the dip in energy after halftime so jarring. It’s gotten to the point where so few people are back in the stadium for the start of the third quarter that it doesn’t even feel like the same stadium some times.
I know many in the fanbase enjoy the ability to leave the stadium and return if they wish. It certainly has its benefits in a stadium thats starting to show its 52-year age. There is a valid argument that the facility needs renovations that may do more to fix the 3rd quarter problem that ending pass-outs would. Upgrades to bathroom and concession facilities should definitely be priorities in the near future.
Some fear that general alcohol sales will increase the kind of drunken mayhem that you see among some NFL fans and other college fan bases. But, these people are missing a major point of ending pass-outs, which is control of consumption. Selling alcohol in the stadium will allow event managers to exercise a measure of control over how much alcohol a patron consumes. Many will point to the airplane bottles that appear every game day as evidence of an inability to control patrons, but even if they still get those by security, volume consumed will still go down, thanks to inability to go get more or binge drink at halftime. An effective limit system enacted by concessions will ensure both a fun and safe atmosphere.
Basically, ending the pass-out policy will enliven the atmosphere at a critical time of the game while continuing to provide a safe environment suitable for families and children of all ages. The tide is turning and the evidence keeps building to rid the program of the policy. Even head coach Dave Doeren has stated on multiple occasions his dislike for the policy. We know how much a home field advantage can be for a team as well as he does, why wouldn’t the athletic department want to do more to make Carter-Finley an ear-rattling place for ACC teams to visit?