Fans at Falcon Stadium will be able to buy beer, wine

Air Force is joining a trend among college football programs nationwide by allowing beer and wine to be sold to fans attending games at Falcon Stadium.

Cash-only purchases will be allowed one hour before opening kickoff through the midpoint of the third quarter, the academy announced Thursday.

Customers will be limited to two beverages at each point of sale, available inside Gate 5 and Gate 6 above sections M1 and M15, and fans can return to their seats with those beverages.

Cadets, cadet candidates, anyone in military uniform or anyone without proper picture/age identification won’t be allowed to purchase beer or wine.

“We started a fan-engagement committee two years ago and one of the desired improvements was to offer alcohol in a controlled setting at games,” Air Force athletic director Jim Knowlton said in a news release. “We have worked hard with our teammates on base to ensure we have best practices in place to keep Falcon Stadium a family-friendly environment. We are confident we can do this responsibly and successfully and add to the fan experience.”

The prevalence of alcohol sales to fans at college football games has risen in recent years, with more than one-quarter of the Football Bowl Subdivision, about 40 schools, offering at least beer, according to a June report by CBS Sports. Many of those schools have developed vital revenue streams from those sales — including Texas, which totaled $3.1 million last year over just six home games.

Air Force will be first among the three service academies to offer alcohol sales to the public at football games. Army and Navy restrict such sales to their premium seating, a similar policy utilized by the University of Colorado. Colorado State will offer public sales of beer at its new oncampus stadium.