For some schools, beer is answer

For some schools, the answer to pleasing their fans — and improving the bottom line — is as simple as beer.

Of the 72 schools playing in Football Bowl Subdivision’s automatic qualifying conferences, West Virginia is one of 10 to sell beer to general fans at home football games. Athletics director Oliver Luck says it helps the so- called “fan experience” work because fans are not allowed to re- enter Milan Puskar Stadium during games.

“We’re making $ 700,000 a year on beer sales, and I’ve yet to meet an athletic director that isn’t interested in improving the revenue stream,” Luck says.

The NCAA doesn’t regulate beer sales — conferences or individual schools adopt their own policies. Luck says West Virginia, the only Big 12 school that allows it, started the practice when the Mountaineers were in the Big East.

One Big Ten school sells beer, Minnesota, while there are two in the Atlantic Coast Conference: Syracuse and Miami ( Fla.). No schools in the Southeastern Conference or Pac- 12 allow it.