I don't think there's necessarily a lie. I think it's the pearl clutching at the horror of drunk fans in the stadium as though that isn't already happening, and happening in a manner that generates 0 income for the AD.
'People are flat-out slobs': Jamie Pollard
- Thread starter johnstoncy
- Start date
I don't think there's necessarily a lie. I think it's the pearl clutching at the horror of drunk fans in the stadium as though that isn't already happening, and happening in a manner that generates 0 income for the AD.
You've pretty much described me here. My biggest issue is that I don't have many options inside the game because I only drink water or coffee during the week. On weekends I'll have a couple of beers or a glass of whiskey. I've been off of sweetened soda for so long it actually makes me feel a little sick now when I drink it. I'm not going to drink coffee in the stands on a warm day early in the year and water to me is more sustenance than anything I actually "enjoy" drinking.
I'd probably buy a beer early in the first half, then grab one at the beginning of the second half. Not only is it so I have something to drink that has some flavor, but there is something to sitting in the stands on a warm day enjoying a beer. It has nothing to do with getting drunk for me. And honestly, once it gets cold, I'm probably switching to coffee as drinking coffee on a cold day is pretty enjoyable to me too.
JP is not wrong in that people are slobs, but it's far from an ISU problem. I was forced to go to a NASCAR race for my wife's work and had 2 beers dumped on me that day, it was because of an accident, not malicious, at least to me, but still, who spills 2 beers? At a Bears game the guy and his kids behind us decided they were leaving, but wanted to take thier cups with them, so just dumped them out on the floor, that spilled up to us and soaked the blanket we brought in that day. Similar things have happened at Cubs and White Sox games.
JP obviously has other motivation that he's just not willing to share, imo. These are things that most other sports stadiums deal with around the country and they are willing to deal with it. If he doesn't want to sell beer, fine. I agree, people are slobs, but I don't think attacking the fans that support your athletics is the best way to get his message across.
I'm extremely neutral on this whole debate. Yes, selling alcohol at games would bring in some nice needed extra revenue, especially to the collective since they'd likely sell Ames Lager. Do I also think people would get even more loaded during the game while drinking? Probably no more than they do with the booze they sneak in (me included probably hehe), but also maybe not because they're having to spend $10 (based off Johnny's and Sukup prices) per beer.
IF, and that's a big IF, Wendy and Huff give Jamie the green light to sell alcohol, it's going to be really funny watching the meltdown from fans after they announce that because of the rule change, they won't allow re-entry, because that's what our fan base does, whines about change.
IF, and that's a big IF, Wendy and Huff give Jamie the green light to sell alcohol, it's going to be really funny watching the meltdown from fans after they announce that because of the rule change, they won't allow re-entry, because that's what our fan base does, whines about change.
This is what I suspected.
They can sell beer, efficient or not, it can be done since it has been done at concerts. the idea that it might be slow will dictate how important it is to fans. if it takes 30 minutes to get 2 beers, you are going to miss a lot of the game.
I too like beer, but wouldn't spend the time to stand in line.
it works at other stadiums around the state and the league. Put up stands that just sell beer, make everyone that wants one get a wristband when they enter and it would slow nothing down. They do not need to sell it at the current concession stands.
Put the We Will Girls at each aisle and at the entrance
This is on top of having them roam the tailgate lots selling Ames Lager
Let's ******* go
It feels this is just one of those things now that no matter of reasoning/debate/data would change as he's digging his feet in....which he can do as the AD....but just looks stubborn as many have already mentioned and that is kind of funny just for what so many have mentioned is the tailgate culture which is what we hang our hat on (and helped CMC want to come here) but inside the stadium is a big "no no" or will make people even more slobby 
I do always find it funny that the official tailgate policy is "no glass bottles" and we all have seen MANY mini-bars set up with with lots of glass bottles.
The one thing that is MAYBE true is selling it would further clog up the concourse...but that should be more of a prompt to figure out concession mgt and flow better as that's a huge issue without booze.
I do always find it funny that the official tailgate policy is "no glass bottles" and we all have seen MANY mini-bars set up with with lots of glass bottles.
The one thing that is MAYBE true is selling it would further clog up the concourse...but that should be more of a prompt to figure out concession mgt and flow better as that's a huge issue without booze.
If Jamie doesn't want to sell beer to the general public because he thinks sukup makes more money that's fine just be honest. But calling the fans slobs is pretty dumb and uncalled for. Are there slobs? Yes. I'll admit I've been one before. But that isn't unique to ISU. People who are going to get too drunk will do so regardless of whether or not alcohol is sold in the stadium. Also pretty hilarious to get all uppity about drinking when the AD has a bunch of alcohol sponsors and it's always a point of pride that we drink cities out of Busch Light.
Selling booze at the game would help stop people from loading up before going into the stadium. How many people are chugging multiple beers on the way to the entrance to try and ride their buzz/drunkeness as far as they can into a 3.5 hour game.
It's also easier to sneak in liquor so people are slamming shooters at the game rather than having a beer.
I dont think in stadium booze sales would curb people slugging beers on the walk in. I know it wouldnt change my routine.
Hard liquor is actually against the rules too, but that obviously is just a suggestion.It feels this is just one of those things now that no matter of reasoning/debate/data would change as he's digging his feet in....which he can do as the AD....but just looks stubborn as many have already mentioned and that is kind of funny just for what so many have mentioned is the tailgate culture which is what we hang our hat on (and helped CMC want to come here) but inside the stadium is a big "no no" or will make people even more slobby
I do always find it funny that the official tailgate policy is "no glass bottles" and we all have seen MANY mini-bars set up with with lots of glass bottles.
The one thing that is MAYBE true is selling it would further clog up the concourse...but that should be more of a prompt to figure out concession mgt and flow better as that's a huge issue without booze.
If someone who is standing at the gates is faced with the choice of chugging a couple of beers they already own or standing in a 30 minute line to buy an $18 tall boy... well... here's a visual of the decision that person is going to make.
then once in the stadium:
I can assure you if you aren’t having drunkard problems in your section now, you won’t if beer is sold in the stadium either.
I’m sure it was. They don’t sell beer regularly. If they did, efficiency would improve. Practice makes perfect!
I respect JP's right to call us slobs, I just wish he'd be consistent about it. For example:
January 1, 2025
DearCyclone FansSlobs,
We hope you slobs had a safe holiday season and were able to share it with your slob family and friends.
Before we begin preparing for the new year and beyond, it is important to reflect on 2024 and remindourselvesyou slobs how fortunate we have been to experience the excitement and success of Cyclone Athletics.
From our football team’s most successful season ever, capped by a thrilling 42-41 victory in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, to both our basketball programs being nationally ranked, our wrestling team’s return to national prominence, our men’s cross country team finishing as national runner-up for the second time in three years, and two of our student-athletes earning national individual championships, as well as our student-athletes continuing to excel in the classroom and the community, it is a wonderful time to be aCycloneslob.
None of these successes would be possible without the tremendous support from ourgenerous and loyal alums, donors, ticket holders and fansslobs. Your support of our program has truly been the backbone of our success. On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, I say thank you slobs.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are in the midst of the most transformational period in intercollegiate athletics history. From the impact of conference realignment, changes to the college football playoff system, the transfer portal, and revenue sharing with student-athletes, the financial realities facing athletics departments have never been more daunting.
The financial pressure facing our athletics program is no different. The annual cost to fund our athletics department will increase by over 20% in 2025 (approximately $20M) due to sharing revenues with our student-athletes, securing Coach Campbell and Coach Otzelberger to long-term contracts, and changes to Big 12 Conference and College Football Playoff revenue distributions.
The good news is we have spent the past several months working closely with Dr. Wintersteen and her leadership team to develop strategies, all focused on creating a financial pathway forward for our athletics program. She believes it is critically important to Iowa State University for the athletics program to continue to compete at the highest level. However, in order do that, we must be willing to make difficult, and in some cases unpopular, decisions.
The purpose of this letter is to share several decisions we are making to help address the $20M increase in our department’s expenditures. Although none of us like price increases, we must make these changes. We have prided ourselves on not asking you for what we can get, but rather asking you for what we need. That philosophy has served our department, andfan baseslobs, extremely well throughout the years, and we believe that these changes are no different.
- We are raising the annual Cyclone Club giving levels by 20%, starting with the 2025 drive year. You will receive your renewal notice in February from the Cyclone Club.
- We will begin adding state sales tax on all ticket sales beginning in the Fall 2025 (currently we pay the state sale tax out of the ticket price). Adding state sales tax to all ticket sales will allow us to better align financially with those Big 12 institutions that are tax exempt in their respective states, or institutions that are already adding sales tax (K-State) or are in the process of adding sales tax (Iowa).
- We are increasing the price of women’s basketball season tickets from $199 to $249 to reflect demand and help fund the costs of sharing revenues with our women’s basketball student-athletes.
In addition, we are continuing to explore other opportunities to increase revenues and/or reduce expenses, including asking our coaches and department heads to reduce their respective annual operating budgets by 10%.
We could not have picked a better time for our athletics program to be faced with these financial challenges. Slob attendance at our athletic events is at an all-time high, we have secured our most prominent coaches to long-term contracts, and the Big 12 Conference remains committed to identifying and pursuing new revenue opportunities for the membership.
We are also excited about the progress being made on CyTown and look forward to ground being broken on the first buildings this spring. Although CyTown’s direct revenues are earmarked for enhancements in and around the Iowa State Center, the indirect revenues associated with having additional conferences, concerts, and other events in CyTown will help our athletics program.
In closing, I want to thank you slobs once again. We would not be enjoying these successes without your continued loyal generosity.
I hope you slobs have a wonderful 2025. Happy New Year!
I don’t have a dog in the fight as I live too far to regularly attend games in person but for the handful of those characterizing people who would like to beer sales in JTS to alcoholism..let’s clutch those pearls even harder.
