Plans to allow beer sales at Illinois Field and Eichelberger Field for baseball and softball games are also being finalized, the school said.
"We are continually looking for ways to improve fan engagement and augment our in-game fan experience," athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "The opportunity to purchase beer at our events was the number one request in a postseason survey of our football ticket holders. Fans indicated beer sales would encourage their use of purchased tickets and would increase the length of time they stayed in the stands. Schools with public beer sales generally see fewer alcohol-related issues. We have spoken with several peer institutions offering beer to ensure we are following best practices for implementing this change. We have studied the issue extensively and, with the collaboration and support of our colleagues in various offices across campus, we feel now is the right time to add this new element to our game-day experience."
More than 50 of the 129 teams in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision sell beer in their stadiums, according to the school, including fellow Big Ten members Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue and Rutgers. Alcohol sales have also been approved at NCAA Championship events.
Wine and mixed drinks will continue to only be sold in premium club/suite areas of Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center.