USC Beer Ban

Since BoiFromTroy is taking a brief hiatus, we thought we would wonder into Trojan Country to keep you updated on the USC Beer Ban. (Yes, we know the story is old news, but multiple fans have e-mailed asking what the status was and if the rumored demise of the ban was true)

From City News Service Yesterday:

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Beginning with USC's home opener against Arkansas on Saturday night, alcohol no longer will be served at USC games at the Coliseum under a newly reached agreement between the school and the stadium management.

``We're all set,'' Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch told the Los Angeles Times. ``We will not be serving.''

When USC announced in June that beer would no longer be sold at the Coliseum during Trojan games, stadium executives responded by saying there would have to be compensation for lost revenue from beer sales.

The Coliseum netted more than $700,000 in beer sales at USC games last season, more than half of its $1.4 million profit for 2004, the Daily News reported earlier this year.

Lynch told the Times that the agreement with USC was reached recently, that no formal document is in place, and no specific dollar figure had been agreed upon, ``but we have an understanding on all issues.''

Fans will still have the opportunity to buy beer before games. USC announced that Aramark, a concession company, would sell beer provided by one of the university's corporate sponsors outside the stadium, The Times reported.

A temporary facility will be located near the intersection of Figueroa and 39th streets and accommodate nearly 1,000 people, USC Associate Athletic Director Jose Eskenazi told The Times. It will be open three hours before game-time and close before kickoff.