In the heart of New Haven, Connecticut, nestled among the historic buildings and picturesque autumn foliage, Yale University geared up for the first football game of the 2023 season. This wasn't just any game, it was a matchup between Yale's Bulldogs and the Holy Cross Crusaders, who had already played two games on their schedule. The excitement in the air was palpable, but there was a new twist to this year's game: alcohol beer sales were being introduced for the first time within the fenced in stadium. I visited this event with my Fiancee Terra and two of her closest friends, and it was very fun!

Yale University had long prided itself on its traditions and academic excellence, but it was also keen to embrace change and modernize certain aspects of campus life. One of those changes was the decision to reintroduce beer sales at the football games as a way to enhance the overall fan experience and generate some additional revenue for the university, albeit within a mapped out white picket fenced in area inside the stadium grounds, but not in the stands.

As the day of the big game arrived, the tailgate parties around the Yale Bowl were in full swing. The smell of grilled sausages and burgers wafted throughout the crisp autumn air, mingling with the scent of the still green fall leaves and the sound of the Yale Precision Marching Band blastingvcollege tunes around the parking lot. Fans from both sides, adorned in their respective team colors, mingled and shared stories of past clashes between these titans.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was electric. The decision to introduce alcohol beer sales didn’t appear to have drawn a larger crowd than usual, as about 5000 paid spectators, with alumni, students, and football enthusiasts attended and purchased the usual food, soft drinks and water. The stands were a scattered sea of blue and purple, with the occasional splash of other Ivy League colors from visiting fans, none of whom had a cold beer beside them. Alcohol has been banned for the past 60 years inside the Yale Bowl, and outside alcoholic beverages were and still are not allowed past the ticket gates.

The historic Yale Bowl, with its Class of 1954 Field, is one of the true treasures in American sports and celebrated its 100th birthday in 2014. It was the largest athletic stadium in the world and the first football venue with seating completely surrounding the field when it opened on Nov. 21, 1914, for a game against Harvard. It may at one time have sold beer…..but I can not confirm.

The famous Yale Bowl has been a college football landmark ever since, while also hosting National Football League Games, international soccer, lacrosse, tennis, concerts, TV advertisements, movies and the 1995 Special Olympic World Games. Yet like some other universities around the country, alcohol has been banned inside the stadium. It was in 2011 that a woman was killed as she tailgated in the parking lot outside the Yale Bowl, by a U-Haul truck carrying a keg of beer. Needless to say, this was very detrimental to the college football atmosphere of students tailgating and playing drinking games that most are accustomed to prior to “The Big Game”. The administration has continued to keep the ban, until now.

I reached out to the Athletic Director for Yale, but have not heard back. I can only assume that something has changed, whether it be sponsorship or an additional revenue to help the athletic teams, but it is a start and hopefully something larger will come of it. We entered the Beer Garden after showing our ID’s and got the red Budweiser wrist band to prove our ages and then purchased a few beers and spoke to the vendor in charge, Bill Dwyer of Shamrock Concessions. He said this was the first year for the Beer Garden and that he was just trying to see how the day went. No pressure, a dozen tables for folks to stand at, and some other food nearby for the hungry fans in attendance. No children were allowed within the fenced off area, and the beers had to be consumed before you could leave, other than that, there was no beer allowed anywhere else. All in all, everyone there was laughing with each other or talking and watching other fans stroll the concession areas. It was a peaceful calm.

The game itself was a rollercoaster of emotions as the two teams swapped scores every quarter. The Bulldogs and the Crusaders , exchanged touchdowns and field goals throughout the four quarters with Yale eventually falling at home. The tension in the stadium was palpable as the clock ticked down to the final moments of regulation play, but everyone inside was calm, not rowdy or boisterous. Nobody seemed drunk. Fans enjoyed their cold beverages responsibly, knowing that they were part of a historic moment in Yale's history. The introduction of beer sales had not led to unruly behavior but had instead added to the camaraderie and excitement of the event, it was refreshing.

It was a day that showcased the best of Yale—tradition, innovation, and a commitment to creating a memorable experience for all, including myself. Thank you Yale for the memories, I will be back soon, hopefully drinking a beer at my seat as I watch you win one!