Univ. of Alabama said that it had worked out a deal with city of Tuscaloosa to lift the proposed service fee for events selling alcoholGary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY Sports
The Univ. of Alabama’s plan to “introduce booze sales at sporting events is back in motion,” as the fight between the city of Tuscaloosa and the school over the issue “appears to be over,” according to Michael Casagrande of the BIRMINGHAM NEWS. Tuscaloosa and UA had “rare public sparring over a plan to sell alcohol at Crimson Tide sporting events,” but the two sides “announced a détente” yesterday. The issue dated back to February when Alabama announced a plan to “introduce booze sales to athletic events.” The city responded by “adding service fees to tickets to events where alcohol was served, a no-go” for the school. What followed was a “public battle between the city, mayor Walt Maddox and university officials.” The exact details on UA’s plan to add alcohol sales to athletics events “have not been announced” (AL.com, 6/15). In Tuscaloosa, Kelly & Morton note the school on Wednesday said that it had “worked out a deal” with the city to “lift the proposed service fee for events selling alcohol.” Starting in ’24, the agreement calls for UA to “contribute $250,000 to City Hall by Jan. 31 of each year through 2028” (TUSCALOOSA NEWS, 6/16).
