Deer Camp or Camp Randall?

Posted on Aug 13, 2024 by

I can’t believe it’s already August! I’ve had an amazing summer and am depressed thinking about it coming to an end. But, I do love fall – the cooler temps, the amazing colors, and, of course, football.

It will be interesting to see UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington in the Big Ten this year. I will also be curious to see how the Badgers do in Coach Luke Fickell’s sophomore season. Right now, Bucky has 65:1 odds of winning a conference championship and a 250:1 shot at the national title. We’re projected to finish in the middle of the pack.

So, it could potentially be a long season. If so, this season Badger fans can cry in their beer.

The home opener this year against Western Michigan on Friday, August 30 will be a little different this year. The Athletics Department will be selling alcoholic beverages in the general seating areas at Camp Randall Stadium. Options will include beer, wine and pre-packaged alcoholic products such as hard seltzers.

In addition to Camp Randall, these alcoholic products will also be offered at the UW Field House, home to the Badger women’s volleyball and men’s wrestling teams. Of the 18 teams in the conference, UW is the 16th school in the Big Ten to sell alcoholic beverages in its football stadium’s general seating area.

“The option to purchase alcohol is common at collegiate athletic venues all over the country, and we’re glad that we can now offer it as part of the fan experience at Camp Randall,” says Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin. “I appreciate the work our athletic and administrative teams have done to put together a plan that balances this opportunity with public safety.”

The men and women’s basketball teams play at the Kohl Center, while LeBahn Arena is home to the school’s hockey teams. Both stadiums currently offer alcohol, too, but fans are limited to purchasing only two drinks at a time per person. Camp Randall will follow the same policy, along with both facilities’ ID rule to require anyone appearing under the age of 40 to show an ID, which will be verified by an electronic scanner.

With the change, there will be an increased presence of UW police on-site. In addition, fans will continue to have access to a text line to report any problems they may encounter.

“We were pleased with how well alcohol sales went during the basketball and hockey seasons at the Kohl Center and LaBahn Arena last season, and we expect much of the same at Camp Randall this fall,” said Chris McIntosh, director of UW Athletics.

A portion of the revenue from alcohol sales will provide financial support for existing and future campus-led efforts to promote student wellness and to encourage responsible behavior around the use of alcohol, such as offering alcohol-free programming for students and supporting students experiencing challenges related to high-risk behaviors.

In addition to the Broncos, the Badgers’ home schedule this year also includes big games against Alabama, Purdue, Oregon, Penn State and Minnesota.

Knowing Badger fans, I predict that the revenue generated from selling alcohol at football games will result in a completely renovated Camp Randall in five years. With revenue from disorderly conduct tickets, it might happen in three.



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Reg P. Wydeven

Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney at McCarty Law LLP
Hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps from a young age, Reg’s practice primarily consists of advising individuals on estate planning, estate settlement and elder law matters. As Reg represents clients in matters like guardianship proceedings and long-term care admissions, he feels grateful to be able to offer families thorough legal help in their time of need.
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