Blake Andersen (left) and Jeff Scott buy beer before the Nebraska baseball game against Maryland on Friday at Haymarket Park.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the sale of alcohol during Husker baseball and softball games Friday morning.
Following the 5-2 vote, the taps were turned on Friday in time for the Huskers' first pitch against the University of Maryland.
Omaha Regent Barb Weitz and Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City voted against the proposal. Omaha Regent Elizabeth O'Connor was absent from Friday's meeting.
Wilmot said allowing for the sale of alcohol runs counter to NU's push to connect with young people and their families across the state.
She added that selling alcohol only improved the experiences of older Husker fans.
"You're only talking about the adult fans, I'm sorry," Wilmot said. "You're forgetting the family aspect, you're forgetting the kids."
Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice, the board chair, repeated what he has said when the issue of alcohol sales at Husker contests have come before other regents.
"I believe strongly in treating adults like adults," Schafer said.
And Lincoln Regent Tim Clare said putting the profits from alcohol sales into improvements at Haymarket Park was a "positive thing."
The board's vote to allow for the sale of alcohol at baseball and softball games is the latest expansion of the amenity at Husker events following a two-decade prohibition.
A 1999 policy banning beer and alcohol at Husker events was rescinded by regents in February 2022, bringing NU in line with a majority of Big Ten schools.
The first event where regents authorized beer sales was the 2022 Big Ten Wrestling Championships at Pinnacle Bank Arena . Regents later approved the sale of alcohol for Husker men's and women's basketball .
NU also has sold beer at Memorial Stadium for a 2022 Garth Brooks concert as well as during 2023's Volleyball Day .
The board also approved including beer and alcohol sales in its bid to host the 2027 NCAA Bowling Championships at Sun Valley Lanes.
Beer and alcohol have long been available at Haymarket Park, which is the home of the Lincoln Saltdogs, but a disagreement between NU and NEBCO Inc. threatened to sink the deal earlier this month.
William Eckhardt drinks a can of beer during the Nebraska baseball game against Maryland on Friday at Haymarket Park.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
NU offered to split alcohol sale revenue 50-50, but NEBCO sought 90% of the profits, which is equal to what the city of Lincoln receives from beer sales during Husker events at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Instead, the university agreed to put its share of the anticipated revenue — approximately $150,000 to $160,000 after expenses — into capital improvements at Haymarket Park.
Interim NU President Chris Kabourek said the revenue will help "chip away" at a list of facility needs at the Huskers' home fields.
Kabourek also said he believes UNL's event team can manage the sale of alcohol as it has in other venues in a way that minimizes problems.
"I'm confident we can add this amenity at Husker baseball and softball games responsibly in a way that enhances the experiences of our fans," Kabourek said.
Pillen to call special session; Rooftop gets its bar; White apologizes to NU defense
Top Journal Star photos for April 2024
Zeman Elementary School first grade teacher Eileen Schmeichel is doused with water from a splash tower during the Zeman Color Run at Zeman Elementary School on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Wakiya Dolezal, 9, of the Winnebago & Dakota Tribes performs a shawl dance during the Unite Intertribal Powwow on Saturday at Meier Commons.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
A partial solar eclipse is seen over Lincoln, Monday at Hyde Observatory.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Sen. Jen Day of Omaha (left) is embraced by Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha after Day honored him for his service to the Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Members of various public safety agencies from around the state gathered alongside Ross Bartlett's family and friends at St. Mark's United Methodist Church on Friday to remember the 54-year-old Ceresco police officer, who died last week after he was hit by a car while conducting a traffic stop near U.S. 77 and Little Salt Road in Lancaster County.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Westside's goalkeeper Maia Jaroch (right) slides in to take the ball away from Lincoln Pius X's Tatum Heimes (center) as she is guarded by Brianna Busher (17) during the game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Lincoln Pius X.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Engine seven crew members Eric Morgan (left) and Kirsten Bell practice advancing with a fire hose at Den Hartog Field on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Bryan Olesen (right) embraces his daughter Jadyn as they perform with her band AM/FM during The Voice Watch Party Hometown Celebration on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Bourbon Theatre.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Trey Lamkins, a horticulture major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, rubs his head after seeing his new look for the first time during the Shave for the Brave event at the Willa Cather Dining Complex on City Campus on Thursday. Twelve UNL students shaved their heads to raise funds to help find cures for children with cancer. Lamkins' mother passed away last August. "Though she's no longer with us, her spirit fuels my determination to make a difference in the lives of those still fighting," he wrote. Around $6,000 was raised ahead of the event at UNL, which has put on the event for the last seven years. The donations will go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, but the hair will be donated to the Matter of Trust, which uses the donated hair to clean up oil spills and make goods such as burlap sacks and stockings.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
The Silver Hawks start to dogpile on Lincoln Southwest's Charley Kort (right) after she scored the game-winning goal Saturday in the final seconds of the second overtime against Gretna at UBT Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Sen. Julie Slama of Peru speaks on the floor carrying her son, Win La Grone, Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Newman Grove FFA members Kailey Patzel (back left), Allyx Forre (front left), Aubree Whitaker (back right) and Cora Patzel and Hayes Center FFA member Addison Richards (front right) work together to pack Mercy Meals on Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Thousands of high school FFA members, advisors and guests are in Lincoln this week for the 96th annual state convention. The meals FFA members prepared on Thursday, which include rice, dehydrated vegetables, soy and a flavored vitamin and mineral powder, will be delivered to children in need.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Davieian Williams competes in the boys triple jump event during the Harold Scott track meet on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Beechner Athletic Complex.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Ainsley Pickel, 14 (from left), Owen Elder, 13, Junior Martinez, 14, and Yara Othman, 14, watch as guest judges Jacob Osborn, Tobi Scaggs and Kelly Phillips taste their pineapple-infused chicken dish during the Scott Chopped Competition on Thursday at Scott Middle School. The day before the competition, the class was split into teams and told four ingredients they would be required to use to make a meal. The ingredients were chicken, carrots, pineapple and ramen noodles.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln North Star students (from left), senior Ezekiel Menter, and juniors Brooke Adam, Kristi Chumber and Rachel Harre look at mock stock information as they participate in the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. More than 600 students from 27 high schools participated in the event.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Demolition began Monday on the Clyde Malone Community Center, 2032 U St. The 14,000-square-foot building, built in the 1980s, will be replaced at the same site with a new, three-story, 54,000-square-foot building. Completion is estimated in 2025. During construction, Malone’s programs will have temporary homes in partner organizations. The total cost of designing and building the new facility is $23 million. To date, Malone has received public and private commitments totaling just more than half of the $23 million goal.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Dr. Jeff Gold, the priority candidate for the University of Nebraska President position, speaks during a public forum on Monday at the City Campus Union.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood (left) stands with Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha as Wayne asks him a question on his bill during floor debate at the Capitol on Thursday, the second-to-last day of the session.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Caden Ransom (center) celebrates his home run against Lincoln Pius X, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Sherman Field.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Good Life Community Development executive director Bill Radke (left) checks on grilled pineapples next to Cody Shafer in the kitchen at JTK Cuisine & Cocktails.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Kevin Matthews, a Bellevue East sophomore (from left), Brooklyn Freeman, a Omaha Westview sophomore, and Royalty Aguer, a Papillion La Vista South senior, try to keep their cup stack together while participating in a team-building activity during the Greater Than One District Equity Collaboration Summit at the Don Clifton Professional Learning Center on Wednesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
On April 9, the Lincoln Police Department responded to a reported shooting an apartment in the 1100 block of G Street at about noon.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Bartender Ashley Novak pours a mixed drink at Deb's Place on Saturday in Lincoln. Deb's Place, formerly Cliff's Martini Lounge, offers more than 30 signature martinis.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Eighth-graders (from left) Treyvious Buettner, Ethan Poulsen, Eli Norval and Yousif Kadhim look up at the solar eclipse on Monday at Mickle Middle School.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Nebraska head coach Will Bolt looks on during the Ohio State game on Saturday at Haymarket Park.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Rhett Stokes (left) outs Ohio State's Henry Kaczmar on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Haymarket Park.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Trey Coley Lusk as Barbie Esther (center) and the rest of the cast rehearse a musical performance for the Barbie Megillah Purim Spiel on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at South Street Temple. Purim takes place annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month Adar. This year, Purim was observed on March 23 and 24. The holiday surrounds Queen Esther, a Hebrew woman who saved the Jewish people from a royal official named Haman. Every year, Jewish communities around the world read the Megillah of Esther, a scroll detailing the story of Esther’s heroics. South Street Temple will be presenting Barbie Megillah directed by Zoë Watch and written by Jaime Marx. The performance will combine the story of Esther with themes from the 2023 hit film Barbie.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Kaleb Garr takes a bite out of his breakfast Runza on Wednesday. The Runzas weren't being sold. Instead, customers were asked to give a donation that would go toward Runza's Feed the Need charity event.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel remove a person following a standoff at the Casey's near the airport on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest’s theater director Austyn McKee sits for a portrait on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Lincoln Southwest.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska's Bella Bacon (right) scores at home plate next to Kansas' Lyric Moore on Tuesday at Bowlin Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln North Star's Jameson Lantz is tagged out by Lincoln Southwest's Landon Sandy at home plate Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy answers questions at Bryan Medical Center East Campus on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Weightlifting students jog around the weight room on Tuesday at Waverly High School. The current weight room is located on top of the locker rooms in a space that was originally designed as a wrestling practice area. “In order for the program to grow, we need more space,” said Anthony Harms, the strength and conditioning coach at Waverly High School.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS
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