The University of St. Thomas cooked up the perfect storm of beer and free swag to entice students to attend Friday night’s men’s hockey game at the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena.
UST expanded beer and hard seltzer sales to the entire venue starting with the afternoon women’s hockey game Feb. 20 after previously only offering it to premium ticket holders. The late-season beverage rollout was welcomed by students in attendance. Senior Jack Theisen said that the offering of beer was the reason he came to Friday’s game.
“I think it’s pretty cool that the St. Thomas experience is expanding to everyone and then I think it’ll help fill the place up more,” Theisen said.
The alcoholic beverage options come in 16-ounce cans and are sold at concession locations outside of sections 103, 107 and 115.
Prices are set at $12 for a black cherry White Claw, $11 for a Summit Extra Pale Ale and $10 for Michelob Ultra or Coors Light.
The athletic department did not immediately respond to questions regarding pricing and selection.
“It’s not as bad as it is at, like, professional games downtown. I mean, obviously, like, I’d always say I’d want it to be cheaper, but it’s good,” senior Elizabeth Marceille said.
Students started lining up outside Anderson Arena 30 minutes before the doors opened at 6 p.m., in part due to a free jersey giveaway to the first 350 students in attendance.
“I am here because of the jersey, I’m not going to lie,” senior Donna Bruinius said.
The student section was nearly full 30 minutes before puck drop, while a smattering of fans dotted the rest of the arena.
The athletic department reported a crowd of 3,591 for Friday’s game, almost on par for the season average.
Friday kicked off the final home series for both men and women’s hockey. The men’s side offered fans a ranked matchup between No. 15 UST and No. 18 Augustana.
Men’s hockey currently sits at second place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in its final season before moving to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
The women’s team finishes up the regular season Saturday in its best season of the Division I era.
Men’s basketball has two games left in the Anderson Arena, and the women’s program has just one.
“I’m glad that I got at least, you know, one year to have a semester to fully experience it,” Thorson said. “And I think the new food, and especially the beer and drinks, is a part of that.”
Adam Mueller can be reached at muel7541@stthomas.edu.
