What Clemson baseball's Erik Bakich said about alcohol finally being sold at home games
Derrian Carter- The new "beer garden" occupies the former away team bullpen area and offers a variety of beers and seltzers.
- Coach Erik Bakich hopes alcohol sales and the new standing-room-only area will enhance the fan experience and create a more lively atmosphere.
CLEMSON — Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich's wish of having alcohol sold at Doug Kingsmore Stadium has come true.
Clemson's "beer garden" debuted Wednesday when it hosted and defeated Gardner-Webb 4-2 in a midweek matchup. The school moved the away team's bullpen from outside the third-base line into foul territory this year, and the old bullpen space became a standing-room-only section.
However, no alcohol was sold in the area at the start of the season with Bakich admitting he "(jumped) the gun" after informing local media in January that alcohol sales were coming.
It finally happened Wednesday, after the school's athletic department announced that alcoholic beverages would be available for purchase at designated stands and kiosks, starting with Clemson football's spring game on April 5.
Doug Kingsmore Stadium became the third Clemson sporting location to sell beer, joining McWhorter Stadium, where the softball team plays.
"It speaks to a bigger picture of the fan experience, enhancing the amenities, making this an atmosphere that truly is a 10th man environment," Bakich said Wednesday. " . . . How can we make this an awesome environment where people want to come? Yeah, the baseball is great, but they want to come because it's a fun, entertaining environment."
More than 5,000 people attended Wednesday’s game, and some purchased a variety of beers and seltzers from pregame until the seventh inning. One attendee, Alyssa Febbraio, even wore former Clemson baseball player Seth Beer's jersey to commemorate the new era.
Clemson was one of three Power Four schools nationally (the others being Utah and BYU) that neither offered the sale of alcoholic beverages in its athletic venues nor accepted sponsorship revenue from alcoholic beverage advertisers. With the change, it will be in line with other prominent programs in the country.
"This is such a unique and special community that (some) aren't for (alcohol sales), but it's just a sign of the way college athletics has evolved," Bakich said. "It's a vertical revenue stream of concessions that’s just too big to ignore."
Bakich admitted he wants the standing-room space to be a "rowdy crowd," where spectators create a disruptive environment for the opposing team and relief pitchers. Wednesday's turnout was small compared to other Clemson home games this season, but it was a glimpse into what Doug Kingsmore Stadium can be during home ACC series and in the NCAA tournament.
Clemson has hosted an NCAA regional the past two seasons and is on track to do it again. Bakich hopes this new cosmetic feature and the sales of alcohol will drive even more fans to attend Clemson baseball's games.
Alcohol, beer prices at Clemson games
Here are the prices for beer at Clemson sporting events:
- Domestic beer (Miller Lite, Bud Light): $9
- Premium beer (Michelob Ultra, Modelo, Pernicious): $11
- Seltzer (White Claw, Black Cherry): $11
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00