‘Beer’ Down: Tucson council approves liquor license at UofA basketball arena

PHOENIX — “Bear Down” or “Beer Down”?

The Tucson City Council approved a liquor license on Tuesday that could allow University of Arizona officials to sell beer and wine at men’s basketball games.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, the council voted 5-1 in favor of the liquor license.

The publication said councilwoman Regina Romero voted no and councilman Steve Kozachik did not vote because he works for the university’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

However, this does not mean that basketball fans made a slam dunk: The liquor license still needs to be approved by the Arizona State Liquor Board.

There has not been any date set for the liquor license to go in front of the board, but officials expect it to be heard within the next few weeks. University officials hope to start selling alcohol early next year.

Arizona Athletic Director Dave Heeke announced in October that the university was in talks with the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to get alcohol into the McKale Center.

Heeke said the athletics department would contract with a third-party company to sell and serve the alcohol, as it does at Hi-Corbett Field for baseball games.

Heeke said serving alcohol “is more about enhancing the fan experience than it is about generating additional revenue, which may be minimal.”

Heeke said the university is also considering serving alcohol at Arizona Stadium for football games, but he said there is no current plan in place.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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