Tuscaloosa City Council OKs Alcohol Sales at Coleman Coliseum

The Tuscaloosa City Council approved a measure to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages at the University of Alabama's Coleman Coliseum Tuesday night, opening the door for beer and wine sales at future basketball games and gymnastic meets.

The application was submitted by Levy Premium Foodservice, the venue's official concessionaire.

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Herbert Tesh, a spokesperson for Levy, told the council that they plan to sell alcohol in Coleman Coliseum as soon as possible going forward, but had no immediate plans to serve liquor there. Instead, the stands will offer beer, wine and hard seltzers, he said.

Tesh also said Levy provides concession services for Arkansas and Texas A&M, where alcohol sales have already been allowed.

The measure to grant the permit passed 6-1.

The council's vote will send Tesh's application on to the State of Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board for final approval, and a city official said sales could begin inside the Coliseum almost immediately.

The Southeastern Conference lifted its universal ban on the sale of alcohol in its colleges stadiums and coliseums in 2019, but left the decision to institute sales up to each member school.

Until now, the University had elected to wait and see how the implementation of alcohol sales played out at other SEC schools.

Tesh also said Levy will be back eventually to seek a permit for sales within Bryant-Denny Stadium.