In the chorus of Garth Brooks’ popular tune “Friends In Low Places,” the country singer says that those friends are “where the whiskey drowns and beer chases my blues away.”
If the Bryce Jordan Center has its way, attendees at Brooks’ pair of May shows will be able to chase their blues away with a cold one.
It was reported in February that the university filed for a liquor license at the venue.
If the application is passed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, alcohol sales will be permitted at limited BJC events. Specifically, non-university events with an adult audience will fall under the requested license.
For the university and the Bryce Jordan Center, Brooks was the perfect artist to serve as a pilot program for the license, Penn State spokesperson Lisa Powers says. If the PLCB allows it, Brooks’ May 1 and 2 shows will be a test run for alcohol sales in the arena.
“In the case of Garth Brooks, he is clearly an artist whose demographics indicate an of-age fan base — which is why this was selected as a pilot for the sale of alcohol,” says Powers.
She adds that BJC events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if the demographic of the audience is deemed to be adult.
“No sales of beer or wine will occur during events that draw a majority of students,” she says. “In addition, stringent security measures and certified training in the service and sale of alcohol are anticipated parts of the pilot program.”
As of Thursday, the university has had no movement on its application with the PLCB. Powers says that the university does not expect anything to occur on that front until April.
When the application was first announced on Feb. 20, Powers said the decision was based on the BJC’s competitiveness in drawing performers to the venue.
“We have been disadvantaged in our ability to compete in this marketplace, because some artists will not perform at a venue that does not sell alcohol and some fans want to patronize venues that are able to sell both food and alcohol,” Powers said at the time.
Brooks is one of the most popular performers in Bryce Jordan Center history and is making his return after an 18 year absence.
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