Back to the Illinois Fighting Illini Newsfeed

UI testing if beer sales are a hit at tonight's Bleacher Bum BBQ game

CHAMPAIGN — A big — and spirited — crowd is expected for tonight's Illini baseball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, with beer sales planned for the first time at Illinois Field.

The free food at the annual Bleacher Bum BBQ game typically draws 3,000 fans, the biggest attendance of the season, and the prospect of a cold Budweiser or Coors Light probably won't hurt.

It's a one-game experiment for the UI as it weighs whether to expand beer sales at its sporting events — following the lead of dozens of other schools across the country eager for more fans and extra income.