Watch UMaine Hockey With a Cold Beer Next Season

University of Maine hockey fans will be able to buy beer at Black Bear games beginning next season.

The Black Bears had an incredible season, reaching the NCAA semi's for the first time since the 2011-12 season. It was very exciting, and next year, it could be even better with the addition of one four-letter word: beer.

The University recently announced that it will make a beer garden, probably next to the school’s Alfond Arena where the UMaine men’s and women’s hockey teams play. Of course, you have to be at least 21 years old and have a ticket to the game. Bangor Daily News spoke to the UMaine Athletic Director, Jude Killy, who said that it's not an easy thing to make happen. There are a lot of things to work out, like what exactly it will be and where it will go.

Since this will be a new venture, they will see how it went at the end of next season to see if it will be a permanent thing or a one-and-done deal.

UMaine is a rarity in not selling beer at hockey games.

UMaine is one of just three schools in the 11-team Hockey East men’s league that doesn’t sell beer during the games. The other two are Northeastern University in Boston and the University of Vermont. If you get a luxury box at Alfond Arena, you can have all sorts of alcohol, but not the normal Joe. It's a dry hockey game.

You can buy beer at a beer tent at home football games, and you can grab a cold one at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, where the UMaine men’s basketball team played a couple of games. BDN did a poll to see if beer at hockey games was something they wanted. 67% said yes.

It could bring in some revenue and get more butts in the seats to root on the Black Bears, because one of these years, they will recapture the title!