Rice University Lures Fans to Weekend Game with Freebies

This weekend, Rice University is going all out to draw fans for their match against North Texas. They’re offering free beer, T-shirts, and even ice cream to entice attendees.

Rice (5-5) will be facing the 22nd-ranked Mean Green (9-1) in a game that could secure a bowl berth for the Owls. They’re particularly hoping to see students show up at Rice Stadium.

The FBS school in Houston has averaged around 23,228 fans per game this season, with their highest attendance being 30,116 during the home opener against Houston.

This promotional effort aims to boost attendance for such a crucial game, especially since many students might already be heading home for the Thanksgiving holiday.

To enjoy the perks, students need a valid ID. Free beer is available for those 21 and older, and the first 500 students will receive T-shirts.

Kevin Dwan, the associate athletic director for external affairs and revenue, mentioned, “We’re on national television, playing for a bowl berth, against a top 25 team. It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, and a lot of our students have likely left campus.” He added, “We want to do everything possible to encourage them to stick around.”

To manage alcohol consumption, Rice has set up safety measures. Beer will only be sold at kiosks behind the student section, and they will offer 12-ounce cans instead of typical larger servings.

Dwan noted that the Rice University police presence will be heightened. While there’s no strict time limit for beer purchases, servers and campus police will keep an eye out to prevent over-serving visibly intoxicated students.

“It’s one beer per student at a time, so they can’t just grab a bunch,” he explained.

Saturday’s matchup could definitely be an exciting event for both teams.