Baseball Mar 17, 2023; Mesa, Arizona, USA; General view of a baseball on the mound prior to a Spring Training game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

MLB’s new pitch clock is one of the most radical changes in recent history. But it has had a big impact on one of the oldest traditions in baseball: enjoying a cold adult beverage at the ballpark.

Given that MLB games are about 30 minutes shorter since the advent of the pitch clock, that means less time for fans to enjoy a beer — and fewer opportunities for clubs to rake in revenue from alcohol sales.

As a result, several teams have changed their alcohol sales policies. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers have extended alcohol sales into the bottom of the eighth inning. More teams are expected to follow. The traditional cut-off for alcohol sales in MLB and even Minor League venues is the seventh inning, although there is no set rule.

Brewers President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger told MLB.com that his team’s new policy is being done on an experimental basis and could be changed if there are issues.

“This is [reflective] of the fact that the games are shorter. From a time perspective, we’re probably looking at selling beer for the same amount of time by extending to the eighth inning that we did last year through the seventh,” Schlesinger said.

“Obviously, the safety and the conduct of our fans has primacy. We’ve had no issues, but it’s a small sample size and we’re going to continue to test it and see if it makes sense. I know a number of other teams are doing the same thing.”

[MLB.com]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.