Rice University has taken a rather unconventional approach to boost attendance at its final home football game of the season - by offering free beer to students who are of legal drinking age. The school treated students to three free beers, in an effort to lure more fans to the stadium.
The move seems to have paid off, with some students expressing surprise and delight at being able to indulge in a pre-game drink for free. "They told me there's free beer," said one student, who wished to remain anonymous. "I said, awesome. Even better."
For many students, however, the prospect of enjoying a game day event was enough to get them out - regardless of whether or not they would be drinking. As one student noted, "If you had fun time, even for a little bit, come back... It doesn't hurt to take a study break and come out and support our football team."
The university's average attendance figures remain relatively low at around 20,000 per game, but some believe that the free beer giveaway could be just the incentive needed to boost numbers. "It's a staple of games, of football games," said another student. "I would say the cost is a little bit prohibitive usually."
While the school may not have changed attendance figures dramatically, it seems clear that the offer of free beer has helped to bring out more students than usual - and some are even considering attending future games for reasons other than just the football itself.
"It's about the experience," said Jordie De Jong, a student who attended the game. "I love it when I'm able to come here with all of my friends and we all kind of rally together and have fun on a Saturday."
The move seems to have paid off, with some students expressing surprise and delight at being able to indulge in a pre-game drink for free. "They told me there's free beer," said one student, who wished to remain anonymous. "I said, awesome. Even better."
For many students, however, the prospect of enjoying a game day event was enough to get them out - regardless of whether or not they would be drinking. As one student noted, "If you had fun time, even for a little bit, come back... It doesn't hurt to take a study break and come out and support our football team."
The university's average attendance figures remain relatively low at around 20,000 per game, but some believe that the free beer giveaway could be just the incentive needed to boost numbers. "It's a staple of games, of football games," said another student. "I would say the cost is a little bit prohibitive usually."
While the school may not have changed attendance figures dramatically, it seems clear that the offer of free beer has helped to bring out more students than usual - and some are even considering attending future games for reasons other than just the football itself.
"It's about the experience," said Jordie De Jong, a student who attended the game. "I love it when I'm able to come here with all of my friends and we all kind of rally together and have fun on a Saturday."
. Like, I get that it might be a good way to get more people in the stadium, but it feels like they're trying too hard to make it cool 
. And what's up with the "study break" part? It's just a game day event, not exactly a valid excuse for skipping class 
.
. Free beer is basically just an excuse for some people to overdo it 
. And what about those who don't want to drink? Are they really going to miss out on the "experience" because of that? It feels like they're catering to a small group of party animals instead of trying to appeal to everyone 
.
. Like, we get it, you offered free beer and now attendance is higher. Congrats, Rice University 
. Can't we just get some straight answers or real opinions for once? 
Rice University is totally getting this college football thing right! 
Offering free beer for students 21+ at the last home game was genius, I mean, who wouldn't wanna hop on that? 
The fact that some students are already planning to attend future games just because they want to hang out with friends makes me think this is a game-changer. I mean, it might not have boosted attendance numbers drastically... yet... but when you're looking for ways to make college life more fun, why not throw in a free beer? 
and i think this is a genius way to boost attendance numbers, idk what was wrong w/ them b4 
let's be real, that's a major draw!
. Still, I guess it's a step in the right direction to get more people excited about game day events. Let's see how many other schools start offering free drinks next 
"The biggest risk is not taking any risk..." I think Rice University made a smart move by offering free beer at the football game. It's a classic marketing strategy that might just pay off! The students who attended seemed to have a blast, and it's definitely given them something to look forward to. Who knows, maybe this is just the start of a new tradition? 
️.
. The university's efforts are more aligned with experiential learning, where students can apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting 
. If successful, it could potentially lead to a snowball effect, encouraging students to prioritize their attendance at university events 
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! It's not just about the drinking part tho - it's about creating an experience for students. People were saying they'd come out for the food, the atmosphere, or even just to study and enjoy some tunes in the stadium... like, who doesn't love that? 
And honestly, 20k attendance might be low, but a lil' free beer can go a long way in getting people excited about it. Plus, it's not like they're encouraging underage drinking - they're just offering it to those of legal age 
!