NCAA turns the taps back on for basketball tournament games at Sprint Center

The basketball teams in the 2019 Midwest Regional at the Sprint Center are unknown, but one newcomer is expected: alcohol.

The NCAA Division I Council, at its meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Indianapolis, eliminated the restriction on the sale of alcohol at Division I championships.

The decision comes two years after pilot programs allowed alcohol sales during the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., and Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, and expanded last year to include the Football Championship Subdivision title game and championships in wrestling and men’s lacrosse in all three divisions and men’s ice hockey and women’s volleyball.

Previous NCAA Tournament games at the Sprint Center have been alcohol-free, but the rule change will be in effect for the men’s regional semifinals and final on March 29 and 31.

Although the decision effects only NCAA-operated events such as the Final Four and NCAA Tournament, the number of universities that have allowed beer and wine sales at sporting events has grown over the years.

This story was originally published April 18, 2018 at 3:40 PM with the headline "NCAA turns the taps back on for basketball tournament games at Sprint Center."