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By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Police escort an unruly spectator from Aloha Stadium after he
scrambled onto the field and delayed the Sept. 30 University of
Hawaii-Tulsa football game. The fan was upset over
what he called poor officiating.

Personal foul!

Offensive UH fans lead to
less alcohol, more
police at games

---

By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Though a beer company is a sponsor of the University of Hawaii's football game Saturday, alcohol sales at Aloha Stadium will stop immediately after halftime in a move designed to curb brawling among fans.

Several fights in the stadium, which witnesses said were started by intoxicated fans, marred the Warriors' two previous home games.

At previous games, beer sales were halted at the end of the third quarter, stadium events manager Eugene Tokuhama said.

Aloha Stadium also plans to hire as many as 12 additional Honolulu Police Department special-duty officers beginning with Saturday's game against San Jose State, Tokuhama said.

HPD Major Mike Brede, who is in charge of the Pearl City district that includes the stadium, said he would not know if the additional special-duty slots would be filled until a day before the game.

If all special-duty slots are filled, HPD's stadium presence will increase to 50 officers inside the stadium and 16 in the parking lot.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Police arrest a man who ran onto the field and caused a disturbance,
delaying the University of Hawaii-Tulsa game at Aloha Stadium on
Sept. 30. Debris and beer also were thrown onto the field.

"We believe this will help," Brede said. "But the biggest impact will come if the crowd wants to behave. When there are thousands of people (attending the game), we need their help."

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida applauded the stadium management's actions.

"I think the behavior of some of our fans has not been in the best interest of the university and others who attend games," Yoshida said. "It was a necessary move to tighten up on some of the abuses that take place concerning the abuse of alcohol."

"The moves are positive and proactive," he added.

Budweiser is the title sponsor of Saturday's game.

Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawaii President Damien Bonenfant said his company will take the opportunity to promote responsible drinking.

The company will train alcohol concessionaires on how to identify and deal with intoxicated and under-age drinkers, Bonenfant said.

There also will be booths where designated drivers can enter raffles.

"The key thing is getting a message out to fans throughout the stadium," Bonenfant said. "We will also have banners, PA announcements and commercials on the scoreboard about responsible consumption and respect for those around you."