Beginning next season, hockey enthusiasts at the University of Maine will have the option to purchase beer at Black Bear matches.

The establishment confirmed on Wednesday that plans are underway to construct a beer garden, likely to be positioned next to the Alfond Arena – the venue where the UMaine male and female hockey teams play.

This facility will be accessible to all ticket holders who are 21 years old or above, with more information to be shared over the summer.

However, according to UMaine’s athletic director, Jude Killy, numerous logistics need to be worked through, including precise location and the type of structure the beer garden will take.

“There will be a lot of people pulled into the conversation,” he said.

He also said it will be a pilot project that will be assessed at the end of the next season.

UMaine is one of just three schools among the 11-team Hockey East men’s league that doesn’t sell beer to the public at its hockey games. Northeastern University in Boston and the University of Vermont are the other two.

However, people who rent luxury boxes at Alfond Arena have access to all types of alcohol.

Home football games feature a beer tent, and beer is available at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor- a venue where the UMaine’s men’s basketball team had two regular season games.

The beer garden at the football matches will be improved, as will the student ticketing processes for hockey and football games. An upgraded arena lighting system is also planned.

A previous query to Bangor Daily News readers asked if they would support beer sales at hockey games. Of the 227 respondents, 152 were in favor and 75 were against, resulting in a 67 percent majority.

According to Killy, “We are excited to explore ways to enhance our fans’ game-day experience. We’re committed to further exploring opportunities that will foster a dynamic game-day atmosphere for our fans, whilst conferring our student-athletes and coaches a true home advantage.”

Last fall, Boston College athletic director and former UMaine AD Blake James, Providence College AD Steve Napolillo and University of New Hampshire AD Allison Rich stated that the selling of beer/wine has been advantageous and a source of revenue.

Napolillo expressed that the sale of beer and wine has been a “home run” and a “win-win” for the institution as well as the fans.

“College hockey is a venture and it’s insufficient to merely be a family-friendly alternative any more,” expressed Hockey East associate commissioner Brian Smith in October. “You must engage a diverse range and broad spectrum of fans who desire to attend games for various reasons.”

He also highlighted that it augments attendance so that student-athletes are receiving a superior experience as they are performing before larger audiences.

Rich expressed their constant pursuit of offering their fans the optimum game-day experience possible.

According to James, the introduction of beer and wine sales at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, which began in the 2017-18 season, wasn’t a revolutionary move, but it did yield some valuable revenue.

Killy voiced his belief that such an approach can yield profits.

This year, the men’s hockey team made it to the Hockey East semifinals and will also participate in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The Black Bears had the opportunity to play in front of 11 full house audiences in 17 games at Alfond Arena.