Clemson Turns Heads With $346,000 Offseason Move
Clemson may have hosted the Savannah Bananas for fun, but it walked away with something far more valuable: a massive payday. The family-friendly baseball event on April 26 marked a financial turning point for Clemson athletics — not just for ticket sales, but for what fans were drinking in the stands.
In just three weeks of alcohol sales across campus venues, Clemson has raked in nearly half a million dollars in gross revenue — and a staggering 74 percent of that came from one wild night of Banana Ball.
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The sold-out crowd at Memorial Stadium bought 27,181 drinks, generating $346,684 in sales during the Bananas' only appearance. That's $4.28 per person in a crowd filled with children.
Before April, Clemson was one of the last holdouts in major college athletics without in-venue alcohol sales. Now, the university has embraced the revenue stream and it's paying off immediately.
With new partnerships and expanded offerings across football, basketball, and Olympic sports, alcohol is quietly becoming one of Clemson's fastest-growing income sources.
The Bananas' appearance at Death Valley outsold 13 combined Clemson softball and baseball games in April — by more than three times. Even Clemson's spring football game, which drew a fraction of Memorial Stadium's capacity, tallied 3,394 drinks sold.
Clemson football Head Coach Dabo Swinney surprises the crowd, running down the hill ahead of the Savannah Bananas before a game before 81,000 fans with the Party Animals at Memorial Stadium © Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
These early figures suggest that alcohol sales during Clemson's seven home football games this fall could easily top $1.2 million in net revenue — after the school's cut is split with its distributor, Aramark. Add in basketball and other venues, and Clemson is suddenly looking at millions in new annual income from a tap that was previously dry.
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That's money Clemson can't afford to leave on the table. With a potential $20.5 million price tag looming for revenue-sharing with athletes starting in July, the university is in full-on revenue-hunting mode. A $7.5 million student fee has already been added. Now, alcohol is becoming another major piece of the puzzle.
Clemson is also preparing to cash in further. Clemson Ventures, the university's new in-house revenue engine, is actively seeking a beverage sponsor — a move that could further commercialize and monetize the Tigers' alcohol program.
Party Animals infielder Dustin Baber (9) toasts the crowd with a mug of beer before batting during the game with the Savannah Bananas at Memorial Stadium© Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
So far, the rollout has gone smoothly. No major incidents. No policy changes needed. Fans can still exit and re-enter venues freely — a system that helps control halftime congestion and hasn't been disrupted by the presence of alcohol.
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'It's gone incredibly well,' athletic director Graham Neff said. 'There's revenue components there we'll be rolling out later this summer.'
In short, Banana Ball was just the beginning. Clemson isn't just selling beer — it's pouring new life into its financial future, one drink at a time.
Related: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik Makes Embarrassing Slip-Up With Savannah Bananas at Death Valley
Related: Dabo Swinney Steals the Spotlight at Sold-Out Savannah Bananas Game in Death Valley
Related: Former Clemson Star's 56-Yard Bomb Has Fans Asking Why He's Not in the NFL
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