UH may set aside football family 'zone'

By Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writers

The University of Hawai'i is considering setting up alcohol-free "family zones" for its football games this season, a school official said yesterday.

John McNamara, new associate athletic director for external affairs, said Aloha Stadium officials have been "very supportive" of the possibility. "It is just a matter of working out the logistics," said McNamara, who added that UH is "gonna try" to implement the concept this season.

The plan, still in the preliminary stages, comes as UH seeks to entice more families, some of whom say they have been deterred in the past by the proximity of fans abusing alcohol.

"In the past," McNamara said, "the problem (has been) some fans complain there is some drunk sitting in that section. Maybe it is a way of bringing more families back to the stadium because they know they're not going to find themselves in a situation where, maybe, (some) fan did a little too much tailgating."

He said UH would spread out the zones at Aloha Stadium. "We'd do it in different ticket (price) levels. Maybe one in the better seats, one in the second tier and one, maybe, out in the end zone," McNamara said. "We'd say, basically, 'those are alcohol-free sections, (if) you sit there, you can't be drinking.' "

As part of the "family zone" concept, McNamara said the school would develop, "a real family atmosphere" with attractions for children, "like a clown making balloons and games for the kids."

McNamara, 41, was hired in January and assumed supervision of UH's marketing, advertising and merchandising and corporate sponsorship last month. He has held associate commissioner positions in Conference USA and the Western Athletic Conference.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051 or Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.