CHADRON, Neb. – Beginning with the first home football game of the 2025 season, Chadron State College Athletics will be making changes to the game atmosphere by introducing sales of alcoholic beverages in specific areas of Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium as part of a pilot program approved by the Nebraska State College System.  

During this pilot program, alcohol sales will be limited to one area, the new "CSC Beer Garden," with the goal of enhancing the overall fan experience by offering a specified area where fans can drink responsibly while still providing a safe and family-friendly environment for Eagle fans. 

At this time, alcoholic beverage sales will only be available during this season's four home football games on September 13, September 27, October 11 and November 8. Alcohol sales will start one hour before kickoff, when gates open. They will conclude upon completion of the third quarter.  Alcohol sales will be cash only.

The arrival of the beer garden creates another area inside Elliott Field for Eagle fans to congregate before or during the game. Continuing from 2024, Chadron State College will be providing the family zone in the south endzone in the grass areas. Families will have the opportunity to interact with CSC student-athletes through backyard games and other activities.  

The CSC Beer Garden will have two entrances on the home side of Elliott Field, with beverages being sold out of the former concession area in the southeast corner of the stadium. Alcoholic beverages will also be available in CSC's hospitality suites located inside the Con Marshall Press Box. 

When Chadron fans enter the stadium through the beer garden entrance, they will be provided a wristband by Bean Broker, which is partnering with Chadron State. Fans will either be given a green wristband, meaning that fan can purchase and consume alcohol, or a red wristband, meaning that fan cannot purchase or consume alcohol in that area. 

To purchase and consume alcohol, fans will need to provide a valid government-issued ID and must be 21 years of age or older. There will be a two-drink limit per purchase that will be enforced by the third-party vendor. Chadron State College will partner with the Chadron Police Department to provide off-duty officers throughout the beer garden to ensure compliance and safety.

Following the conclusion of each home game, Chadron State College will meet with local authorities and constituents to evaluate the area. Upon the completion at the end of the year, CSC Athletics will provide an evaluation of the pilot program. Any abuse of the "CSC Beer Garden" will cause the pilot program to be closed. If the pilot program is successful in providing an improved game day experience, CSC would explore the opportunity to provide alcohol at other venues on Chadron State College's campus, with the approval of the Nebraska State College System.  

With revenue generated from this pilot program, Chadron State College Athletics is partnering with Student Affairs to provide alcohol education and counseling programs to all students on CSC's campus.

Eagles Begin Maverick Invite With Defeat

MANKATO, Minn. – Chadron State fell on Thursday to the hosts of the invite where they will be competing through the weekend, falling in straight sets to Minnesota State Mankato 25-12, 25-21, 25-16. 

Avery Lacy recorded 14 digs in the effort for the Eagles, who are now 1-4 on the season. Minnesota State remained unbeaten at 5-0. 

Chadron State mostly struggled offensively, as the Eagles hit .027 as a team while their opponents hit .252. Kally Kirkwood had seven kills to lead the Eagles, while Gibson Beckler had six and Mataya Ward had five, but none of the three recorded hitting percentages above .100 despite combining for 75 attempts. 

Freshmen continued to contribute. CSC's best hitting percentage belonged to setter Jillian Donovan, who hit .250 by putting away two kills with no errors on eight attempts. Donovan recorded 16 assists to lead the Eagles as the primary setter. Shelby Harding added two aces to her season total and is now tied for second in the RMAC with 11 this season.

The Mavericks of Minnesota State wasted no time jumping out to an early lead on their home floor, hitting .316 in the first set while the Eagles had more errors than kills. After CSC won the opening point, MSU Mankato won the next five and eventually built leads of 12-5 and 18-6 on its way to a 21-12 opening-set win.

Chadron State was most competitive in the second set. The Eagles had 12 kills, including four from Kirkwood and three from Beckler. The set featured scoring runs by both teams, including a 4-0 run from CSC to take a 12-10 lead before the Mavericks went on a 6-0 run of their own to go back up by four points. With Minnesota State up 23-18, CSC used two Kirkwood kills plus an attack error to pull within two points at 23-21, but the Mavericks answered with the next two points to take the set. 

In the third, Minnesota State used a kill, attack error and ace combination to take a 4-1 lead and didn't trail for the rest of the match. The Mavericks were extremely efficient, with 15 kills against just three errors in the set for a .480 third-set percentage. 
Chadron State has a doubleheader on Friday. The Eagles will face Upper Iowa (0-4) at 11 a.m. and Minnesota Crookston (4-0) at 3 p.m. (MT), both in Mankato's gym.