Overview
- Champaign issued a temporary emergency order for the University of Illinois area before the Elite Eight game against Iowa.
- The order requires bars to serve drinks in paper or plastic cups, bans packaged-liquor sales starting one hour after tipoff, limits keg purchases to one per customer, and blocks alcohol deliveries to or from campus at the same time.
- Bars remain open under the rules, which city leaders describe as safety measures rather than a prohibition on alcohol.
- Police pressed for action after celebrations following the Sweet 16 win over Houston, citing risky behavior such as students climbing on statues.
- City officials noted they last used similar limits during Illinois’ 2005 tournament run as the team now plays for a Final Four berth.