PHOENIX -- Fiesta Bowl officials will allow beer sales at Sun Devil Stadium.

"We've had requests for it over the years from fans that come in from out of town,'' Fiesta Bowl President John Junker said Wednesday. "We thought it was worth giving it a try and see how it goes.''

The Jan. 3 game will decide college football's national champion.

Fine Host, which handles concessions at the stadium, reached an agreement with Arizona State University officials to sell beer, Junker said.

Beer has been sold at Arizona Cardinals games since 1991, after fans in the stands protested because it was allowed only in skyboxes.

But this will be the first college game at Sun Devil Stadium where the taps will be turned on.

The Fiesta Bowl and ASU will split concession revenue left over after Fine Host's take.

Junker said beer is sold at other major bowls including the Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls.

NCAA spokeswoman Natalie Sutowski said that while NCAA policy doesn't encourage alcohol sales at bowl games, the decision is up to the individual bowls.