MESA, Ariz. -- Police are concerned about the Fiesta Bowl's decision to allow beer sales for the first time at the championship game.

''I'm not really looking forward to it,'' said John Pickens, Arizona State University's police chief. ''You bring alcohol into the mix with a large crowd, you're going to have some problems.''

Bowl activities include the Jan. 3 game with Ohio State playing Miami, the Fiesta Bowl Block Party on Dec. 31, a daylong pep rally Jan. 2 and a tailgate party on game day.

Tempe staff members on Thursday will recommend to the City Council that it ask for more money from the Fiesta Bowl to cover costs for additional security, city spokesman Randy Gross said.

Pickens said he tried to discourage beer sales for the game.

Security was discussed in the agreement with Arizona State administrators to allow beer sales during the game, Fiesta Bowl spokesman Shawn Schoeffler said.

Hotels filling up fast

PHOENIX (AP) -- Fans booking rooms for the Fiesta Bowl will fill up hotel rooms in the Phoenix area at a rate not seen since the 1996 Super Bowl.

The Jan. 3 national championship game is projected to help put occupancy in the area's 52,000 rooms at a 80 percent to 90 percent for two days before and after the event, said Brent DeRaad, spokesman for the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

An Arizona State University study released before Ohio State and Miami were named the bowl teams estimated the economic impact at $142 million, the largest in the bowl's 32-year history.

Tim Hogan, the Arizona State economics professor who did the study, said the figure is conservative, and more money could pour in depending on ''whether the people are high-rollers'' or how long they stay.

Hotel and resort managers said most of the demand comes from Ohio State fans.

Despite their team being the defending national champion, Miami fans aren't known for traveling to attend games.

Ohio State (13-0) is making its first appearance in a BCS bowl. The Buckeyes last won a national championship in 1968.