MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -
The University of Minnesota's Board of Regents will vote Wednesday on a plan that would allow beer and wine sales at Gopher football home games.
The vote will end a debate that is older than the stadium itself: Should alcohol be sold at games and, if so, where?
The resolution would allow liquor sales in the premium-seating section of TCF Bank Stadium and would also create a designated beer garden during Gopher games.
In spring, Minnesota Legislators approved alcohol sales at the stadium during the school's athletic events. The agreement required beer to be made available to general seating ticket holders in a confined area to ensure safety and prevent underage consumption.
A task force announced an altered plan on Monday. While it is consistent with the lawmakers' requirements, it adds details time restrictions on sales:
- Alcohol sales can start an hour before kickoff.
- Sales must cease by the start of the third quarter.
- No alcohol would be allowed at the Veterans Memorial or on the Tribal Nations.
- No hard liquor sales.
Alcohol has been forbidden at the stadium since lawmakers objected to the university's plan to allow drinking only in the arena's premium seats. State lawmakers said booze sales would remain banned unless folks in all and any seats were allowed to drink, too.
The vote could rescind the 2009 resolution that prohibits selling or serving alcohol in TCF Bank Stadium, Mariucci Arena and Williams Arena during college games. The resolution "authorizes the reapplication for liquor licenses" at the other on-campus venues.
The university called the possible move a "pilot project" that may require adjustments in the future.
