politics
Contributors in Minnesota: Jennifer Brooks, Baird Helgeson, Patricia Lopez, Jim Ragsdale, Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Glen Stubbe. Contributors in D.C.: Kevin Diaz and Corey Mitchell.
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Drinking at TCF Bank stadium? Now it's up to the governor
Posted by: Rachel E. Stassen-Berger Updated: April 23, 2012 - 6:04 PM
The long dry days at Gopher football games may soon to quenched.
The Minnesota Legislature overwhelmingly approved letting University of Minnesota football fans drink beer at games. Now Gov. Mark Dayton will decide whether the beer should flow at the TCF Bank stadium. UPDATE: Dayton's spokeswoman said he will sign the bill.
“It's nice to finally bring some resolution to it," said Rep. Joe Atkins, an Inver Grove Heights DFLer and chief sponsor of the beer at the Bank idea.
Alcohol has been banned at the stadium because lawmakers objected to the University's plan to only allow drinking in the arena's expensive suites. With a cry of beer for one, beer for all, the Legislature put the kibosh on any alcohol in response.
But the new plan, a compromise that passed the House Monday on a 115-13 vote and the Senate 55-3 last week, allows beer for all in special tents during college football games through half-time.
"Everybody should be able to partake in an adult beverage," said supporter Rep. Leon Lille, DFL-North St. Paul. "Hopefully as [Gopher football coach Jerry] Kill is building up a wonderful new team, eventually we won't need alcohol at the stadium, perhaps."
University of Minnesota spokesman Jeff Falk said the U supports "this legislative fix."
"Ultimately, however, the Board of Regents will examine any law changes and determine how alcohol sales would be managed at TCF Bank Stadium," Falk said.
While Dayton has yet said he will sign the measure but there is no reason to believe he will not.
Atkins said the plan would bring an extra $1.5 to $2 million in revenue to the cash-strapped University and would require the beer vendors to sell at least one Minnesota brew.
Correction: A previous version of this post got the stadium's age wrong.
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