(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/27/23) Rep. Graham Filler (R-St. Johns)'s reintroduced legislation to allow liquor licenses for university arenas during sporting events has earned a tentative thumbs up from the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) if timelines for serving alcohol are tightened.
Filler, then-Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) and Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) initially introduced the legislation last term. Those bills would have allowed licenses to serve alcohol in a university’s indoor basketball arena, indoor hockey arena or outdoor football stadium.
The bills were neither supported nor formally opposed by the MLBA on the grounds that the allowance could lead to competition with private businesses relying on sales during sporting events.
Filler gave the example that for a noon sports game in Spartan Stadium, a fan could start drinking in the stadium at 10 a.m. and stay for several hours after the game, skipping the bars all together.
Though most people won't buy a $12 Two Hearted Ale at Spartan Stadium, Filler said no one wants stadiums acting as de facto competitors, and "we want to get everybody on board."
With HB 4328, Filler said the timeline is tightened to limit sales to one hour before the event and while the event is occurring. Consumption would be allowed starting one hour before the event and ending 30 minutes after the event has ended.
Licenses would also be limited to 50 days within an indoor basketball arena, 25 days per year at an indoor hockey arena and 10 days per year at an outdoor football stadium, with sales occurring only at fixed locations within the premises and not including dispensing machines.
MLBA Executive Director Scott Ellis said the association doesn't have a formal position yet, but are supportive of universities getting licensees "with limitations."
Those include tightening the sales timeline to a half hour before an event starts and ending before the sporting event actually ends, Ellis said, which would motivate fans to go out to bars before and after the games.
Ellis said the MLBA plans to continue conversations with Filler and Sen. Sean MCCANN (D-Kalamazoo), who Filler said is gearing up to introduce the Senate's version of the legislation.
Filler said the bill will bring fairness to stadiums at a time when patrons now "can drink in the suites but not in the seats."
He said the bill, which landed him on Michigan State's Barstool page last term, has been an awesome issue to lead on.
Filler said allowing stadiums to sell alcohol will also promote safety, as seen in Big 10 stadiums already allowing alcohol sales.
Currently, students heading into the stadium 30 minutes before kickoff are likely to pound a beer or take a few shots before entering, which Filler said can lead to blackouts, health issues and fights.
Universities that have allowed students to consume alcohol inside have found marked decreases in binge drinking and violent incidents, Filler said, because students don't overconsume in anticipation of being cut off.
Currently, eight teams in the Big Ten conference sell alcohol in their stadiums, including Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State and Rutgers.
That number could increase if Michigan and Michigan State are added to the list.
Filler's bill was referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee, where it awaits further consideration.
