Tampa limits liquor at Raymond James Stadium

Bucs fans already drink plenty, the City Council decides.

By JANET ZINK, Times Staff Writer
Published August 31, 2007

Tailgaters outside Raymond James Stadium had plenty of their own beverages, including liquor, on hand before the final preseason game Thursday. The Tampa City Council voted 4-2 against a request to expand stadium liquor sales.
	[Times photo: Carrie Pratt]

TAMPA -- After Tampa police said booze would lead to more bad behavior at Bucs games, the City Council on Thursday voted to deny a request to allow hard liquor sales throughout Raymond James Stadium.

The vote reversed a tentative decision made in favor of the request in July.

Two weeks later, though, the council delayed taking a final vote until members could get more information on safety issues.

Tampa police Maj. John Bennett told the council Thursday that adding liquor kiosks in the stadium would "increase incidents of medical need, disorderly behavior or criminal activity" in or around the stadium.

Bennett reported that last year, about half of the 192 incidents at the stadium during 10 Bucs games were alcohol-related.

Right now, beer and wine are sold throughout the stadium, but hard liquor is restricted to certain areas, such as luxury suites and club seats, that hold about 15,000 people.

Council members were unimpressed by claims from Levy Premium Foodservice, the stadium's concessionaire, that its staff is trained in responsible service.

John Marshall, an attorney for Levy, said the petition included conditions that would ban the sale of shots, prohibit roaming vendors and limit the liquor content of drinks to 1.25 ounces. That would make the concoctions less potent than the smallest beer sold in the stadium, Marshall said.

"Fan safety and fan enjoyment are the highest priority," he said.

Marshall also said most professional sports venues allow liquor sales.

Levy wanted to add 10 kiosks in the stadium where fans could buy mixed drinks during Bucs games and concerts.

"It's really about an opportunity to introduce a choice," said George Scott, director of operations for Levy.

Ellen Snelling, co-chair of the Tampa Alcohol Coalition, spoke against the request.

"We had an excellent presentation about Levy," she said. "But the bottom line to me is there is an awful lot of drinking going on at football games."

Council members agreed, voting 4-2 against the request with Mary Mulhern absent.

Outside Raymond James Stadium before Thursday's final preseason game, fans had mixed reactions.

"We're Tony Dungy fans," said Gary Robinson, an associate minister at First Baptist Church of Altoona. As a fan of the former Buccaneers coach known for his piety, Robinson, a season ticket holder, said he couldn't be happier with the City Council's vote.

"We already have a problem with drunkenness," he said. "By the second half, we have a problem with arrests and bad language."

When the team falls behind, drunk fans can turn the fourth quarter into a situation he would rather not expose his daughters and family to, he said.

"Just the beer alone is enough," said Robinson, 52, whose daughter Cari, 14, walked next to him to the game.

But fans such as Dan Didden, 51, of Tampa don't understand why stadiumwide liquor sales were rejected. A 26-year season ticket holder, Didden said he could have used a drink plenty of times watching the Buccaneers lose.

"I'm tired of the government trying to control everything we do," he said.

And Tom Camp, 42, of Lakeland said the decision smacks of classism, because liquor sales "to the hoity-toities" in luxury suites are allowed.

"Why can't us blue-collar people paying $76 for a preseason game?" he asked.

Council members Tom Scott and Gwen Miller said they supported the petition because most other sports and entertainment venues allow liquor sales.

Scott, who said he drinks nothing stronger than Diet Coke, pointed out that liquor is served at places like Legends Field, the Ford Amphitheatre and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

"Come on people. Reality check. It's an issue of fairness," he said.

But council member Charlie Miranda said those places can't be compared to Raymond James.

"All those venues don't have tailgate parties," he said. He also pointed out that football is a violent sport and its fans are subject to extreme highs when the team wins and lows when it loses.

Miranda also said he has heard from neighbors about confrontational behavior. He said people living around the stadium have complained that Bucs fans moon them and urinate on their lawns.

"You've got a different element at football games," agreed council member Joseph Caetano.

After the vote, Snelling said she was shocked and pleased by the result.

"We didn't ask for a denial," she said. Snelling had suggested a one-year trial period for liquor sales, but Marshall said that wasn't an option for Levy.

A spokeswoman for the company expressed disappointment but said the ruling won't be challenged.

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.

[Last modified August 31, 2007, 01:42:41]