Northwestern University would be allowed to serve liquor to persons attending events at its renovated Welsh-Ryan Arena if Evanston aldermen approve a proposed change to the city’s liquor code Monday night.
Mayor Steve Hagerty and the Liquor Control Review Board have recommended approval of the change, which would be limited to the arena building and not authorize liquor sales at the football stadium or other sports venues on campus.
The liquor sales would be operated by Levy Catering, the school’s food and beverage provider, which the liquor board was told has “an exemplary compliance record” at venues it operates around the country.
The liquor sales proposal is separate from a zoning ordinance change requested by the university that would permit a limited number of professional sports or entertainment event to be held at the arena. That proposal is now scheduled to be considered by the Plan Commission at its Aug. 7 meeting. The zoning change had previously been scheduled for the July 10 Plan Commission meeting.
At a public meeting on the zoning change last month, some residents expressed fears that the liquor ordinance change would lead to an increase in disruptive behavior by fans in the neighborhood around NU’s Central Street athletic complex.
The university would pay the city $6,000 a year for the arena liquor license under the ordinance scheduled for a vote Monday.
No property taxes = no booze!
nuff said!
Reply to X.M. (not verified)
Ok, if so then Churches should not be allowed to serve wine.
“nuff said!”
ok sure
XM… did you know that charities and non-profits (and ‘prophets’) don’t pay taxes either…. should we limit the booze (or blood of christ) from being served?
NU liquor deal–need more $$$
$6,000 a year? No wonder the city is broke! How about $120,000?
You’re forgetting liquor taxes
$6000 is just the cost of a license. Evanston has one of the highest liquor taxes in the nation. Which means a 7,000 person stadium could generate another $4,000 in city liquor taxes each and every time there is a game or event there. So the actual revenue received by the city should be multiples of the $120,000 you state as being a more worthy figure.