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When the University of Minnesota opened
its new on-campus football stadium last year, the stadium was dry -
the result of an ultimatum by state lawmakers that alcohol be sold
everywhere in the stadium or nowhere.


      Now, legislators are taking another look and could give the
university room to sell booze in premium seats while keeping it
from stands filled by students and general ticket holders. A
proposal rolling back the all-or-nothing law advanced Tuesday in a
Senate committee, but its prospects were dimmer in the state House.


      Sen. Sandy Pappas said her bill permitting limited sales would
be a financial boost to the university, which had to offer
discounts after backtracking on plans to offer beer and wine in
luxury seats and suites. Pappas, chairwoman of the Higher Education
Committee, said the decision to go dry cost the university $1
million to $1.3 million.


      The university isn't pushing for the law change, but boosters
working under the name Friends of Gopher Sports are. The group has
three registered lobbyists, including former Senate Majority Leader
Roger Moe.


      Budget bills moving through the Legislature would cut more than
$30 million in university aid. The Pappas bill would require
profits from liquor sales to go into a fund for athletic
scholarships.


      Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, said school leaders should have the power
to determine where booze is sold.


      "This is a college facility and the regents want to have a
collegiate atmosphere that is not inundated with alcohol," Pappas
said.


      Rep. Tom Rukavina, who chairs the House Higher Education
Committee, said he remains opposed to allowing alcohol sales in
premium seating but not in general seating areas.


      "The taxpayers paid for the majority of that stadium, not the
suite holders," said Rukavina, DFL-Virginia. Rukavina said the
university's stance to have alcohol only in luxury areas smacked of
elitism.


      It's not clear whether Rukavina can fend off a change, though;
Pappas plans to tack her bill onto a broader college policy measure
that will be voted on later in the session.


      Another House member who opposed the two-tier alcohol policy
last year said he's open to a compromise now.


      Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said he didn't think the
university would cut off all alcohol sales in response to the 2009
law. Beer was sold throughout the Metrodome, where the Gophers
played the 28 previous seasons.


      "It's foolish to ban all alcohol in all forms at all collegiate
events. It just doesn't make sense," Garofalo said. "I am not
completely surrendering on this but I am open-minded."


      Even if the bill becomes law, University President Robert
Bruininks and the Board of Regents would have to lift the blanket
ban for alcohol to be sold during the 2010 season.
      

School spokesman Dan Wolter said the board hasn't decided on a
response to the bill.

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Brian Bakst, Associated Press

Author

Legislators are taking another look and could give the
university room to sell booze in premium seats while keeping it
from stands filled by students and general ticket holders.

Battle brews over beer sales at U of Minn. stadium

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