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UT withdraws city beer permit request - for now
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University of Tennessee officials are withdrawing a controversial application for a city beer permit for Thompson-Boling Arena, with plans to study best practices at other college arenas before possibly resubmitting their request this fall, a spokeswoman said Monday.
Knoxville City Council members, acting as the city Beer Board, postponed consideration of the application at their last meeting April 22, citing protests from the UT Faculty Senate, whose members complained that they had not been included in campus administrators' precedent-setting decision to begin selling beer at nonathletic events, such as concerts. Historically, alcohol sales have not been allowed on UT's campus.
A vote on the application, filed by UT's contracted concessionaire at the arena, Sodexho Operations LLC, was set for today.
Campus officials now plan to create a task force to examine policies and procedures at other college venues where alcohol is served before reapplying, said Tiffany Carpenter, UT Athletic Department spokeswoman.
The idea came out of meetings within the past week among Faculty Senate members, the Athletic Department and Interim Chancellor Jan Simek, Carpenter said.
David Patterson, Faculty Senate president, said he expects the task force to include representatives of the faculty, the office of student affairs, the Athletic Department and the UT Police Department.
"But who knows what direction that will go," Patterson said. "I don't think the Faculty Senate has taken a firm stand opposing the policy (to allow beer sales). The big issue was, we were asking the chancellor to hold off and look at it further."
City Councilwoman Barbara Pelot voiced her concern at last month's meeting that UT officials had not pursued those internal discussions before the application was filed, and that the university had essentially left the Beer Board in the middle of the debate.
In voting to postpone, the board urged all sides on the issue to meet with each other in the interim. Councilwoman Marilyn Roddy urged Sodexho and campus officials to meet with the local Metropolitan Drug Commission as well.
Councilman Rob Frost went a step further, asking Simek in an April 30 letter to consider earmarking a portion of the added revenue from the beer sales - an expected $500,000 per year - to fund programs combating student alcoholism and underage drinking, and possibly new need-based scholarships.
At a Thursday budget hearing with faculty members, UT Athletic Director Mike Hamilton said the planned beer sales are one of several initiatives, including a price increase for season football tickets, to bridge a projected $3 million deficit for his department. The beer sales, however, would bring the budget a $500,000 surplus.
Without the beer sales, Hamilton said, "we'll have to, A, not have a projected $500,000 surplus, or, B, we'll find either an additional revenue source or cut expenses to make sure we get where we want to go."
Hayes Hickman may be reached at 865-342-6323.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 5, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where's the money going to come from now Mikey? I love it, they didn't even study best practices and just decided to do it. Just like the student tickey increase where they just decided to do it without really figuring how they were going to distribute tickets. Hurry up and do something anything because we forecasted wrong and then we'll figure out later how to get it done if people start asking questions. The UTAD is really efficient it seems.
Posted by threehundredbowler on May 5, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you.
Posted by UTfan4life on May 5, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this is all dumb
Posted by volunteer4life2 on May 5, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heaven forbid being able to enjoy a cold beer at a concert. God would have sent us all to hell for that.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 5, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's a great point chkrbrd. The luxury boxes in both Neyland and TBA allow alcohol to be brought in by the owners for game days, but the faculty doesn't want to sell it at TBA on concerts because it's on campus. Have fun explaining that Hamilton. LOL!!!!!!
Posted by agentorange on May 5, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sell beer everywhere.
Posted by pdhuff on May 5, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its a sad day when beer is withheld anywhere.
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 5, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is an outrage. They should be selling fritters anyway, not sinful beer.
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 5, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff - I'll drink a cold one to that.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 5, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More beer = more fun. My bet is that this issue dies a quick death, so they won't have to really address the Neyland and TBA liquor box contradiction (the faculty hasn't had an issue with this at all) and that they don't reapply for the beer permit. Also, without the beer permit the new Riverview Club or whatever that they are building outside of TBA overlooking the river wouldn't be able to sell beer I don't think. Hey Hamilton!!!!!!!! I'll be patiently waiting your "explanation" either way.
Posted by knoxsingle on May 5, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does the decision against beer technically include Natty Lite? Experts debate whether that's beer.
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 5, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hamilton and the beer permit:
No beer permit makes it harder for Hamilton to balance the budget and sell memberships to the new Riverview Club. Have fun selling memberships to people on gamedays with no beer permitted. Oh and where will you nickel and dime the fans to make up the shortage?
Beer permit will obviously help them sell memberships to the UT Riverclub and balance the budget. However this will likely upset the Faculty senate who will make this a bigger issue and bring out into the public air the dirty little secret and contradiction of UT being a "dry" campus while allowing the Sky box and Luxury box holders in Neyland TBA to bring in alcohol on game days.
Hamilton has backed himself into a corner trying to nickel and dime the fans, students, and faculty. Then he lays out program goals such as an SEC title every 4-5 years and isn't holding anyone accountable. This is of course after he didn't budget guarenteed bonuses for the coaches for a trip to the SEC title game. Hey, Hamilton. Good luck, you're going to need it.
Posted by TurboFan on May 5, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Stroke the Faculty's ego for a few months then try again. Send some fritters over every morning, that'll do it.
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 5, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WD40plusVOL - I'm in. You had me at fritter.
Posted by bamacheats on May 5, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why was this called the 'Jerry Green' bill?
Posted by GreerVol22 on May 5, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you sell it, they will come...
Posted by TurboFan on May 5, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
General, all of us, in our own personal ways, are just frittering our lives away.
See, pithy, deep, and no pastor involved.
Posted by JV on May 5, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like we're back to airplane bottles and flasks. Thanks UT, this is much cheaper than buying $5 plastic cups of Bud Light!
Posted by hcjournals on May 5, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So let's get this straight.....The power hungry dilletante on the faculty senate is holding this up? This is revenue for the largest indoor venue in East Tennessee......It has almost nothing to do with the University, students, alcohol use by students, etc. I like professors, but give me break...A little self important here..................
Posted by knoxsingle on May 5, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, professors couldn't possibly post spring semester grades before June. They're much too busy debating the beer rules.
Posted by BigOrangeJeff on May 5, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, shame on Mike Hamilton for not being a clairvoyant prophet, able to see the future like Whackin'LikeHeck obviously can.
Shame on you, Hamilton. Shame...
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 5, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see BigOrangeDufus is back.
Posted by pdhuff on May 5, 2008 at 9:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JV- $5 for a cup of Bud Lite! Try one of the big cups at a Titans game and don't look for much change from a tenner.
Brew remains high in the pecking order of life. You might fail it but it will never fail you.
Cold beer ranks above all in-laws and some family members.
TDTN would have liked that nugget.
Posted by Silent_Fulmer on May 5, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yawn, were Tennessee athletics, when it comes to screwing our own fans and being the nice guy to everyone else, were #1
Posted by VolPowers on May 5, 2008 at 11:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Never underestimate the volume that the collective thumping of the bibles can stir up!
Posted by DandyVol on May 6, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only two things to say. Xavier sells beer. They have the most drunken, foul mouthed, obnoxious fans I have ever seen.
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 6, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DaddyVol - but they don't have TommyJack, Kingsportvol, or TouchdownTN.
Posted by pdhuff on May 6, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gen Fritter- ck out www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/05/beercoffin.html
Man knows how to go with PBR.
Posted by Chartervol on May 6, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reading skills, people. Focus.
One: The Faculty Senate is not against beer. It is against being ignored. This is always the case with the Faculty Senate.
Two: Beer sales are proposed for non-UT events, not for UT basketball games.
Posted by TommyJack on May 6, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In the meantime, I'll stick to Yellow-Bellys and TV.
Posted by VolnDothan on May 6, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bad idea in my opinion...that comes from an experienced beer drinker and alumnus. The Bible has nothing to do with it...so don't even try. It has everything to do with keeping TBA a classy, fan-friendly place to watch a b-ball game. The last thing I want to do when I go to TBA is to have to beat a drunk, obnoxious frat daddy in front of my children and wife...
Posted by volfan on May 6, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is true that Neyland Stadium is a "dry" stadium, yet I have seen reports (several years ago) of how many truck loads of empty beer and whiskey bottles it took to carry the refuse from the stadium after a football game. Staggering! (pun intended) For several years I sat next to a fat female obnoxious drunk during the games. I go to sporting events to witness the games being played, and not be continually harrassed by some loud mouth drunk. If you must have your alcohol, why not stay at home and drink to your heart's content. That way you will not spend nearly as much money and you will not offend others. If you go to a concert or sporting event, why not watch the event and justify the price of the ticket? By the way, I too have been involved in a fatal accident by a drunken driver and five people in the vehicle I was in were hopitalized for days and weeks as a result of the effects of alcoholic beverages.
Posted by McMinnVol on May 6, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I for one am very glad that this has been tabled, and I hope and pray that it does not pass in the future. This will be part of the slippery slope that eventually leads to sale of alcohol at UT games. I for one enjoy going to games with my family and not having drunk fans around me. I am not stupid - I know that some will continue to sneak alcohol in. But the longer we can delay the open sale of it at games - the better!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on May 6, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
VolinDothan,
You'd beat a fratdaddy in front of your wife and kids at a game for being drunk and obnoxious? That's class personified. Ok, tough guy. LOL!!!!!!!
I believe that the conference affiliation and it's rules prohibit or allow the sale of alchohol at games and whether the facility is on "campus" and if that campus is a "wet" or "dry" campus. I don't know for sure what the exact rules are but it's probably some combination of that.
Posted by invisiblekid on May 6, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"...to begin selling beer at nonathletic events, such as concerts." I don't condone obnoxious drunks but how many times is this rather straightforward phrase going to be missed by some people? To rephrase it: THEY ARE NOT PROPOSING TO SELL BEER AT ATHLETIC EVENTS. Last I checked, basketball games were athletic events, thus no beer will be sold at games.
Posted by invisiblekid on May 6, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Cold beer ranks above all in-laws and some family members". You get my phrase of the day award for that one pdhuff.
Posted by mmhartz on May 6, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't wait to see the size of the first lawsuit against UT and the athletic dept. when a drunk driver who got his beer at TBA kills someone. Then how ya' going to balance the budget?
BTW - Drunk drivers kill more people each year than were killed during the entire Vietnam War, but now one seems to care. All they care about is getting more revenue by selling alcohol.
Posted by auttat on May 6, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I usually get drunk as p!$$ before the game and about puke myself sitting in the scalding heat, but...boy...aint it fun!
Posted by JWilly on May 6, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
auttat,
Genius, pure genius! Why didn't I think of doing that???
Posted by pdhuff on May 6, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It took me and Big Fletch 9 pitchers of Killian Red to get thru the Fla game last year. Only 6 for the Bama outing because we threw the towel over the top rope early.
We got into the vod-o-ka Grey Goose for the Ky game. Don't know if we saw the end or not. Only had to drive down the hallway and turn right into the bedroom, so it was PC. Ma said I snored.
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