University of Minnesota Board of Regents to review plans for alcohol sales at TCF Bank Stadium and Eastcliff maintenance
Contacts: Chuck Tombarge, University News Service, tombarge@umn.edu, (612) 625-8510
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (07/09/2012) —The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will consider a resolution and implementation plans to allow beer or beer and wine sales and service at TCF Bank Stadium and in the premium seating areas of Williams and Mariucci arenas during intercollegiate athletic events. The agenda item will occur during the full Board meeting, which begins at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11 at 600 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. SE, Minneapolis.
“First and foremost, we are committed to the safety of students and fans and to being good neighbors,” said Amy Phenix, chief of staff to U of M President Eric Kaler. “The proposed implementation plan is a balanced approach offering very limited sales in the general seating area, consistent with requirements of 2012 legislation and our educational mission.”
Key elements of the proposed implementation plan for intercollegiate athletic events include:
- The university will not sell or serve hard liquor. Only beer or beer and wine will be offered at intercollegiate athletic events.
- Alcohol sales in TCF Bank Stadium will start one hour prior to kick-off and end at the conclusion of halftime.
- There will only be one point of sale—on the west end of the general seating area of TCF Bank Stadium. Care will be taken to create a visual and physical barrier between the point of sale and the Veteran’s Memorial and Tribal Nations Plaza outside of the west end gates. No alcohol will be allowed on those spaces.
- Patrons will be limited to two beers per person per transaction. Patrons may return to their seats to consume their beverages.
- All staff servers will be trained to check identification, identify intoxicated patrons and take other precautions to promote responsible and safe consumption.
- Patrons must show a valid ID before each purchase.
- University of Minnesota police and private security will increase their presence in the plaza area to ensure safety, and a designated driver program will be offered.
- The enabling legislation sunsets in two years and the university is considering this implementation a pilot project that will include continual assessment and adjustment as needed to promote safety and responsible consumption.
The plan was developed by a task force including staff from intercollegiate athletics, auxiliary services, contract administration, capital planning and project management, the university’s police department, the University of Minnesota Foundation, the Office of the General Counsel, University Relations, student affairs and the president’s office. As well, university leaders have consulted with students, veterans groups, neighborhood representatives and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community leadership.
During the 2012 legislative session, legislators and Governor Mark Dayton eliminated conditions on the university’s liquor licenses that led the university’s Board of Regents in 2009 to prohibit alcohol sales at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena during athletic events. Current legislation, which allows the university more easily controlled alcohol sales, requires alcoholic beverages to be convenient to the general seating area.
Pending Board of Regents approval, the university has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from distributors who can meet university policies, equip facilities and will help ensure safe alcohol sales in time for the 2012 football season. The RFP also indicates that university trademarks, logos or any other official symbols of the university cannot be used to market, distribute or sell alcohol.
“The university will continue to deliver a strong message of responsible alcohol consumption,” Phenix said. “We expect our fans to be responsible role models and we believe this implementation plan supports those goals.”
Eastcliff Roof Replacement
During committee meetings scheduled for the morning of July 11, the Board’s Facilities Committee will review a capital budget amendment proposal for replacing the roof of Eastcliff, home to university presidents and a site for numerous university events.
The project will replace deteriorating cedar shingles on the main house and adjacent carriage house, as well as repair metal flashing, gutters and downspouts. The project will also repair chimney masonry, wood trim and electric heat tape. The Eastcliff Technical Advisory Committee – an independent group of experts responsible for guiding improvement, maintenance, operation and use of Eastcliff – studied roof conditions and found that shingles are badly warped and curling at many locations and that staples used to secure shingles are severely deteriorated. As a result, this historic home’s roof is vulnerable to strong winds and significant water damage.
Planned improvements, which are scheduled to occur later this summer, are in keeping with the university’s capital plan and were included in the 2013 Annual Capital Improvement Budget, approved in June. The project is estimated to cost $285,763 but final costs will be determined following a competitive bidding process and will be paid out of the university’s central reserve funds. The cost is driven by the large square footage of buildings on the property, as well as the cedar shingles necessary to maintain Eastcliff’s historic nature. As a result, materials costs, as well as labor and design costs, are significantly higher than required by an asphalt shingled roof. While the Board is not required by policy to approve individual projects below a $500,000 threshold, the project proposal will be reviewed by the Facilities Committee to ensure transparency.
Eastcliff is on the National Register of Historic Places and this project is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. Each year, Eastcliff hosts approximately 150 events and welcomes 7,500 visitors, including public tours, local and international dignitaries, students, faculty and a community book club. It was built in 1922 and was donated to the university in 1958 by the family of lumber baron Edward Brooks for the purpose of serving as the official residence for the university’s president. President Kaler is the eighth university president to live in the home as a condition of his employment.
Other agenda items include:
- Itasca Project Higher Education Task Force: Greg Page, Cargill CEO and chair of the task force, will present findings and a strategic vision for bringing together higher education institutions and Minnesota businesses to drive long-term prosperity for the state. President Kaler serves on the task force.
- Executive Compensation and Transition Policies: The Board will take final action on the recommendations submitted in June by a Board subcommittee and university staff.
- Enterprise Systems Upgrade: The Facilities and Operations Committee will consider a resolution authorizing the U to move forward with an $83.5 million multi-year update to student, financial and human resources enterprise systems.
For more information about the Board of Regents and its July agenda, go to www.umn.edu/regents/.