Let the New Bielenberg Sports Center Food Vendor Sell Alcohol: Letter to the Editor

A January article in Woodbury Patch reported that the City Council was considering asking citizens, in February, about serving alcohol at the Bielenberg Sports Center as part of the expansion project.

Patch later reported that the city decided against including a question on the community survey about whether alcohol should be served at the new restaurant, as it would take too much time to discuss on the telephone survey. 

Now, according to a city official, the decision as to whether to allow alcohol service is up to the City Council and has not yet been made as a result of a lack of consensus on the council.  

Apparently, some of the council members feel the entire facility should offer a “family” environment, since many of the patrons will have children who would use the center for hockey practice, games and tournaments. 

Forgive me, but I am failing to see the logic here. I know more than a few moms and dads who enjoy a glass of beer or wine with their burger, and this new facility has been designed to service all citizens of our community. 

There needs to be the necessary due diligence to attract the best vendor and offer the widest variety of amenities possible, to assure the necessary return on investment to our city. 

Perhaps we can reference the University of Minnesota Board of Regents’ experience with beer and wine sales at the TCF Stadium to start.

—Laura Lee, Woodbury

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