City officials have big plans for our new $11.6-million downtown plaza during Soo Greyhound home games.
Brent Lamming, the city's director of community services, will brief city council on Monday on a grand scheme including pre-game parties and free game screenings at a plaza fan zone, as well as free bus rides to and from downtown for anyone with a valid game ticket.
"There will be a pre-game party at the plaza in advance of every home game for the Greyhounds, weather permitting," Lamming says in a report to Mayor Shoemaker and councillors.
"This will be serviced by the licensed mobile retail unit and amenities within the plaza. Greyhound games will be broadcast on the screen in the plaza when available.
"In advance of the game there will be the 'Hound Hike' up Queen Street to the GFL for participants to augment the fan experience."
"As part of the initiative, it is recommended that the city provide free transit service with a valid ticket to and from the game. This will encourage use of public transportation and allow individuals consuming alcohol a form of safe and reliable mode of transportation. This approach will create a new tradition with the aim of enhancing the fan experience."
The cost to the city for lost bus fares will be just $2,000, Lamming said.
He proposes to continue working with the Downtown Association and Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club on things like on-street pre-game parties or special occasion permit events in the GFL Memorial Gardens parking lot, but there are serious reservations about bring-your-own alcohol tailgate parties on city property.
The following are excerpts about that issue from Lamming's report:
Through the research completed there have not been any municipalities in Ontario that have secured a tailgating licence in its true essence, that is allowing for external alcohol to be brought onto a municipal site for consumption.
It is more common to obtain a special occasion permit under an existing licence to serve alcohol on public property.
The following inherent concerns exist with tailgating from a risk perspective:
- monitoring consumption in advance of the game from external alcohol being brought onto the site
- oversight regarding type and quantity of external alcohol being brought on the site
- pouring rights from the Molson contract extend into the parking lot
- potential for disorderly conduct in advance of or during Greyhound games and requirement for additional security
- consideration for negative impact on concession sales within the facility
- the weather in late fall and winter can at times be restrictive to attendance for a pre-game event
- some individuals may buy a spot in the parking lot just to obtain premium parking (should tailgate parking spots be offered for sale)
- how to control the tailgate area
- the tailgate area would be open and potential issues with underage drinking
- monitoring of arriving and departing alcohol would not be possible
- a risk of the loss of the city liquor license as a result of infractions
- protocol development and implementation would be required
- tailgate areas would require revisions to the alcohol policy
Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.