SPRINGDALE : Rodeo hoping to wrangle beer permit
Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008
In contrast to its long practice of offering only nonalcoholic drinks, the Rodeo of the Ozarks sees a future in beer.
Rodeo organizers asked for a beer permit earlier this month.
“This has been a four-year decision — we thought about it and thought about and thought about it,” said John Gladden, rodeo board president. “We’ve got to look at different revenue streams.” Police Chief Kathy O’Kelley gave her approval Friday. She said beer sales must end an hour before the end of an event, and that the rodeo must pay at least two off-duty officers for security.
As long as the rodeo plays by the rules, O’Kelley said she has no problem with beer sales at Parsons Stadium.
Former state Sen. Jim Holt, meanwhile, said he’s thinking about protesting the application.
“We’ll see,” he said Friday.
Holt, who successfully opposed liquor sales at a Sam’s Club in Springdale, said rodeo officials would regret the decision to sell beer if a drunken fan killed someone in a car accident.
“Money’s not worth someone’s life,” Holt said.
With a permit, Springdale would join the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith and the Arkansas State Fair Rodeo in Little Rock in serving beer.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, a branch of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, is set to consider the application April 16.
Founded in 1944, the Rodeo of the Ozarks is known as a venue for family entertainment. Gladden said he and his colleagues won’t let beer sales taint that reputation.
“If it becomes a nuisance, we’ll give up the permit,” he said. “We’ll do nothing to give Springdale a black eye.” Beer would be sold in the northeast corner of the stadium, Gladden said. The stadium hosts the rodeo each July, as well as a demolition derby, monster-truck rally and a professional bull-riding competition.
All told, beer would only be sold about 10 days a year, Gladden said.
State law requires the applicant to publish a notice in the local paper that a permit has been requested. The state also sends notice of application to the county sheriff and prosecutor, chief of police and to all City Council members and the mayor.
If an elected official lodges a protest, a public hearing must be held. The state also can ask for a hearing if residents complain. If the application is denied, the rodeo could appeal to the circuit court in either Washington or Pulaski counties.
In addition to beer sales at events, approval would give the rodeo a more lucrative source of funding through advertising.
Alderman Rick Evans, who said he doesn’t drink, isn’t keen on the idea of rodeo beer sales. But he also said he can’t block the rodeo’s permit since beer will be sold at Arvest Ballpark, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
“If we’re doing it for the ball team, how can you not let them do it ?” Evans said.
The state Legislature passed a bill in 2007 sponsored by Reps. Eric Harris and Jon Woods, both R-Springdale, and Sen. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins, allowing beer sales at the city-owned ballpark. The legislation was part of the package to lure the Naturals to the region.
Mayor Jerre Van Hoose said the rodeo arena permit should not be protested.
“They’re just trying to keep up with the times,” Van Hoose said. “[Drinking ] is much more socially acceptable now.” So far, organized opposition to the permit has not emerged. But a brouhaha over alcohol is not without precedent in Springdale. The state alcohol board in 2004 denied a liquor permit for a Sam’s Club at U. S. 412 and 56 th Street.
Fayetteville lobbied to get the store, which is now open and selling alcohol on that city’s north side.
Alderman Mike Overton says he has no plans to protest the rodeo application. But a potential conflict could arise with the rodeo fans themselves.
“It’s an interesting concept,” Overton said. “It’s always been marketed as a family event. The marketplace will determine if it works out or not.”
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
