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April 11, 2012
Liquor license for new Barclays Center arena sparks fight in Prospect Heights
Boozy crowds will disrupt neighborhood, locals say
NY Daily News
by Erin Durkin
A boozy battle has broken out over a liquor license for the new Nets arena.
Residents worry liquored-up hordes of fans will wreak havoc in their streets after games and other events at the Prospect Heights arena.
The venue is virtually certain to get a license before it opens in September, but many locals want it held up until developer Forest City Ratner come out with security and transportation plans and a code of conduct for the arena.
“I’m just urging that we slow it down,” said City Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Prospect Heights), who said she’s been asking for transportation and security plans for over a year.
...Barclays Center officials said while liquor would be sold by 57 spots in the arena plus hawkers in the stands, they would check IDs strictly, refuse to serve anyone who looks intoxicated, and cut off sales before the end of events.
“We take it extremely seriously. Responsible alcohol service is the number one thing we want to ensure,” said Julie Margolin, director of operations for Chicago-based Levy Restaurants, which will handle food and liquor at the arena.
NoLandGrab: Actually, Levy intends to serve alcohol the same way they do in the rest of the 70% of NBA arenas they handle, and we know no one is ever drunk or unruly in any of those venues, right?
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Posted by eric at April 11, 2012 10:32 PM