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June 19, 2012
A question for the SLA hearing on the Barclays Center alcohol service plan: how many other arenas serve VIP customers after the announced third-quarter cutoff, and does the NBA have an unannounced exception to its rules?
Atlantic Yards Report
As the second day of a two-part hearing on the Barclays Center liquor license approaches tomorrow (7 pm, State Liquor Authority offices in Harlem), several questions remain, notably one regarding whether the arena plans to follow NBA policy, and whether that policy includes a previously unacknowledged exemption.
According to arena operators, they plan to offer alcohol service to up to 1,800 VIPs for an hour after NBA games, as well as an hour after all events.
They say that's in compliance with the NBA, and have said they plan to follow NBA guidelines.
That remains in question, since the NBA for more than seven years has had a cut-off after the third quarter, with no announced exception for high-rollers. In April, a lawyer for the arena said publicly that alcohol service would end after the third quarter, with no mention of exceptions.
No one will confirm for me whether that NBA policy includes such an exception, nor which other NBA arenas, if any, offer such an exception.
At the hearing tomorrow, the administrative law judge should be told to pose these very specific questions directly to the applicants for the liquor license:
- For NBA games, do most/all other arenas, like Madison Square Garden, cut off alcohol service arenawide after third quarter?
- How many are they like the Barclays Center plan, allowing alcohol consumption for those in VIP sections, for an hour after games? If so, which ones?
- Does Barclays Center need a waiver from NBA guidelines? Or are those not binding? Or do they not apply to VIP seats?
(Other issues likely to come up regard Community Board 8's expected request for an earlier cutoff time than the announced 2 am, as well as concern about whether Jay-Z's 40/40 Club will offer bottle service.)
Posted by eric at June 19, 2012 1:35 PM