TCF Stadium May Soon See Beer Sales

ST. PAUL  (AP) - A measure that could satisfy some fans' thirst for beer at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium is halfway to Gov. Mark Dayton.

The Senate voted 55-3 for a liquor law change Friday. The House is likely to vote soon on the liquor bill.

The bill would grant the university a stadium liquor license if alcohol sales are open to the general public.  Democratic Rep. Joe Atkins says it could lead to a beer garden at the stadium's open west end. Sales would end at halftime.

Current law says that the university must sell alcohol to at least one-third of the stadium's general seating or none at all. The university declined to sell alcohol after being denied the right to sell it only in premium suite seating areas.

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