Booze bill gets Senate go-ahead

The Minnesota Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would allow beer to be sold in certain areas of TCF Bank Stadium.

The omnibus liquor bill includes a provision that allows beer to be sold in suites as well as in a designated area somewhere in or near the stadium. The bill passed 58-4. The House’s omnibus liquor bill contains a similar provision and could be heard later this week.

The provision comes out of a years-long battle between the University of Minnesota and the Legislature over where beer should be sold in the stadium.

University administrators originally wanted to sell beer in stadium suites only — a move some legislators called elitist. The Legislature required the University to sell alcohol to the general public.

Instead, the University opted against selling alcohol in the stadium at all. Any change in that policy would have to come from the Board of Regents, even if the Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton pass it.

Board Chair Linda Cohen told the Minnesota Daily earlier this week that she thought the new proposal was a “very good idea.”