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Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, is proposing to either tap into the profit from alcohol sales at the new TCF Bank Stadium or the U of M administration budget to fund new scholarship program for disabled veterans.

Garofalo is upset that U of M officials are considering making the new football stadium a dry stadium after originally proposing to allow alcohol sales only to those in the more exclusive-priced seats.

“This isn’t my No. 1 issue, or No. 2, or No. 3… or 500th,” said Garofalo.

But it’s “insulting” that university officials no longer trust the people who pay the taxes to build stadiums to have a beer.

“I’m fully confident it’s going to pass,” said Garofalo of his legislation.

Garofalo’s proposal comes same day that the U of M Board of Regents on a 10 to 2 vote approved a recommendation from university President Robert Bruininks to make the new football stadium, Williams and Mariucci Arenas, all alcohol-free on game days, according to the university.

“This is not a decision we should have had to make and this legislation was truly unfortunate,” said Board of Regents Chairwoman Patricia Simmons.

“But we were not willing to be the only on-campus football stadium in the Big Ten to sell alcohol throughout the stadium. We’re confident our fans will stand with us and will do everything in our power to ensure that TCF Bank Stadium is the best fan experience possible,” she said in a press release.

Legislation last session, signed by the governor, stipulates that alcohol sales be allowed throughout the new football stadium or nowhere, the university notes.

But Garofalo believes U of M officials are being unreasonable.
If they think the university is a dry university then “they haven’t spent five minutes on campus,” said Garofalo.

Creating a scholarship for disabled veterans is a worthwhile venture, he said.

Garofalo believes profits from alcohol sales at the new on-campus football stadium could easily put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the scholarship fund.