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No booze sales at Blake Shelton concert
Posted On 09 Mar 2011
When Blake Shelton belts out "The More I Drink" at his March 20 concert at The Arena in Corbin, concert goers will not be raising a cup of beer to salute the country music star.
That’s because the concert originally scheduled for Friday, March 18, is now being held on Sunday. The ordinance that permits sales of alcoholic beverages within the Corbin City Limits, does not permit the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
"There is no Sunday sales and that’s it," said Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney when asked if there was any way the Corbin City Commission could enact a one-time waiver for the event.
Though McBurney did not have any figures, he said the lack of alcohol sales will likely result in thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
Under the city ordinance, there is a seven percent city liquor tax. Any proceeds from the tax for the sale of alcohol at the Arena goes back to the Arena.
McBurney noted this will not be the first such concert held at the Arena where alcohol was not available. When country acts Montgomery Gentry and Alan Jackson and rock group Three Doors Down played at the Arena in 2009, there were no alcohol sales.
A scheduling conflict forced promoters to reschedule Shelton’s concert. Arena Manager Connie Hunt said March 30 was the next date that was mutually agreeable to the parties. Ticket sales for the concert are good and it may result in additional sections being made available for sale.
Hunt noted the number of seats available for a concert varies depending on the size of the stage and the rigging and lighting used by the artist.
"The way things are going, we are expecting about 5,000 people for the show," Hunt said.
As to the lack of alcohol sales possibly hurting ticket sales or attendance, Hunt noted while ticket holders have the opportunity to return their tickets because of the new date, only a handful have done so.
Tickets are still available at the Arena box office or through Ticketmaster.
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Idiocracy
There WAS alcohol sales at the Three Doors Down concert in 09. I was there and I clearly remember having to stand in line for 20 minutes for beer.
Good grief, get real people that complain about alcohoal sales or even porn sale. The revenue from the city on alcohol sales help keep other city taxes lower, and restricting sales is a loss for the city. For years we have lost out on the money that people the have the right to drink are going to Jellico, Richmond, and Lexington, giving them the tax revenue, instead of keeping it in our city. As for the porn nobody is holding a gun to your head forcing you purchasing it or watching it. You need to get off your Hollier-then-thou soap boxes.
Ahh, Looks like the Arena will be losing out on more money this round. I bet Blake Shelton is happy about the NO alcohol sales…NOT!
Hello
Hello
Michael B, you’re right! Why are people so unwilling to clean our area up? City and County ordinances can be used to eliminate the porn shops and alcohol sales, both of which are detrimental to society. Local leaders, stand up and start leading!
Disgusted, the whole “sin tax” concept takes the bad idea of going “wet” and makes it worse. The money that could have been used to support families and create jobs is redirected to the government in the form of a tax. Regardless of the location its a bad idea to have alcohol sales. Additionally, there are more deaths, abuse, and tragedies linked to alcohol in the US than any other drug! So why add the extra burdens of alcohol sales to our communitites?
I’m sure that TN is happy that Corbin is too stupid to go “wet” they have enjoyed our tax money for years!! Being a “dry” county is not stopping drinking, its just letting another state get the tax money from our drinking!!
I love the hypocrisy. I can’t get a beer at a concert on a Sunday, but I can still head down the road and buy porn.
McBurney said the lack of alcohol sales will likely result in thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
I wonder how those thousands compare to the lives destroyed by drunk drivers, abusive families, cost to tax payers to suport those with a “drinking problem” and on and on.
Going wet is NOT an economic boom for any area. Just look at Perry County and all the others that sell alcohol. Going wet and taxing the alcohol is an added curse to the areas that allow it.
The thousands drinkers pay in taxes are thousands that could have bought groceries, appliances, clothing, vehicles, and supported families, not to mention the related jobs. Otherwise it is going to support a local government, that is just like the federal government, growing all the time! Of course we could all just start working for the government…..Comrades
I think it is great…. we can’t make “one-time waivers” every time there is an event on Sundays. If we start pushing the line back on what we stand for, it will be so blurred that it won’t be evident any longer…. good for the mayor !!