Corbin arena gets liquor license

Speculation over whether a 5,000-seat, $25 million exposition center in south Corbin will get to sell alcohol for some of its events is over.

City of Corbin officials confirmed Monday afternoon that The Arena at the David L. Williams Southeast Kentucky Agriculture and Exposition Center has been issued a liquor license by the Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Cliff Clinger, General Manager of the expo center, said the license takes effect immediately and that plans are in place to sell alcohol at the center’s next event – TNA Live! professional wrestling, scheduled to take place this Friday.

"We have a few details that we have to take care of to make sure we are compliant since we have kind of been in a holding pattern on this," Clinger said. "We have to gear up a little bit but we anticipate to begin alcohol sales as early as Friday."

The move comes after months of wrangling over whether the facility qualified for a license to sell. In February, La Tasha Buckner, General Counsel for the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, said that by her interpretation of current laws, Corbin’s expo center could not be issued a license unless local voters decided to adopt more liberal regulations regarding alcohol sales within the city limits. Voters approved a referendum in 2003 that allows limited sale of alcohol, by the drink, in restaurants that seat 100 or more patrons. Under those conditions, she said no license could be issued.

City leaders immediately countered pointing to a law, KRS 243.050 which seems to offer an exemption to normal rules regarding alcohol sales to places like airports, horse and auto race tracks, historic sites and convention centers if it is determined that it is "in the best interest of promoting tourism, conventions, and the economic development of Kentucky …" They said before the arena was ever constructed, they were told by state ABC compliance and enforcement officials that the arena would be able to get a license under that law.

Earlier this year, 82nd District Rep. Charles Siler (R-Williamsburg), whose district includes Corbin, attached an amendment to another law that would have allowed the expo center, and others like it around the state, to sell alcohol as long as the areas where they are located had repealed Prohibition to at least some extent. It was approved by the state Senate but was never brought for a vote in the House.

"What happened is probably the best thing they could hope for," said Siler Monday. "I think it was the proper way to do things. Catering licenses are normally much more controlled than the standard license."

Ultimately, Clinger said officials with Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s office and State Senate President David Williams worked with the ABC to agree on an administrative waiver that would allow the expo center to get the license. The arena will still be required to show that at least 70 percent of its concession sales come from food to be in compliance with the terms of the new license, a requirement that is in line with licenses given to local restaurants in the city that serve alcohol.

"I think through further evaluation, they saw what this facility was and they deemed this as the appropriate route through which is should be issued a license," Clinger said. "It’s important because it is just another revenue source that can go back to the city. We have always wanted to address it from that standpoint. It is something that is offered at almost all arenas. I think people consider it a norm to have an alcoholic beverage when they go to certain entertainment events."

Clinger is an employee of SMG Worldwide Entertainment and Event Management, a company hired by the city of Corbin to manage the facility. The city of Corbin actually owns the building and surrounding property.

Alcohol sold at the expo center will have to be purchased from special kiosks instead of at the normal concession windows, Clinger said. He added that all staff members will be trained in proper serving and that patrons wanting an alcohol drink will have to provide ID.

"We just want the community to know there shouldn’t be any concerns," Clinger said. "It will be dealt with as a very important thing. We don’t take it lightly. We are concerned about serving effectively and properly and making sure we monitor what we are doing."

Clinger said that alcohol won’t be sold at events with religious overtones or that are geared toward children. He added that the license, however, does not prohibit sale during any event.

"We will use discretion to make sure we only sell alcohol at events where it is appropriate."