Billy and a Beer?

Billy McGuigan fans might be allowed to legally drink more than soda pop and lemonade at next month’s concert at the Davies Amphitheater.

Glenwood City Council members who spoke publicly on the matter at a meeting last week appear to be receptive to a request from Davies Amphitheater manager Jeff Mitts to allow concert goers to bring beer and wine to McGuigan’s show on July 21. Mitts said McGuigan has a large following in the Omaha area and his show typically attracts the largest concert crowd of the season to the Davies.

“He’s one of the premiere performers in Omaha,” Mitts said. “A lot of his fans are older and are used to enjoying his music with a beer or glass or wine.”

Mitts stressed that alcohol would not be sold on the premises – patrons of legal drinking age would simply be allowed to bring their own beer or wine to the show, a common practice at many outdoor concert venues in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area.

Openly allowing alcohol would be a first in the 38-year history of the Davies, but patrons have been known to bring adult beverages into the facility on occasion. The proposal for the McGuigan show has the backing of the amphitheater’s board of directors, Mitts said.

Glenwood City Administrator Angie Winquist discussed the proposal with the city’s insurance carrier prior to last week’s meeting. Winquist said the insurance carrier offered several recommendations for the city should the council allow alcohol to be consumed at the concert. The recommendations include:

* Having one or more police officers in attendance to monitor crowd behavior and to prevent underage consumption.
* Issuing wristbands to all adults who want to consume alcohol at the concert.
* Fencing off a designated area of the amphitheater for alcohol consumption.
* Limiting the size of coolers brought on to the premises.

Council member Craig Florian said, “The concept of alcohol is not new to the park,” noting that beer and wine are sold and consumed in a responsible manner at the annual Blues and Brews festival.
Council members Holly Jackson and Laurie Smithers were joined by some citizens in the audience who questioned whether all the stipulations are necessary  – particularly the wristbands and the establishment of a fenced-off area for alcohol consumption.

Citizen Stephen Hunt encouraged  city leaders “to move forward” and be open to change and new ideas that could help make Glenwood a more attractive community to visitors.

Police Chief Eric Johansen was not present at last week’s council meeting, but will be consulted about the amphitheater request before a final council decision is rendered.