Alcohol sales possible at Myrtle Beach Sports Center

Attendees at Myrtle Beach Sports Center could soon sip on a beer while watching a mixed martial arts fight if Myrtle Beach City Council approves a proposed resolution.

Council has been scheduled to vote on the resolution for the past two meetings, April 14 and Tuesday, but continued the resolution both times.

Sports center general manager John McDonald told City Council that two possible clients, one for a mixed martial arts event and one for a billiards event, said they would be more likely to hold their event at the Myrtle Beach facility were alcohol sales allowed.

Councilmen Mike Lowder, Philip Render and Michael Chestnut said they all are opposed to the sale of alcohol at the center. They say the purpose of the facility has been to attract youth sporting events.

“I would like to have one sports venue in town that is alcohol free,” Render said.

The resolution would establish that alcohol – wine, beer and spirits – be available only at adult-themed events and all signs of the alcohol be taken down when the event is over. It takes four votes on the seven-member council to pass the resolution.

City Manager John Pedersen said that youth sports events will continue to be 99 percent of what is done at the facility, but the adult-themed events could fill the times when school conflicts with youth sporting events.

“I think it will continue to fulfill the mission of bringing people to our market place that we otherwise woulnd’t be able to get,” Councilman Wayne Gray.

City Council could consider the resolution as soon as its May 12 meeting.

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Alcohol sales possible at Myrtle Beach Sports Center."