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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Chicago Acts to Block Wrigleyville Alcohol Sales in Case of Championship Run


It has been 100 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series. They have flirted with it in the past, only to break the hearts of the Cubbies faithful. Could this be the year? Some Chicago city officials appear to think so.

The area around Wrigley Field is filled with bars and restaurants. No one goes thirsty in Wrigleyville. A game day when the Cubs are in town resembles a beach resort on Labor Day weekend. You really start to wonder if anyone has a job in Chicago. But it is mostly good fun. Fans who cannot buy a ticket or don't want to bother with the live baseball part of the Chicago Cubs experience go to one of the dozens of nearby bars. They can drink in the experience and watch the game on big screen televisions.

Yesterday the City of Chicago negotiated a deal that is a little amazing given that the actual enforcement of the "Cubs Celebration Regulation" might be a little difficult. I remember reading in the history books that Prohibition did not quite work out in the Windy City.

Meeting at John Barleycorn's Restaurant on Clark (yup, they negotiated the deal in a bar) city officials and bar owners agreed to cut off alcohol sales after the seventh inning of any playoff or World series game in which the Cubs have a chance of clinching the series. The prohibition on alcohol sales will last for one hour. If the game goes to extra innings, the bars can start selling beer, wine and spirits again.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley had wanted the seventh inning ban to apply to all Cubs playoff games at Wrigley, fearing fans could spill into the streets and turn violent. The compromise on series clinching games includes bars on Sheffield from Newport to Irving; on Clark from Irving Park to Newport; and on Addison from Wilton to Racine.

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