City approves food and drink policy for civic auditorium
By Russ Morgan (Contact)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Emporia, Kans. — City commissioners on Wednesday night approved a new policy that prohibits the public from bringing outside food and drinks into W. L. White Auditorium “except in very limited circumstances.”
According to the policy manual, its adoption “... will enhance revenue from the concessions which will lessen the subsidy that the City provides, enhance security for the public and bring the auditorium into conformity with the policies of other venues in the region, all of which prohibit outside food and beverages.”
Signs will be posted outside the entrances to the auditorium to inform the public of the following:
- Outside food and beverages are prohibited at public events
- The prohibition does not apply to persons with special dietary needs due to a bona fide medical condition
- The prohibition does not apply to infants or toddlers needing formula or baby foods
- Management will endeavor to have a variety of snacks, food items and soft drinks available for purchase inside the auditorium. We are always open to suggestions for additional items
- Bags, back packs and containers entering the auditorium will be subject to search. Refusal to allow containers to be searched will be grounds for refusal of admission
“Staff training will be necessary so they can learn to identify banned items and know what to do about it,” Commissioner Jeff Longbine said.
hornetfan00 (anonymous) says...
sounds like a plan but can you suggest that they keep the concessions open until the end of the 3rd quarter instead of closing right after halftime?
August 21, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mum318 (anonymous) says...
My granddaughter hopes they will sell fruit snacks during basketball games.
August 21, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jasonesu (anonymous) says...
How will this effect the city employees that work inside of White Auditorium? No where does this say inside only the arena. There are employees that must go into the building to get to the HR offices and also there is a breakroom. Also are the police and fire department personell going to be allowed to continue to carry their bottles of pop into the arena. I feel that if the general public cannot bring anything in then it better pertain the them also. Hope that the vendor is lining the commissioners and building managements pockets. I will not pay the outlandish prices that are charged, I will walk to the stop to shop at half time.
August 21, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I have no problem with this policy as long as it is not just a political ploy to gouge the public by charging criminal mark-ups on food and drinks. Keep the prices fair and I think the policy will be fair. Charging five bucks for a fifty-cent Coke and ten bucks for a two-dollar hot dog is not what I would call fair.
August 21, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mum318 (anonymous) says...
I predict it will be fairly easy to get food and drink past the ushers into the auditorium.
August 21, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )