The city of Sacramento is set to take another step toward expanding areas where people can drink alcohol in an effort to up the entertainment game in three key downtown areas.The city’s nighttime economy manager from the Office of Nighttime Economy (ONE) is set to make the case at Tuesday’s city council meeting for Sacramento to adopt an ordinance, which would amend the city code and allow for the establishment of what are being called entertainment zones.According to city documents, entertainment zones are areas allowed by state law – which may be created by local ordinance – permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public streets, sidewalks, or public rights-of-way, next to and during special events.“Pursuant to SB 969, after the establishment of an entertainment zone, consumers may purchase open container beverages (alcoholic drinks to-go) from licensed bars, restaurants, breweries, and wineries and enjoy them outdoors in common spaces like plazas, sidewalks, and streets during certain hours. Days and hours of operation will only be permitted with an approved Special Event permit,” a city of Sacramento file indicates.Already, the cities of San Francisco and Santa Monica, for instance, have established entertainment zones.Sacramento is considering setting up designated entertainment zones as follows:20th and K Streets Entertainment Zone: 20th and K streetsAli Youssefi Square Entertainment Zone: Ali Youssefi Square and the adjacent area, including K Street between 7th and 8th streetsConvention Center Entertainment Zone: Area surrounding the SAFE Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts CenterSacramento’s ONE office said established entertainment zones would help to support jobs and generate revenue in downtown Sacramento.The presentation on the entertainment zone ordinance is set to go before the council around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, downtown councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said he wholeheartedly supported the idea, and saw it as an opportunity to bolster the downtown businesses community who are sometimes left out of events.Mike Testa, of Visit Sacramento, also supported the idea of bringing the entertainment zones to the city.”When you can walk around the event, when you’re not encumbered by fencing and other things, it allows you to get exposed to other businesses, other restaurants,” he said. “We found when people can circulate and move about, it really increases the revenue, to not just the event, but to the businesses that surround the event.”Testa said he’s studied what’s been done with the concept in San Francisco where businesses have reported huge boosts in sales during events within the zone.”We are an event city,” Testa said. “This feels like the next step. This is what big cities do, and I think we’re at that level.”City staff worked with Downtown San Francisco Partnership to prepare for Tuesday’s meeting. President and CEO Robbie Silver spoke with KCRA 3 ahead of the vote. “These block parties and events that bring people downtown post-pandemic are really creating an economic impact on the bars and restaurants that have just continued to struggle post pandemic,” Silver said. “We’d love to see more entertaining zones happen throughout the state.”According to the Downtown San Francisco Partnership, four activations in the Front Street corridor have drawn 21,000 attendees and brought record-breaking sales to legacy businesses. One business reported during the Oktoberfest celebration sales were 10 times that of an average Friday night, the partnership reported. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The city of Sacramento is set to take another step toward expanding areas where people can drink alcohol in an effort to up the entertainment game in three key downtown areas.
The city’s nighttime economy manager from the Office of Nighttime Economy (ONE) is set to make the case at Tuesday’s city council meeting for Sacramento to adopt an ordinance, which would amend the city code and allow for the establishment of what are being called entertainment zones.
According to city documents, entertainment zones are areas allowed by state law – which may be created by local ordinance – permitting the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public streets, sidewalks, or public rights-of-way, next to and during special events.
“Pursuant to SB 969, after the establishment of an entertainment zone, consumers may purchase open container beverages (alcoholic drinks to-go) from licensed bars, restaurants, breweries, and wineries and enjoy them outdoors in common spaces like plazas, sidewalks, and streets during certain hours. Days and hours of operation will only be permitted with an approved Special Event permit,” a city of Sacramento file indicates.
Already, the cities of San Francisco and Santa Monica, for instance, have established entertainment zones.
Sacramento is considering setting up designated entertainment zones as follows:
- 20th and K Streets Entertainment Zone: 20th and K streets
- Ali Youssefi Square Entertainment Zone: Ali Youssefi Square and the adjacent area, including K Street between 7th and 8th streets
- Convention Center Entertainment Zone: Area surrounding the SAFE Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts Center
Sacramento’s ONE office said established entertainment zones would help to support jobs and generate revenue in downtown Sacramento.
The presentation on the entertainment zone ordinance is set to go before the council around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, downtown councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said he wholeheartedly supported the idea, and saw it as an opportunity to bolster the downtown businesses community who are sometimes left out of events.
Mike Testa, of Visit Sacramento, also supported the idea of bringing the entertainment zones to the city.
“When you can walk around the event, when you’re not encumbered by fencing and other things, it allows you to get exposed to other businesses, other restaurants,” he said. “We found when people can circulate and move about, it really increases the revenue, to not just the event, but to the businesses that surround the event.”
Testa said he’s studied what’s been done with the concept in San Francisco where businesses have reported huge boosts in sales during events within the zone.
“We are an event city,” Testa said. “This feels like the next step. This is what big cities do, and I think we’re at that level.”
City staff worked with Downtown San Francisco Partnership to prepare for Tuesday’s meeting. President and CEO Robbie Silver spoke with KCRA 3 ahead of the vote.
“These block parties and events that bring people downtown post-pandemic are really creating an economic impact on the bars and restaurants that have just continued to struggle post pandemic,” Silver said. “We’d love to see more entertaining zones happen throughout the state.”
According to the Downtown San Francisco Partnership, four activations in the Front Street corridor have drawn 21,000 attendees and brought record-breaking sales to legacy businesses. One business reported during the Oktoberfest celebration sales were 10 times that of an average Friday night, the partnership reported.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel