A cold beer has long been part of the ballpark experience at the professional level, but parents questioned the decision to allow alcohol sales at Burleson’s Chisenhall Fields Sports Complex, a popular venue for youth baseball and softball. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Despite protests from parents and reservations among council members, the Burleson City Council voted on Nov. 3 to allow alcohol sales at Chisenhall Fields Sports Complex, a popular venue for youth baseball and softball games and tournaments on Hidden Creek Parkway.

While the motion passed with a 5-2 vote, the council reserved the right to amend the alcohol sales policy at a future meeting to quell concerns, and the city has the right to choose on an event-by-event basis when to allow alcohol at the fields. Mayor Chris Fletcher also reiterated that the city can revoke Chisenhall’s alcohol sales permit at any time should unruly behavior become a problem.

The debate over whether to permit alcohol sales began in August after city staffers recommended bringing in Sports Facilities Companies to manage Chisenhall Fields Sports Complex and its concessions. The city entered into a contract with SFC on Oct. 6.

On Aug. 18, Parks and Recreation Director Jen Basham presented figures to the City Council showing alcohol sales would increase concession revenues by more than $1 million over a five-year period, which the city would profit from under its agreement with SFC.

Katie Johnson, a parent who spoke against selling alcohol, questioned the city’s priorities.

“Is it alcohol to make money, or is it kids?” she asked the council members.

Johnson said emotions run high at youth ballgames, and she feared what would happen if alcohol was added to the equation.

Johnson’s 8-year-old daughter, Kennedy, said she’d witnessed poor behavior from adults who had been drinking at her softball games.

“I just wanted to play softball with my friends and not worry about coaches and parents (and) how they act,” she said.

However, the city’s policy as it stands prohibits the sale of alcohol during regular youth games and practices at Chisenhall, and it prohibits the sale of alcohol at tournaments for children 12 and under. Additionally, SFC must ensure alcohol sales are done in accordance with city and state law.

Council member Victoria Johnson expressed mixed feelings about allowing alcohol sales at the complex but said she saw the benefit of it for certain events, like Burleson’s annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks show.

Additionally, council member Johnson said alcohol sales could help SFC attract more events and adult baseball and softball tournaments to Burleson.

Council Member Larry Scott said he was OK with having alcohol sales at events like the Fourth of July celebration, but he doesn’t want it at ballgames. Part of that, he said, was out of respect for families who don’t want to expose their children to drinking. Scott also wondered if an increased police presence would be necessary to ensure public safety if drinking was permitted at Chisenhall Fields.

Council member Phil Anderson agreed with Scott, saying alcohol has no place at sporting events. He also raised concerns about people potentially leaving beer cans lying around the complex after events where alcohol is sold.

“I don’t like it, I don’t want it, I’m not going to vote for it,” Anderson said.

Like Katie Johnson, Rocky Tucker, a parent of young softball players, was firmly against alcohol sales at Chisenhall.

Speaking to council members, she said she’d witnessed fights between adults at Chisenhall Fields, and she believes that would only get worse with the availability of alcohol.

Fletcher said it was a “tough” decision while thanking the speakers for their input. Ultimately, though, he voted to approve the motion. Anderson and Scott were the two “no” votes.

When giving his rationale for supporting alcohol sales at Chisenhall, Fletcher acknowledged that money played into it. He said the increased revenue would help the city fund its parks, its recreation center and its municipal golf course. Like Council member Johnson, he added that alcohol sales could be another selling point for SFC as it seeks to bring more events to Burleson, which could benefit local hotels and businesses.

Now that the motion has passed, the City Council is expected to fine tune the specifics of the alcohol sales policy at its Dec. 15 meeting. One idea that’s been discussed is raising the minimum age limit for tournaments where alcohol sales will be allowed from 12 to either 16 or 18.