Rayo OKC

[Laramie]

Let's get away from this syntax & semantics of word meaning and look at the intent of the law that alcohol not be served to underage drinkers; especially at OSSAA events--we get that.

We're talking about alcohol being served to adults at a high school stadium for a professional soccer event (non OSSAA activity).

In the case of Taft Stadium, it's a district owned facility; therefore we know why you wouldn't sell or serve alcohol at a high school event. We're talking about a professional soccer team leasing a stadium that is owned by the district and not a sole entity of the high school. Taft & Miller stadiums fall under the umbrella of those intentions.

Continue to dance to that beat; while corporations & businesses we hope to lure laugh at our system of how we deal with adults & alcohol. Mother Hen (Oklahoma) continues to sit on eggs she hopes to hatch that were never fertilized. Wake up, Oklahoma and smell the coffee; it's the 21st Century. We continue to make ourselves look colonial--something is rotten and it's not in DENMARK.

[jerrywall]

Meh.... If a private org rents out a ballroom at the student union on a dry campus such as UCO they still can't serve alcohol (I don't think). The entire SEC doesn't allow beer to be publicly sold at it's members stadiums. I was curious and looked around, and there are other soccer clubs around the country that played at high schools and were unable to sell beer, so I doubt people are really laughing at us other this. It's not that unusual to separate alcohol from school properties.

I'm more concerned about the inconsistency of the enforcement.

[Rover]

Let's get away from this syntax & semantics of word meaning and look at the intent of the law that alcohol not be served to underage drinkers; especially at OSSAA events--we get that.

We're talking about alcohol being served to adults at a high school stadium for a professional soccer event (non OSSAA activity).

In the case of Taft Stadium, it's a district owned facility; therefore we know why you wouldn't sell or serve alcohol at a high school event. We're talking about a professional soccer team leasing a stadium that is owned by the district and not a sole entity of the high school. Taft & Miller stadiums fall under the umbrella of those intentions.

Continue to dance to that beat; while corporations & businesses we hope to lure laugh at our system of how we deal with adults & alcohol. Mother Hen (Oklahoma) continues to sit on eggs she hopes to hatch that were never fertilized. Wake up, Oklahoma and smell the coffee; it's the 21st Century. We continue to make ourselves look colonial--something is rotten and it's not in DENMARK.

It is only now that many colleges are adjusting policy for selling alcohol in their publicly owned stadiums. To think we are unusual or backward from selling at high school venues is just emotional tripe.

The problem is that these professional teams need to find professional venues...build one. Then they can control all aspects and front all liabilities while enjoying the profits. If they are going on the cheap to get going then they have to follow existing structure. Get professional sports out of high school stadiums and the problem is solved.

At least the Energy negotiated somewhere they had a few options because of ownership/jurisdiction issues.

[d-usa]

I want to say that even FC Dallas had the same problem. They initially played at the Cotton Bowl before moving to a high school stadium. They were unable to sell beer and the fans did not like that, so they moved back to the Cotton Bowl before building the new stadium.

As to the "fight" for Taft Stadium. I wasn't trying to paint it like some undercover shady operation. If I remember right, both groups wanted it and both groups presented their case to the board. So I wonder if both teams knew the alcohol situation and maybe this contributed to them trying to secure this particular stadium.

[Tydude]

I want to say that even FC Dallas had the same problem. They initially played at the Cotton Bowl before moving to a high school stadium. They were unable to sell beer and the fans did not like that, so they moved back to the Cotton Bowl before building the new stadium.

As to the "fight" for Taft Stadium. I wasn't trying to paint it like some undercover shady operation. If I remember right, both groups wanted it and both groups presented their case to the board. So I wonder if both teams knew the alcohol situation and maybe this contributed to them trying to secure this particular stadium.

Bob Funk Jr. Group vs Tim McLaughlin Group was fighting over the bid for Taft Stadium OKCPS deiced to go with McLaughlin group which was the original OKC NASL group. Couple of months later McLaughlin left the NASL group and went and joined Funk and the Energy FC.However McLaughlin own the bid right for Taft Stadium so with him joining it Energy FC was allowed to play at Taft started in the 2015 Season which was last year. Yea they both knew that they can sell Alcohol at the Stadium.

[borchard]

Its GAME DAY! So excited for the match tonight. Ive got 2 new people who are coming with me. One of our other guys says he has 15 people he's bringing! I also have 4 other friends who've said they're coming for the first time, as well.

[Bob Loblaw]

Its GAME DAY! So excited for the match tonight. Ive got 2 new people who are coming with me. One of our other guys says he has 15 people he's bringing! I also have 4 other friends who've said they're coming for the first time, as well.

Let us know if beer sales at the game is still an issue or if the team management got the matter resolved as they said they would.

[borchard]

Let us know if beer sales at the game is still an issue or if the team management got the matter resolved as they said they would.

From what Ive heard they will be able to sell beer at the April 30th game. Funny how they arent letting them until AFTER both teams play on the same night.

[d-usa]

From what Ive heard they will be able to sell beer at the April 30th game. Funny how they arent letting them until AFTER both teams play on the same night.

I don't think that the sheriff and judge are secret Energy FC fans who decided to use their powers to keep attendance down at Miller Stadium to stick it to Rayo.

[Tydude]

Rayo OKC attendance was 5,851 OKC Energy FC Attendance is 6,455

[Bob Loblaw]

Beer battle brewing in Yukon between county, OKC Rayo ownership - El Reno Tribune: News

Rayo OKC?s beer feud with county still brewing - El Reno Tribune: News

Reading these articles, it's pretty obvious RayoOKC is NOT the home team in Canadian County.

[kwhey]

Sheriff Edwards is being a dick. He is personally opposed to it and is definitely playing political games. I'm no Rayo Fan but let them sell beer. It's not like school is in session during the match.

[borchard]

One of my sources has told me that the El Reno Tribune will do a front-page piece on this in the next week. Several of the principles who drove this decision are elected officials who are up for re-election. From what I could gather these people have to release their Donor's List by April 15th? the ERT has already seen who is on these lists, and apparently two of the top donors for these people don't reside in Canadian County. Want to guess who they are? And apparently the County Court Clerk is shaking in her boots about this list getting out. She SHOULD be! I would say the same thing if the shoe was on the other foot. Honestly it was a non-issue last Saturday. It was so chilly and windy I wouldnt have wanted a beer anyway! We drank enough before and after the game. :-)

[borchard]

Here are some pics from the last game. One of my friends that I brought had NEVER been to a soccer game. All he did on the way home was talk about what a great time he had, and how exciting the game was!

[borchard]

I don't think that the sheriff and judge are secret Energy FC fans who decided to use their powers to keep attendance down at Miller Stadium to stick it to Rayo.

I have no idea if they are soccer fans, but I DO think they are fans of money, coming from the person(s) who first put the bug in their ear. I want to see this El Reno paper article.

[jerrywall]

Sheriff Edwards isn't running for reelection (announced that back in February). These are some pretty wild and borderline slanderous accusations to be making, so I hope you have some solid info that backs it up.

[d-usa]

Sheriff Edwards isn't running for reelection (announced that back in February). These are some pretty wild and borderline slanderous accusations to be making, so I hope you have some solid info that backs it up.

I think so far there are at least two possible scenarios at play:

Scenario 1: A sheriff and a judge are idiots.

Scenario 2: The ownership of a local Division 3 soccer team has enough money and power to bribe a county sheriff and a local judge. They didn't have any better possible use of having a sheriff and a judge in their pocket, so they used that power to keep the owners of a local Division 2 soccer team from selling beer at a soccer game. Not only was the ownership group of the local Division 3 soccer team fortunate enough to find both a sheriff and a judge who were willing to be bribed, they managed to find them in the same county that the local Division 2 soccer team is using for their home games. And both the sheriff and the judge are willing to risk their re-election, and their entire professional and political careers, just so that the Division 3 team can have some more rears in their seats because they can sell beer while the Division 2 team plays in an alcohol free stadium.

I don't know which scenario is closer to the truth, but Hanlon's Razor should be considered IMO.

[jerrywall]

Especially when making career ending accusations which if true could destroy lives and send people to jail? And if not true could reflect poorly on the entire OKCTalk community?

[borchard]

Sheriff Edwards isn't running for reelection (announced that back in February). These are some pretty wild and borderline slanderous accusations to be making, so I hope you have some solid info that backs it up.

I'm waiting for the paper article to back it up. I guess we'll know for sure when/if that happens. I wouldn't even posit this as a possibility if there wasn't a history/pattern of under-handed, smarmy behavior by the ownership group in the past. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong and I'll say so.

[borchard]

I think so far there are at least two possible scenarios at play:

Scenario 1: A sheriff and a judge are idiots.

Scenario 2: The ownership of a local Division 3 soccer team has enough money and power to bribe a county sheriff and a local judge. They didn't have any better possible use of having a sheriff and a judge in their pocket, so they used that power to keep the owners of a local Division 2 soccer team from selling beer at a soccer game. Not only was the ownership group of the local Division 3 soccer team fortunate enough to find both a sheriff and a judge who were willing to be bribed, they managed to find them in the same county that the local Division 2 soccer team is using for their home games. And both the sheriff and the judge are willing to risk their re-election, and their entire professional and political careers, just so that the Division 3 team can have some more rears in their seats because they can sell beer while the Division 2 team plays in an alcohol free stadium.

I don't know which scenario is closer to the truth, but Hanlon's Razor should be considered IMO.

I truly hope it's Scenario #1. I just know that this decision was made at ~3 minutes til 5pm, on a Friday. I also know that everyone involved with the team, the city, the school system disagreed with it. I know that the team and all lawyers involved tried ALL DAY on Saturday to rectify the situation. They attempted to call the judge numerous times. he did not answer his phone.
I know that a representative, or two, even knocked on his door. No answer.

[borchard]

I think so far there are at least two possible scenarios at play:

Scenario 1: A sheriff and a judge are idiots.

Scenario 2: The ownership of a local Division 3 soccer team has enough money and power to bribe a county sheriff and a local judge. They didn't have any better possible use of having a sheriff and a judge in their pocket, so they used that power to keep the owners of a local Division 2 soccer team from selling beer at a soccer game. Not only was the ownership group of the local Division 3 soccer team fortunate enough to find both a sheriff and a judge who were willing to be bribed, they managed to find them in the same county that the local Division 2 soccer team is using for their home games. And both the sheriff and the judge are willing to risk their re-election, and their entire professional and political careers, just so that the Division 3 team can have some more rears in their seats because they can sell beer while the Division 2 team plays in an alcohol free stadium.

I don't know which scenario is closer to the truth, but Hanlon's Razor should be considered IMO.

So, the most reasonable explanation is that this was all just a coincidence. Does that actually sound reasonable, though?

[borchard]

Sorry the NASL is going to fold in a year or two

Nope

[d-usa]

So, the most reasonable explanation is that this was all just a coincidence. Does that actually sound reasonable, though?

That would be scenario 3, if you want to introduce it.

Scenario 1: Idiot Sheriff and Judge.
Scenario 2: Career ending corruption scandal for the sake of shifting attendance from one minor league soccer team to another.
Scenario 3: Coincidence.

[jerrywall]

So, the most reasonable explanation is that this was all just a coincidence. Does that actually sound reasonable, though?

No, but it's reasonable that the Sheriff got complaints, and him and the judge came to a certain interpretation of state law. Now, I disagree with that interpretation (or at least feel it's being interpreted differently by folks in different areas). But that's much, much, much more likely and reasonable than some shadow conspiracy involving 3.2 beer and minor league sports.

[gopokes88]

Lol. If there's a government incompetence option, it's probably government incompetence.

Sheriff could also be a baptist, and on a mission to shut down alcohol. A real I'm driving 70 in the left lane type dick.