Watch Party

[rnschltz]

Heading to an "watch party" event at a large public arena this evening with my CHL. The venue is city owned.

While we will be watching the professional event on a Jumbotron inside the arena, no teams will be playing there. I am guessing this event is legal to carry?

Secondly, I noticed the last time I was there neither bar had a 51% sign posted - in fact, nothing at all. Is it legal to carry in these establishments as well? I tried to do a TABC search but nothing came up for the address. I am planning on asking to view the TABC license while I am there.

Any input is appreciated, and thanks!

[Keith B]

Just watching a sporting event is not IMO attending professional sporting event. If so, i would have have had to disarm during the Super Bowl.

Seriously, unless it is hosted by the sports teams or there are some type of pro sports exhibitions going no, it should be OK.

I would definitely check out the licenses. They should have one of the two signs posted period.

Disclaimer: IANAL

[rnschltz]

Well, thats the rub. It IS being hosted by a professional team organization, hence my confusion...

I will look for TABC signs tonight. Maybe I just wasnt that observant last time....

[joe817]

Well, thats the rub. It IS being hosted by a professional team organization, hence my confusion...

I will look for TABC signs tonight. Maybe I just wasnt that observant last time....

Yes, please do rnschltz. And report back with your findings. There's always something to be learned from an experience like this.

[rnschltz]

So, my attendance tonight yielded the following:

No legal signs prohibiting carrying at the entrance, just a "weapons prohibited" sign, along with prohibiting no outside food, beverage, etc.

I checked out one of the drinking establishments - the other was not open. No 51% or 30.06, or any other (legal or otherwise significant) signage was to be found at any of the three entrances/exits, bar or seating areas.

Asking the bartender to view the license elicited a confused look and him running to whom I supposed was the manager. She came up to me and asked if anything was wrong - I said, "No, thank you, I would just like to view your license".

She proceeded to go behind the bar and pull the license down off the wall. After examining it and returning it to her, I thanked her for her time and attention (she appeared very confused by the whole process). I did find the "red sign" designation on the license, but forgot to note who the licensee was.

While normally it is not practice to point out that there is a lack of proper signage (usually surrounding 30.06), I welcome opinions on whether or not I should provide the TABC with info that proper signage is not being displayed in this establishment.

It is worthy to note this is a new arena, less than a year old.

[Kythas]

So, my attendance tonight yielded the following:

No legal signs prohibiting carrying at the entrance, just a "weapons prohibited" sign, along with prohibiting no outside food, beverage, etc.

I checked out one of the drinking establishments - the other was not open. No 51% or 30.06, or any other (legal or otherwise significant) signage was to be found at any of the three entrances/exits, bar or seating areas.

Asking the bartender to view the license elicited a confused look and him running to whom I supposed was the manager. She came up to me and asked if anything was wrong - I said, "No, thank you, I would just like to view your license".

She proceeded to go behind the bar and pull the license down off the wall. After examining it and returning it to her, I thanked her for her time and attention (she appeared very confused by the whole process). I did find the "red sign" designation on the license, but forgot to note who the licensee was.

While normally it is not practice to point out that there is a lack of proper signage (usually surrounding 30.06), I welcome opinions on whether or not I should provide the TABC with info that proper signage is not being displayed in this establishment.

It is worthy to note this is a new arena, less than a year old.

I would think TABC would want to know they have no sign posted. Not posting the correct sign (or any sign at all for that matter) is a violation of the law.

[dicion]

So, my attendance tonight yielded the following:

No legal signs prohibiting carrying at the entrance, just a "weapons prohibited" sign, along with prohibiting no outside food, beverage, etc.

I checked out one of the drinking establishments - the other was not open. No 51% or 30.06, or any other (legal or otherwise significant) signage was to be found at any of the three entrances/exits, bar or seating areas.

Asking the bartender to view the license elicited a confused look and him running to whom I supposed was the manager. She came up to me and asked if anything was wrong - I said, "No, thank you, I would just like to view your license".

She proceeded to go behind the bar and pull the license down off the wall. After examining it and returning it to her, I thanked her for her time and attention (she appeared very confused by the whole process). I did find the "red sign" designation on the license, but forgot to note who the licensee was.

While normally it is not practice to point out that there is a lack of proper signage (usually surrounding 30.06), I welcome opinions on whether or not I should provide the TABC with info that proper signage is not being displayed in this establishment.

It is worthy to note this is a new arena, less than a year old.

I would think TABC would want to know they have no sign posted. Not posting the correct sign (or any sign at all for that matter) is a violation of the law.

I fully support reporting 51% Signage violations to the TABC. The lack of proper signage only hurts us, as most of us would more than likely just simply avoid the place if we knew it was 51%.

Being a 51% Location is not an optional 'choice' as is putting up a 30.06 sign is.
The thought with notifying about incorrect 30.06 signs, is they'll put up the right one instead, thereby barring us from carrying, where we could before with the incorrect sign.

That thought process doesn't apply for TABC 51% Law, they are breaking the law by not having the proper sign up. Even if the sign isn't up, it's still illegal for us to carry there. It is only a defense to prosecution that the sign was not hung properly... which means you'll still take the ride, and have to go to court, and prove that it was not hung properly to get it dismissed.
It's better for everyone for them to just have the proper signage posted. We avoid the place & they aren't breaking the laws.

Also, a note... it almost seems like we're becoming unofficial TABC violation spotters for them, with us constantly checking these businesses to see if they're following TABC Law
Especially with these businesses that get 'caught' in violation by a CHL, and TABC shows up a few weeks later to issue them a violation

It would be great if we could get someone that works for the TABC Enforcement section on these forums, so they could take reports from people here, and let us know what, if anything, was done about them!

[Liberty]

We now have protection if the 51% is not displayed. I think reporting a violation of a law most of us do not benefit from or believe in is nothing but tattling. and making it tougher for others who might wish to carry. Now if the establishment has a 51% sign and they don't qualify, we should put on the pressure. but squeeling on an establishment for allowing us to carry is just wrong...

[gemini]

We now have protection if the 51% is not displayed. I think reporting a violation of a law most of us do not benefit from or believe in is nothing but tattling. and making it tougher for others who might wish to carry. Now if the establishment has a 51% sign and they don't qualify, we should put on the pressure. but squeeling on an establishment for allowing us to carry is just wrong...

[rnschltz]

I usually only go to this facility for pro sporting events, so obviously no question there regarding CC. This latest situation gave me pause, not only regarding the 51% signage, but also if it qualified as a "professional sporting event" since it was hosted by the teams ownership.

While I have no intention of even getting close to committing a felony (intentionally or otherwise), it is much more convenient to just walk through this establishment to get to my seat for these "watch parties". During the sporting events you pay a hefty price for sitting in this section....so I have never even been through there before.

[tamc9395]

To keep from guessing, what city/event was this located in?

Thanks,

[Bonc_CHL]

So is the Bar area considered a separate entity from the arena? As in the entire arena is not a 51% establishment....

[rnschltz]

To keep from guessing, what city/event was this located in?

Thanks,

Cedar Park - Texas Stars watch party.

[rnschltz]

So is the Bar area considered a separate entity from the arena? As in the entire arena is not a 51% establishment....

There are 2 entrances from outside the arena to the establishment, and another inside the establishment to/from the arena.

[ralewis]

So, here's the deal with the Cedar Park Center. There are actually 2 liquor licenses. Sections 106/107 are the "club" seats and there is a bar that is accessible only from those seats and from the outside common area for patrons that have 107/106 tickets. I had access to season tickets this year (and also attended the game on Monday and sat in 107). The rest of the Center I believe is covered by the other license, and I have seen the usual "Unlicensed" possession signs.

My opinion is a 'watch party' is not a prohibited event. I 'watch' games at several venues that are non-51% locations and carry all the time, so to me it seems that is no different than watching the game at the Cedar Park center on the screens there.