Prince George is closed for business. We have a bunch of clowns running the show!

As for Mr. Basserman, I really think he should retire! He is/was a school principle, was he not?? Well Don, you are not dealing with little kids here, so get rid of that mentality of thinking.

This is one dieing town!! There is nothing downtown at night for entertainment for the good citizens of this $!*t hole! Only stuff for GANGSTERS. My business is suffering because of it. And no, contrary to popular belief, taxi drivers in general are not involved with the "GANGSTA" stuff. People that believe that we are, need to get their meds changed!

And yes, I am moving to Kamloops, but it will take a few months to take care of business here. After all, I have seen the light of day here for 57 years!!

Did I mention in previous posts, that I was in Kamloops about 3 1/2 weeks ago??? I went looking for potholes, couldn't find one!! And don't tell me it is because of the weather!! IT IS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ROAD MAINTENANCE THAT WE GET IN Pig Gorge, what a pathetic city this has become!!

Back to the stone age

I think they did the right thing. People should be able to attend a 2 to 3 hour function without HAVING to drink alcohol.

Sorry you have such a bad opinion of Prince George there Taxi...sounds like the issues are many, not just no booze at CN center....hope you fnd solution...have a good one.

You know, I hadn't been in Pine Centre Mall for quite a while. Well I was sure suprised, with all the stores are just boarded up walls. We seem to be loosing so much. I believe it's because of the population in Prince George. Just not there anymore, and the ones that are seem to be a majority of do gooders. Like Racer up above me. Thinking I may be able to go a couple of hours with out a beer. Well I asure him I can, Ifact I have gone all week without a beer. Now I'm going out to an event with friends and it would be nice to have a beer and chat. Guess you can't do that in Prince George unless it is in a bar or pub. But they don't have the entertainment I want. It's nice to watch a aporting event in casual wear and to be make an evening of it. Thought when I grew up I could do what I wanted if leagel.
Now the bible thumpers and do gooders have made anything I wanted to do eleagel.
Hold that taxi...I may just need a ride to the airport. Regualtions and Pot Hole are killing the TOWN, It's not a city.

These same people will be voting in favour of booze at the PAC. They consider themselves a different class.

BCRacer; the issue before council wasn't whether Cougar fans HAD to drink alcohol but rather if they should have the option to.

It must be a nightmare trying to make a living driving a taxi in this town with all the neglected potholed streets!

This springtime is the worst ever in this area of town!

Some streets are so deteriorated that no amount of patching makes a difference anymore! They need to be completely repaved after 30 years or more of daily use!

We are paying annual (ever increasing) property taxes. Are we wrong if we ask for something in return?

Sure looks like it.

Finally! A council that does something right. Thank you! I do not support alcohol at events where children attend. Cougars games are a family function. I've been to WHL games in other cities where alcohol is served and it was not a pretty site. Those venues that say they do not have a problem with alcohol in the stands are lying.

This town is dieing a slow death because the politicians want to control everything and spend all the money they don't yet have. Restricting beer at these events is childish IMO and shows a disrespect for law abiding citizens.

I rarely drink anymore, but if I was to go to a Cougar game I would expect I should be able to have a beer while watching the game with some friends. Not worth going otherwise.

Why do people have such a narrow minded mentality that just because alcohol is being severed it becomes unsuitable for kids?
MOST restaurants serve alcohol and they are still family oriented are they not?

And as for your comments Taxi, I am sure all of us can't wait for you to be gone so we won't have to listen to your constant grade school whining....I for one hope you can finish up your 'business' here and be gone ASAP!

I don't see why they can't serve beer at the CN centre. I have been to other venues that do it. I have been to Rexal centre in Edmonton a few times for sporting events and beer is sold there and it doesn't seem to be a problem. They have people going thru the stands selling it! They only serve beer - no other alcohol beverages. I guess they are afraid PG is to rowdy to handle it???

Perhaps if the cougars were sharing in the revenue generated from a little alcohol sales, they would get some better players, and then some more attendance.... seems like a good plan to me.

I've been to many other arenas where beer was served in the stands (including WHL) and saw no problems. I guess the folks on council don't go to many games here either because if they did, they would realize that people ALREADY drink at the Cougar games. Alcohol is already served in the suites (and kids are in those as well) and people smuggle liquor in as well . . . only it's hard liquor and not just beer.

So as it stands, CN Centre still allows liquor sales (if you have the dough to afford a suite), people will still be drunk at the games, we'll make no money off of it, and the average joe who would like to have a beer or two is out of luck. For the record, I don't even drink but the logic of decisions like these is asinine.

If they truly want to take the high road, then turf the liquor availibility in the suites (and ALL civic facilities for that matter) and kick out anyone who is drunk. At least that would be a somewhat consistent and defendable position. What they've done here is nothing more than posturing. What lame politics we have in this town. It's nothing more than small city people who think they are a big league. That's why PG will always be a big small town.

The argument that children should not see adults drink beer is rediculous. Most time if you look up to any suite at the cn centre there are adults drinking with kids around. Great point NMG...ban all alcohol from all Civic facilities.
I remember a high school trip I took in grade 12 to europe and although we were not supposed to drink we did. The local kids we were with had been drinking alcohol with their meals from an early age and saw no reason to get hammered like we did.

Listen to the BS being spewed on this subject.

(1) Do they serve beer in the Movies???

(2) Do they serve beer at the University Basket Ball Games.??

(3) Do serve beer at the soccer games, so that parents can drink while their kids play soccer???

(4) How about at the local Playhouse Theatre, Theatre Northwest, Vanier Hall.??

People seem to forget that there is a lounge at CN Centre, and if people want to drink during the game or during intermission, they can go to the lounge. So the issue seems not to be the availability of alochol at the CN Centre, but rather having it available for drinking in the seats.

Selling beer for consumption in the seats, would be a revenue making venture, because those who drink would buy a least their quota.

Who benefits from the beer sales. (a) The Cougers, and (b) The City. Who is promoting the sale of liquor in the stands. (a) and (b).

Who is being suckered into thinking that this issue is about peoples rights, rather than about making money.(a) Those people who want to drink in their seats.

Council did the right thing. If you want a drink go to the lounge, or to the bar across the street.

This Government tells me when and where to buy Beer, only special Store can sell it and where to drink it. What is so special that we need rules like this, are we Children, do Europeans have more Drunks then Canadians since Wine and Beer flow freely, not what I have seen .

"So the issue seems not to be the availability of alochol at the CN Centre, but rather having it available for drinking in the seats"

Correct and it currently IS available in the seats for those people who sit in the boxes. So what's the difference? Why the double standard? Either make it available in the seats for everyone or get rid of it for everyone. Simple.

Fail!

First let me say, this is the first comment I have posted. Read many and commend you all for sharing your views. Felt I had to weigh in on this one.
Well, do I feel like a second class tax paying citizen.
I am a long time season ticket holder of the Cougars (please don't feel sorry for me, I do enjoy it) and frequent other events at CN Centre, why can't I have a beer in the stands? My seats are directly below the City's luxury suite and I see our City Counselors in the suite enjoying an acoholic beverage, some I dare say are the ney sayers.
I wonder if my tax dollars are paying for the suite?
I don't even mind not having beer in the stands but that goes for the suites as well, no double standards.
Come on city counsel, get off the Ark and be the progessive council we elected you to be.

If they can have beer in the suits, then we should be able to have beer in the seats.
Or are there truly two classes of people in this town?
either ban all alcohol or allow all access to alcohol.

Of course we all know that council members have access to the suits due to their personal affluence and that of their friends.
That means that they are able to legally consume alcohol while prohibiting the riff Raff.

Let them eat cake!

Actually Jakuta, wether city pays for the luxury box directly or not...., you and I pay for it , one way or the other.

I remember my Dad drinking beer at Empire Stadium while we watched the Whitecaps play. I never saw any problems, but there does have to be balance. If you're not sure you can do it problem free, then don't do it.

If you can't get through a couple hours of recreation without a beer there is something wrong with you not the politicians.

it's not a matter of whether you can get thru a couple hrs with out a drink Ruez.
It's a matter of enjoyment while watching the game.
I don't drink, but I see it done at most other venues in other cities and I don't get the problem
Are PG people not sofisticated enough???
Do you think then cannot handle beer?

And hey Palopu - what is wrong with the city benefiting from beer sales - great maybe they can quit raising taxes or do a little more paving.

Funny how all the No voters on Beer at the CN Centre are the same ones that come visit their friends up in the private boxes and have no problem ordering Beer and drinks...

If you can't go to a hockey game and enjoy it without alcohol there is something wrong with you. And Enterprise I'm sure you have some evidence to back up your assertion that people against this go up to the private boxes and order beer. Certainly you wouldn't pull a claim like that out of your ass without something to back it up.

The cost of a private box is pretty prohibitive in relation to a ticket to a Cougers game. Even a season ticket is cheap compared to a private box.

A private box is just that (a PRIVATE BOX) and shouldnt be confused with drinking in the general seating area. Im sure most people on these posts can figure out the difference. If you cant, and still want to drink and watch the game. Get a private box. Spend some money. Become a High Roller.

Winnie. If the Cougers brought in the money that they were supposed to when they came to Prince George, this would be a non issue. The problem is the lack of fan attendence and therefore lack of revenue. The CN Centre costs the City approx $600,000.00 per year most of which is lost at Cougers games.

Turning the CN Centre into a huge public pub, to try and save some money is not the answer. Either get more people to attend the games, or kick the team out, and rent the space to venues that can make some money.

Sorry Palopu, if there's so many other events and organizations (venues???) that can move into the Multiplex and make money, why don't they do it the 5 days a week the Cougars aren't already there playing hockey?

If the desire to sell alcohol is driven purely by lack of revenue due to low attenances, can it be explained why so many other (profitable rinks) serve beer in the stands?

How is it that those who do not wish to imbibe are the loudest in deciding who can and cannot.

Dude, if you do not wish to consume, don't.
I am of legal age to consume alcohol and therefore can make the choice.
We supposedly do not live in a police tyrannical state and prohibition on alcohol was repealed almost a century ago.

Would you rather have otherwise law abiding citizens breaking "the law" just so you can sit above the rest while doing what is prohibited mere meters away?

busy bodies dictating what everyone else should do! Reminds me of catholic priests forbidding premarital sex then later being found with boys. What sins are you really hiding

Palopu, wasn't it you moaning about taxpayers paying operating deficits at the Jago sports center? Yet taxpayers should eat deficits at the CN center because Prince George adults are not as mature and responsible as Kamloops, Kelowna....and basically every city in the country. This decision is embarassing to this city.

My kudos to those of you who see the truth in this matter. This isnt a question of HAVING to drink beer, it is one of being ABLE to. I do not understand those who seem to think beer and kids have to be kept seperate. People CAN drink responsibly, and drinking alcohol IS legal. So where is the logic being prohibition? If you really want to protect kids from intoxicated adults, dont take them downtown.

I grew up a little bit in Europe and not only did adults drink around me as a child, but I was also permitted to accompany my parents into what we call licensed establishments.
If we keep drinking in the shadows until they are of age, how do they learn to do so responsibly?

Sure, there are idiots with bad behavior when they drink. That is because of the prohibitionist attitude of keeping younger people totally away from till the age of majority, then it is full access with little or no training. If it flowed like wine in France or beer in Germany, their early exposure would mitigate the desire to make up for lost time.

Next time you are at the CN Center, call out the drinkers in the private suites especially every council memeber, for their elitist behavior. Either we all have the same rights in the same building, or no one has beer. We can let the facility be wholly supported by the suites. No beer for all, then no cheap seats get sold.

"Rich people playing with public money for personal entertainment." C Monty Burns

Wow Loki, so people that don't want to sit by some loudmouth drunk spilling beer everywhere must be hiding something? What a load. You want to drink beer and watch hockey? Go to a sports bar. Society has more than enough places to get drunk and make an ass of yourself without adding CN center.

I drink there anyway!
Oh wait. No I don't because hockey sucks!

RUEZ, by that argument you could say, "You want to not drink beer and watch hockey? Stay home."

EatsBushesShoots&Leaves brings up a good point, how likely is it that the people dead-set against drinking in the seats at a Cougars game even attend them in the first place?

rambleon, why? There's a perfectly good hockey rink on Ospika.

There's also one on Dominion, the anti-side could go there and watch hockey, no?

They don't have to now.

RUEZ, with the comments you are making, I would say you are already pissed, or you should be!! You talk out of both sides of your mouth!! Go back to the Citizen Blog, don't ruin this one!!

Can't drink while driving in this town. Those potholes will make you spill too much. Maybe that's the plan?