Council OKs expanded DORA hours for game‑day event in Bridge Park

The Dublin City Council voted Nov. 3 to approve a temporary extension of DORA hours to 8 a.m. on the Saturday of the Ohio State–Michigan game for a morning tailgate event organized by WNCI and local businesses, including Urban Meyer’s Pint House.

City staff said organizers plan an early‑morning indoor tailgate that would move outdoors and use a large screen; the request seeks earlier DORA hours (normally starting at 11 a.m.) for three hours prior to the usual opening. Council debated whether to limit the extension to a specific street closure area to avoid favoring particular businesses and because narrower boundaries might be difficult to enforce. Staff said closing Bridge Park Avenue and Longshore would largely contain the activity, but enforcement and retail access concerns were raised.

After discussion, Council approved the request to extend DORA hours for that date for the entirety of the DORA district. Staff said a full event permit process and event-management plan remain required and staff will coordinate final details with the organizers.

Clarifying details: the extension was described as adding three hours before the usual 11 a.m. start time (i.e., an 8 a.m. start) for the DORA district on the date of the game event; staff will finalize the event permit and manage retail access concerns.