The Springfield City Council on Jan. 6 approved ordinance 2025-527, amending Chapter 90 of the 1988 City Code to add a new liquor classification, "Class P," to permit alcohol sales at a designated sports park.

Council members adopted Amendment 1 by voice vote before taking final action on the ordinance. City staff explained the amendment clarifies that alcohol sales under a Class P license may occur from permanent concessions and mobile concession units located within the licensed, fenced sports-park premises, but that food trucks that leave the site after events are not eligible for a Class P license. Council adopted the amendment and then approved the ordinance as amended.

The motion to approve the ordinance as amended passed with eight yes votes and no no votes. The record shows Alderman Hanauer announced he would be recorded as voting "present" on a different ordinance referenced earlier in the meeting (ordinance 2025-518); the vote on 2025-527 recorded eight affirmative votes.

By adopting the new Class P classification, Springfield establishes a regulatory path for sports-park operators to apply for a license that confines alcohol service to the licensed premises. City staff said the licensed area would be defined in the license application and that temporary or mobile concession units operating under the Class P license must remain within that fenced and licensed area.

The ordinance language referenced at the meeting was described as an amendment to "Chapter 90, Section 90.15 of the 1988 City of Springfield Code of Ordinances" to add the new classification. Council adopted the ordinance after the on-the-record motion and voice and electronic voting.

The council did not identify a timeline for when the license application form or administrative procedures would be posted; staff indicated those operational details would follow implementation of the ordinance.