Tuscaloosa Tennis Center granted permissive use and alcohol license with strict operating conditions

The committee approved a permissive use agreement with the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority and granted a special retail liquor license for the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center, subject to operational conditions intended to limit alcohol to tennis activities.

Jay Logan, representing the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority, and Mike Goldhammer, director of tennis at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center, explained the plan to confine alcohol sales to the concession building at the facility and to require sellers be at least 21 and trained in responsible‑vendor and safe‑serve practices. Goldhammer described the intended vision: "with the expansion, we now have a concession center and that's where we'd like to serve alcohol as well as water, drinks, prepackaged foods," adding that the intent is to keep alcohol sales closely tied to tennis activities.

Staff outlined operational controls: sales only at the concession building circled on the facility layout; daily inventory checks; locked inventory storage; security cameras; and a prohibition on non‑tennis events that would permit alcohol sales. Staff also noted that some tournament bids (for example NCAA events) require shutting down alcohol sales for the duration of the event.

Council members asked about oversight and staffing. Staff said the director of tennis and office manager will oversee daily operations and that public safety staff will coordinate if enforcement issues arise. The committee approved the permissive use agreement and the special retail more‑than‑30‑days liquor license by voice vote.