Fredericton gets into bar business

Grant-Harvey Centre will have a bar when it opens this fall

CBC News

Posted: Jun 11, 2012

Fredericton will soon have its first bar in a city-owned facility when the Grant-Harvey Centre opens in the fall. (Daniel McHardie/CBC)

Fredericton will soon have its first bar in a city-owned facility when the Grant-Harvey Centre opens later this fall.

“If your son is playing a hockey game and you'd like to consume a beer, that will be permitted,” said Wayne Tallon, the director of community services.

Normally, the only time liquor can be served at city facilities is under a special events licence.

But city council felt since the Grant-Harvey Centre is meant for regional use, unlike the community-based Willie O'Ree Place, it should have a liquor licence, said Tallon.

The city will hold the permit and council is expected to approve a deal at Monday night’s meeting to have Molson Brewery be the official supplier, he said.

Negotiations are now underway to find a community group to operate the bar before the centre opens in September.

Revenue from the bar will be split between the city and the operator, but Tallon said he believes the city will end up the winner.

"They're not-for-profit, and those monies are circulated back to the community through different ways, they have to do that."

In addition, Molson Brewery will also provide close to $15,000 a year to have a monopoly on products sold at the bar, Tallon said.

The hours of the bar have not yet been determined.

The Grant-Harvey Centre, a $29.35-million project, will feature an Olympic-sized ice surface and an NHL ice surface, a three-lane walking and running track, as well as a community events room, a multi-purpose meeting room and full kitchen facilities.

The grounds will include an artificial turf multi-use athletic field, a six indoor tennis courts, a two-acre, and a fenced dog-walking park.

The centre will honour two of the city's hockey heroes — Danny Grant and the late Buster Harvey.