Bill for sports, concerts would set national precedent

Co-sponsors Priola, degruy Kennedy say the market is deeply underserved

State legislators this week plan to vote on a bill that would require “substance free seating” for Colorado sporting events and concerts at venues with more than 7,000 seats, including stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters.

Senate Bill 23-171, introduced Feb. 27 by Colorado Sen. Kevin Priola and Rep. Chris degruy Kennedy, would require venues such as Ball Arena, Coors Field, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Empower Field at Mile High to offer 4% of their audience capacity as “substance free seating,” where alcohol, tobacco and other substances would be banned.

The bill addresses the need for families and people in addiction recovery to have substance-free spaces at sporting events and concerts, co-sponsor Priola said Friday, and is part of a growing national movement toward such spaces.

The bill would also set a national precedent as the first of its type in the country, although some sports stadiums — including Coors Field — already offer small, alcohol-free sections for families.

“There’s a growing (sober) community and segment of the market that isn’t being represented,” Priola said. “In the U.S., 9 percent of people at any one time are trying to recover from addiction, and if you add in families that don’t want a bunch of people partaking around them, 4 percent is completely reasonable.”

If passed, failure to comply with the bill would be “basis for refusal or denial of an alcohol beverage license renewal or initial license issuance and other forms of license-related discipline,” according to the bill’s text.

Priola has been working with sports teams and venues owners to build support for the bill, and has peopled lined up to endorse it at its lateweek hearing, he said. If passed, the bill would take effect in 2026, giving teams and venues and promoters time to work with season ticket holders who might be affected by the new seating areas, as well as other legal and logistical concerns.

Colorado’s Liquor and Enforcement declined to comment on the proposed bill, saying that the governor’s office would weigh in only if it passes. Denver-based concert promoter AEG Presents Rocky Mountains also declined to comment on the potential effect on ticket prices and seating layouts.

Complicating the bill is the fact that most Colorado sports and concert venues have maintain sponsorship deals with liquor and beer compa