Colorado sports: trends to watch.

• Author: Schley, Stewart
• Position: Sports Biz - Top sports business stories of 2005 - Editorial

AT THE INTERSECTION WHERE COLORADO SPORTS MEET up with business and economics, here's our list of the top sports business stories of 2005--that may play a big role in 2006.

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1. PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY RETURNS. Upon learning that the National Hockey League Players Association signed off on a new labor agreement last July, we went straight to the guy who could provide penetrating economic perspective: the bartender at Brooklyn's. Veteran drink mixer Jeff Friant says that on an evening when the Colorado Avalanche plays at Pepsi Center, total bar sales for the night might run as high as $15,000, vs. just $1,500 or so on an off night. Across 41 regular-season home games, the economic spillover affecting hospitality workers, parking-lot attendants, beer vendors and merchandise retailers is huge. Friant says he'll pocket $200 in tips when the Avs are at home, vs. $30 during those long and forgettable nights of the 2004-2005 player lockout.

2. ALCOHOL WARS. Longmont resident Jeff Black generated national attention when a lawsuit he filed against the Colorado Rockies and vendor Aramark Corp. drew support from The Marin Institute, and alcohol industry watchdog organization. Black, who was menaced by a pair of inebriated fans during a 2004 game at Coors Field, wants to force the Rockies to impose more limits on beer sales. Black's lawsuit is part of a growing movement among fans and advocacy organizations to demand more restraint in peddling libations during games. Responding to a fracas at a 2004 Detroit Pistons home game, National Basketball Association president David Stern imposed new limits on alcohol sales at NBA games. Last January, a New Jersey jury awarded $135 million to the family of a New Jersey girl who was paralyzed in a car crash caused by a drunk driver who had just left a New York Giants game. The lawsuit charged that employees of concessionaire Aramark Corp. wrongly sold beer to a visibly drunk fan. (The fan, Daniel Lanzaro, is serving a five-year sentence.) Aramark is appealing the verdict.) Nobody expects sports teams to stop serving beer to well-behaved fans. But, don't be surprised if the guy who sells you a cold brew next season checks first to make sure you haven't had one too many.

3. MAJOR GROWTH FROM MINOR LEAGUES. Colorado minor-league owners are banking on the appeal of inexpensive tickets and affordable sponsorships for hockey, baseball and basketball. In Broomfield, sports entrepreneur John Frew and...