SMU beer, wine sales total $350K at campus basketball games
SMU started selling beer and wine at arena concession stands in January. The university will expand sales to football games in the fall. (Sarah Hoffman/Dallas Morning News)
Southern Methodist University sold nearly $350,000 of beer and wine at basketball arena concession stands, according to the state comptroller’s office.
The sales figure indicates how much money the university stands to make when it starts to sell alcoholic beverages at football games this fall. SMU plans to kick off beer sales in Ford Stadium concourses at the first home game on Sept. 20 against Texas A&M. Alcoholic beverages are already available in stadium suites.
SMU began offering alcoholic beverages to the general public in January when its newly renovated Moody Coliseum reopened. They sold beer and wine at 13 men’s basketball games. Concession stands sold beer for $6 or $8 apiece and wine for $6 apiece.
Students had to show valid government-issued IDs outside of the arena. They got a wristband with tabs that limited them to three alcoholic beverages.
Nine of the 13 campus games sold out, SMU athletics spokesman Brad Sutton said. The games drew a higher turnout because of the team’s success, but Sutton said fans also appreciated the new amenity.
SMU sold nearly $650,000 of all concessions — including beer, wine and food during the 13 games, he said.
SMU is one of several universities looking to beer and wine sales as a potential revenue stream and way to draw fans to games. University of North Texas recently announced that it will sell beer to the general public at its football stadium in the fall. It previously sold beer in the stadium’s club and suite levels.
Highland Park Village owner says no grand plans, just “nips and tucks” for shopping center
Ray Washburne owns Highland Park Village with his wife, Heather Washburne, and in-laws Elisa and Stephen Summers. They bought the shopping center in 2009.
Washburne told Highland Park Town Council Wednesday that he and the shopping center’s co-owners tabled pricier changes, such as a new boutique hotel, underground parking and more shops and restaurants. He said they’re focused on smaller ones, like swapping tenants and adding landscaping.
But he told Town Council to expect several new tenants soon: A new clothing retailer will replace the former Marquee Grill & Bar. Patrizio will move out and a family-friendly grill restaurant will replace it. And a gourmet grocer will move into a renovated space on Preston Road, he said.
Washburne said he can’t reveal business names until contracts are signed. He said Tom Thumb plans to close at the end of the year and Patrizio will move out in February.
Highland Park Village is privately owned, but town council votes on whether to allow parking changes, renovations, and even minor tweaks such as new signs.
Last year, the town of Highland Park and Highland Park Village owners hired consultants to draft development guidelines of setbacks, height restrictions and parking recommendations for the shopping center. They signed a contract and agreed to split the approximately $173,000 cost. Highland Park Village owners agreed to pay for a separate economic development study.
But with Village owners’ change of plans, most of it hasn’t happened. Highland Park Mayor Joel Williams said consultants have studied only traffic and parking. Washburne said Highland Park Village won’t move forward with the economic study.
Without development guidelines, Highland Park Village and the town will continue the same approval process. A shopping center manager will present each proposed change to council members and they’ll put it to a vote.
SMU to sell beer at football games in the fall
Southern Methodist University will sell beer at football games this fall, after strong sales at campus basketball games.
The university will expand beer sales to Ford Stadium concourses and plans to kick off sales at the first home game, SMU athletics spokesman Brad Sutton said. Alcoholic beverages are already available in the stadium’s suites.
“We were deliberate in setting the plan for Moody [Coliseum], and it was safe and successful, so this process will also be carefully designed and vetted before we roll it out,” Sutton said.
SMU is one of several dozen universities that have looked to alcohol sales to boost crowds and make money. Kansas State and West Virginia already sell alcoholic beverages. University of Texas began a pilot program in February for beer and wine sales at sporting events.
SMU began selling beer in January at Moody Coliseum during men’s basketball games. Over 12 games, SMU athletics made six-figures in revenue, according to a USA Today report. Sutton wouldn’t release sales figures Tuesday.
Campus and local police said there was no spike in noise complaints or alcohol offenses. The beer sales were a hit among fans, who came out in larger numbers during SMU’s winning season, Sutton said.
Beer was on tap at kiosks in arena concourses. Students had to show a valid ID and receive a wristband before buying beer. Fans paid $6 for a 12-ounce plastic cup of Bud Light or Miller Lite or $8 for Michelob Ultra or Shiner.
SMU will play Texas A&M at its first home game of the season on Sept. 20.
Highland Park ISD considers sharing pool with city of University Park
Highland Park ISD officials are getting creative to find land for more classrooms in a district with little room to grow, but a rising number of students. The latest idea is a joint-agreement with University Park to share the city’s pool.
Such a move would allow the district to demolish its own pool, located on the high school campus, and use the space for more classrooms.
Highland Park ISD trustees and University Park City Council will meet Monday to discuss the proposal.
If the idea goes forward, the school district and University Park may turn the city pool into a year-round facility shared by residents and athletes, city spokesman Steve Mace said. Highland Park ISD is proposing construction of a new indoor pool that would be near the city’s current facility, district spokeswoman Helen Williams said.
University Park’s pool is located in Curtis Park on Lovers Lane and across the street from University Park Elementary School. The complex has a 50-meter pool, a children’s pool, water slide and diving boards.
Trustees are working on a master facilities plan that’d accommodate the district’s enrollment growth. They are considering renovations to existing schools, a new elementary school and a new kindergarten campus, among other ideas. A bond package for the construction projects could go to voters in 2015.
But one of Highland Park ISD’s major challenges is the lack of available land. Unlike other North Texas school districts with growth, the 6.2-square mile area is almost entirely developed. Land for a new school would be very expensive since Park Cities property values are high.
Joint-use of the pool could be a win-win for the city and district, Mace said. Residents could use the renovated swimming pool during cold-weather months and the district could free up space on its high school property for other uses.
School district and city officials will meet 5 p.m. Monday at University Park City Hall.
SMU names new dean of Dedman College, its largest school
Thomas DiPiero is Southern Methodist University’s new dean of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, university officials announced Tuesday.
Thomas DiPiero, SMU's new dean of Dedman College
DiPiero will lead the largest of SMU’s seven colleges and schools and serve as professor in its English and World Languages and Literatures departments. He is a dean and professor at the University of Rochester.
DiPiero will begin his new role August 12.
He will succeed William Tsutsui, who resigned in May to become president of Arkansas’ Hendrix College.
DiPiero has studied race, gender and French literature and co-authored three books.
He’s worked for SMU before as a visiting faculty member at SMU-in-Taos in 2011 and a guest lecturer for SMU’s Gilbert Lecture Series in 2008, according to a news release.
DiPiero received a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts in Romance Studies from Cornell University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Master of Arts in Romance Languages and Literatures from The Ohio State University.
At the University of Rochester, DiPiero is the dean of humanities and interdisciplinary studies in the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering. He also worked at Reed College in Portland, Oregon as a visiting assistant professor of French and Humanities and the Université de Paris-X as a lecturer.
Highland Park appoints new judge, postpones discussion of Preston Road reconstruction
Al Hammack (right) takes the oath of office, which was administered by Highland Park Mayor Joel Williams.
Highland Park officials appointed its first new municipal judge in 45 years at Monday’s town council meeting.
Al Hammack, former town attorney, took the oath of office Monday morning. He succeeds longtime municipal judge Pat Robertson, who stepped down and will serve as the town’s associate municipal judge.
Matthew Boyle, an attorney at Boyle & Lowry, will be Highland Park’s new town attorney.
At Monday’s meeting, town council postponed a review of capital improvement projects, a list that includes a possible $3.1 million reconstruction of Preston Road, a main Highland Park thoroughfare. It’ll consider the projects and their cost at a June 23 special meeting.
Highland Park council members considered a two-year contract with an outside firm to provide school crossing guards. All City Management Services, a California-based company, has worked with Dallas-area cities including University Park and Carrollton.
In the past, Highland Park hired part-time crossing guards during the school year, but had to use police officers as substitutes, assume liability for possible injuries and process salaries, insurance and benefits.
If approved, crossing guard services would cost about $120,000 for the 2014-2015 school year. Town council delayed a vote until July 23.
Park Cities YMCA to move into temporary space in Preston Center during construction
The Park Cities YMCA will move into a temporary space in Preston Center while its new, larger fitness complex is under construction.
YMCA officials announced Wednesday that they’ve signed a lease for a 15,000 square foot space in the University Park shopping center. The location was formerly a Texas Family Fitness. It includes a fitness area, spin and group exercise rooms, a child watch area, locker rooms and multipurpose space.
It will be the temporary home of the Park Cities YMCA while its longtime Preston Road facility is demolished and replaced with a new building. Construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months, according to YMCA officials.
The former Chase Bank building was also offered as a temporary location.
YMCA officials will move into Preston Center when they reach 80 percent of pledges toward their $28 million fundraising goal, according to a new release. They are nearly at the 50 percent mark.
The new Park Cities YMCA facility will include a gymnasium, therapy pool, larger preschool and underground parking garage. It will be named the Moody Family YMCA in the Park Cities after a $8 million donation from the Galveston-based Moody Family Foundation.
Thanks-Giving Foundation announces winners of its 2013 Expressions Art and Essay Competition
2013 Expressions Competition Art and Essay Winners
The Thanks-Giving Foundation announces the winners its 2013 Expressions Competition. They are as follows listed by grade-level categories:
Art winners:
K-1: Nina Ross, R.C. Burleson Elementary, first place; Nessa Nyblade, Notre Dame Academy Elementary of Los Angeles, second; Tanya Mandyam, Deer Canyon Elementary of San Diego, third; and Zohare Haqqani, Al-Hedayah Academy of Fort Worth, honorable mention
2-3: Serene Nijem, Al-Hedayah Academy, Fort Worth, first; Eriana Colbert, R.C. Burleson Elementary, second; Olivia Huerta, Rosemont Primary, third; and Ruben Escalante, Sidney Lanier Elementary, honorable mention
4-5: Jasmine Medel, R.C. Burleson Elementary, first; Weston Deatley, Sidney Lanier Elementary, second; Betsy Cid, Sidney Lanier Elementary, third; and Meheen Piracha, Evans Elementary, honorable mention.
6-8: Sophia Dubard, Ben Franklin Middle School, first; Uriel Arriaga, Ben Franklin Middle School, second; Carmen Steptoe, Stockard Middle, third; and Niamh McKinney, Lakehill Preparatory honorable mention.
9-10: Osvaldo Rosas, Grand Prairie High; first; Janie McGuffee, Sunnyvale High, second; Najia Siddique, IANT Quranic Academy in Richardson, third; and Manuela Gallego, Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland, honorable mention.
11-12: Alexis Silva, North Dallas High, first; Othoniel Nunez-Gallegos, Naaman Forest Hing, second; Madison Rawlinson, Sunnyvale High, third; and Carina Rabago, North Dallas High, honorable mention.
Essay winners:
K-1: Addison Huff, Bridgepoint Elementary in Austin, first; Christopher Santoso, The Highlands School in Irving, second; and David Fernandes, The Highlands School, third.
2-3: – Serene Nijem, Al-Hedayah Academy in Fort Worth, first; Muhammad Jawad, Al-Hedayah Academy in Fort Worth, second; and Bela Trujillo, Robert E. Lee Elementary, third.
4-5: Kade Finley, Lakehill Preparatory, first; Joy Liu, The Highlands School, second; and Eshita Sharma, The Highlands School, third.
6-8: Dharshini Suresh, Coppell Middle School West, first; Abdullah Siddique, IANT Quranic Academy, second; and Varshini Suresh, Coppell Middle School West, and Johanna Serrato, Zan W. Holmes Jr. Middle School, third.
9-10: Mary Katherine Nix, Episcopal School of Dallas, first; Lauren Kim, Episcopal School of Dallas, second; and Virginia Tiernan, Episcopal School of Dallas, third.
11-12: Ashley Ates, Plano East Senior High, first; Reyna Vanegas, Dr. Wright E. Lassiter Early College High, second; and Nicholas Morrow, Plano East Senior High, third.
The winning art and essays will be on display through April 30 at Thanks-Giving Square, 1627 Pacific Ave. in Dallas; and then through June 30 at at the Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young St. in Dallas. Visit thanksgiving.org.
Highland Park ISD hits record for student enrollment
Highland Park ISD has hit an enrollment record of 7,022 students, district officials announced Tuesday.
Since the early 1990s, the number of students in Highland Park ISD has been steadily climbing. Last fall, district enrollment was 6,848 students. That’s a dramatic jump from 1993 when enrollment was 4,682 students.
Over the next year, a facilities committee will study the district’s schools and “identify the potential for adding onto our existing buildings,” trustee and finance officer Joe Taylor wrote in a district-wide email. Highland Park ISD has no plans to build another elementary school, he said. In prior studies, the district found the cost of land for a new school would be prohibitive because of Park Cities’ property values.
District officials have coped with rising enrollment with incremental improvements, such as a recent addition to the middle school cafeteria.
A 2011 demographic study found enrollment increases in the district were fueled by younger families moving into the Park Cities. The report also found that more students were living in apartments.
Graph by Highland Park ISD
