Last call at 4 a.m. in California? Governor says yes for one private club in LA Clippers’ new arena
SACRAMENTO, California — The last call for drinks in California is at 2 a.m., but the state will soon make an exception to allow alcohol to be served until 4 a.m. for a private members-only club located in California. the new state-of-the-art arena of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this weekend allows about 100 club members to be served wine, beer and other spirits in private suites at the Intuit Dome until 4 a.m. after game days and concerts.
It was sponsored by a group owned by Steve Ballmer, the current owner of the Clippers and former CEO of Microsoft. Ballmer funded the Intuit Dome and his wife, Connie Ballmer, gave to Newsom’s campaign $1 million in 2021 to help fight a recall effort against the governor. According to lobbying reports, the group, owned by Steve Ballmer, also spent about $220,000 this year to persuade lawmakers on the legislation, among other proposals.
The measure drew criticism from some, including ethics experts, for granting an exception in favor of the family member of a major campaign donor.
βIt’s certainly going to be a problem for his detractors and critics to point out the fact that he appeared to be doing a special favor for a wealthy owner of a sports franchise and his facilities and his wealthy fans,β said John Pelissero, director of government ethics at Santa Clara University. βIt just doesn’t look good.β
Newsom’s spokesperson Izzy Gardon said that “the governor’s decisions on legislation are made solely based on the merits of each bill.”
It is not the first time that the governor has faced resistance because he has made exceptions for a select group. He was criticized for attending a birthday party in 2020 at the expensive French Laundry restaurant in wine country north of San Francisco, breaking the rules he preached to the public to slow the spread of the coronavirus during the pandemic.
The new California law allowing an exception for private club members comes after California lawmakers unsuccessfully pushed for an extension for years the last call for drinks in a few cities. Several states, including New York and Tennessee, have already passed legislation extending operating hours beyond 2 a.m.
βIf they think opening venues and drinking until 4 a.m. is only good for exclusive groups, then it should be good for everyone, and my position is it’s not good for anyone,β said Republican Senator Kelly Seyarto. in August of the measure.
Representatives working for Steve Ballmer did not immediately respond to calls about the new law and potential impact.
The arena in Inglewood β 12 miles from the team’s old arena in downtown Los Angeles β officially opened in August with 18,000 seats. It is slated to host the 2026 All-Star Game and serve as a basketball venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Supporters of the new California law said it is a pilot program that will boost the local economy and draw more visitors to the city of Inglewood’s entertainment hub, which features several iconic locations including the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, the Forum and now the new Intuit. Dome. According to the law, the exception will expire in January 2030 and the new last-call rule must still receive final approval from the city. Opponents fear that the new last-call hours will lead to more drunk driving and promote excessive alcohol consumption.
In a signing message, Newsom also said he would direct California Highway Patrol to work with local police to monitor drunk driving incidents in the area and report the findings to lawmakers for further consideration.
βI continue to be aware of the potential risks to public safety posed by extending service times for alcoholic beverage services, which could lead to an increase in drunk driving-related accidents and deaths ,β Newsom said.