by Tim Hennagir
Life Editor

Attendees searching for a cold brew at this weekend’s TwinsFest at the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine will find their barley pop doesn’t come across the taste buds very strongly.That’s because the city only allows 3.2 percent beer when issuing temporary licenses. Blaine City Council members unanimously approved two licenses for the three-day event Jan. 20.

According to Kevin Smith, Twins public affairs and community fund executive director, when TwinsFest is held at the Metrodome, strong 6.4 percent beer is normally sold.

Chris E. Kohlmeier is general manager of Centerplate, the Metrodome’s current concession company,

Based on sales numbers from last year’s TwinsFest at the larger venue, Kohlmeier said the equivalent of approximately 40 kegs of beer were sold, along with draft and bottled beer.

At last week’s meeting, Councilmember Wes Hovland asked the temporary liquor license applications be pulled from the meeting’s consent agenda for further discussion.

His request allowed NSC Chief Communication Officer Barclay Kruse and John Connelly, NSC development director and MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce 2011 board chairman, to talk about the event’s marketing.

“This is a big story around the Midwest,” Kruse said. “TwinsFest is generating a tremendous public relations for bonanza for the city of Blaine.”

Since the team made the announcement Dec. 30 that TwinsFest was being moved to the NSC’s Sports Hall and Schwan Event Center, Kruse said 86 stories and 5.5 million media impressions have been generated.

Connelly said the Twins estimate 85 to 90 percent of the fans who will attend TwinsFest will come from outside of the immediate Anoka County area.

Hovland wanted to know why the event was listed as a community fund-raiser on the council’s agenda.

According to Connelly, TwinsFest is a community fund-raiser for the non-profit Minnesota Twins Community Fund. The event benefits baseball and youth programs, including the Miracle Field in Blaine.

Councilmember Katherine Kolb asked about the event’s parking and traffic impact on residents.

TwinsFest 2011 is expected to draw 5,000 attendees Friday evening and 10,000 Saturday and Sunday.

Kruse said the Twins and NSC are working with Blaine Police on traffic management plans. “We are hoping for a nice, warm weekend,” Kruse said.

“As far as being a beer sales outlet, we’re tiny,” he said in an interview.

The NSC really doesn’t sell a huge amount of beer, Kruse said.

“It’s sold during our adult leagues and the Walleye Chop Tournament,” he said. “So, whenever there are youth-related events going on at the Schwan Super Rink, there’s no beer sold. We also sell during the occasional event like TwinsFest, at the Victory Links golf course and at NSC Stars professional soccer games.”

Teresa Bowen, the NSC’s director of hospitality services, estimates that three semi-trucks filled with food will be delivered for TwinsFest.

The weekend food order includes 15,000 hot dogs, 7,000 brats, 4,000 polish dogs, 25,000 buns and 25,000 stadium pretzels.

Kruse said there will be outdoor food vendors on the NSC Plaza and outside the Schwan Center. There will be a total of 10 NSC-run concession stands in operation during TwinsFest; eight will be located indoors and two will be outdoors.

“There will be some non-NSC vendors, including Kings of Q, El Burrito Mercado,and Kettle Korn. These are all vendors we have worked with at USA CUP,” Kruse said.

Tim Hennagir is at tim.hennagir@ecm-inc.com