Lake Zurich board allows liquor and sports to mix at indoor athletics facility

Lake Zurich leaders Monday approved a plan to allow MVP Field House, an indoor sports facility near the Ela Area Public Library, to serve alcohol on their premises using a new type of liquor license.

The business at 143 E. Main St. is a 39,000-square-foot sports center with batting cages, pitching mounds, a CrossFit training area and three golf simulators. The business offers training as well as the opportunity to rent the space for parties.

Michael Duebner, the village's management services director, said the owners told him they plan to sell alcohol to people using the golf simulators recreationally.

"The golf simulators where they have the ability of not only teaching golf but also doing it as part of an entertainment," Duebner said. "Kind of like a bachelor or bachelorette outings."

Duebner said the license specifies that minors can't be in the area while alcohol is being served.

Village trustees unanimously approved the plan at their meeting Monday night.

With the decision, MVP Field House become the first business in town with the Class-I liquor license. The license, which was approved by the board earlier in the meeting, is available to qualifying indoor sports or interactive gaming establishments for the on-premises consumption of alcohol.

The board also created a Class-S license to allow qualifying health and beauty spa businesses to serve beer, wine and sparkling beverages. No businesses have thus far been issued a Class-S license, but Duebner said he is aware of a business owner who is planning to move to Lake Zurich and would be interested in pursuing one.