CLEVELAND — Mayor Justin Bibb defended a decision to recommend allowing only seven hotels to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during the NBA All-Star Game Weekend.

In January, local officials announced an application process that would allow bars and restaurants to extend alcohol service. State law allows cities hosting major events the option to extend alcohol sales. Cleveland has extended alcohol sales for prior events, including the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Bibb said the number was limited due to public safety and COVID-19 concerns.

After announcing that dozens of local restaurants and bars would be excluded from having extended hours for alcohol sales, City Council President Blaine Griffin criticized the decision. 

“I believe in the people of Cleveland. I believe in our law enforcement. And yes, I believe in our businesses,” Griffin said. “Therefore, I’m extremely disappointed that we could not find a way to allow these bars and restaurants to have extended hours. Sixty received extended hours for the MLB All-Star Game and about 240 for the RNC. Although these events had different support from law enforcement the city still conducted these events in a safe and productive way.”

On Wednesday, Bibb stood by his decision, adding that the pandemic has strained law enforcement resources. 

“Protecting the residents and visitors of Cleveland is our number one priority,” Bibb said. “After consulting with the departments of Public Safety, Public Health and the Division of Police, I made the decision to put the health and safety of our residents first. I know how tough the past two years have been on local businesses, especially the bars and restaurants. 

“I understand the frustration of these businesses. I have and will continue to support them in their economic recovery along with the rest of the City, as we come out of the pandemic. However, this is a different time from the RNC and MLB All-Star game.”

Following a public records request made by Spectrum News 1, the city released the applications made by 87 establishments requesting extended alcohol service. Of the 87 applications, 55 came from establishments in the downtown area. 

Many high-profile attractions, including the House of Blues, Jack Cleveland Casino and Pickwick & Frolic, were all denied requests. However the overwhelming majority of the establishments who were denied permission are locally owned.

Despite the setback, Destination Cleveland President David Gilbert said that local bars and restaurants will still have plenty of opportunity to cash in from the NBA All-Star Game. Local officials said they expect the total economic benefit of hosting the NBA All-Star Game to be around $100 million. 

“This event brings tens of thousands of people to town and they will generate tens of millions of dollars in direct spending,” Gilbert said. “The vast majority of that will happen whether bars close at 2:30 or they close at 4, and I think that this was a balance of maximizing every penny that can be spent with public safety.” 

Gilbert estimates there will be 400-500 unofficial events tied to the NBA All-Star Game booked at venues throughout the Cleveland area. 

“Nearly all of those, to our understanding, were booked even before businesses had the opportunity about four weeks ago to fill out their applications,” he said. “We don’t really, if you look at the big picture, there is going to be an enormous difference between the amount of spending whether bars or restaurants are able to stay open until 2:30 versus 4 on those nights.”

The following hotels were granted permission to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during All-Star Weekend: 

• The InterContinental  
• Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic 
• Hilton Downtown 
• Hotel Indigo  
• Metropolitan at the 9 
• Westin Downtown  
• Betts at Kimpton Schofield Hotel

Generally the latest any establishment in Ohio can serve alcohol is 2:30 a.m.