Your dad's job used to get you beer at the Gardens?
Bonjour from the North — three cities, one corridor, and the stories that don't make it south of Barrie.
So, I was digging through the archives, you know, looking for something that just screams "Sault Ste. Marie," and I found a gem. Twenty-three years ago, the big talk in town, the hot topic at city council, was whether or not to sell beer right in the stands at the Soo Greyhounds games at Memorial Gardens. Can you imagine? Today, it's just part of the experience, a cold one while you watch the Hounds try to make it to the Memorial Cup. But back then, it was a whole *débat*.
### A Different Era for the Hounds
This really takes me back. In 2001, the idea of having a beer delivered right to your seat while you're watching a game at Memorial Gardens was a novel concept. We're talking about a time when the Gardens was still the Gardens, before the new GFL Memorial Gardens was even a twinkle in a developer's eye. Imagine the discussions: "Will it be too rowdy? What about the kids?" It shows how much things have changed, not just in the Sault, but across the province, in terms of what's considered normal for a sporting event. It’s not just about the Greyhounds; it’s about how our city adapts.
* **The Year:** June 11, 2001 * **The Venue:** Memorial Gardens (the original one, on Queen Street East) * **The Question:** Should the city approve an application to sell beer in the stands during Soo Greyhounds home games? * **The Outcome (eventually):** Yes, *mon ami*, because today you can get a beer!
It’s these little historical tidbits that remind you of the journey our city has been on. From the steel plant humming along the waterfront to the International Bridge linking us to Michigan, we're a city that’s always evolving. And whether it’s the price of a pint at a Hounds game or the future of Algoma Steel, these conversations are part of what makes the Sault, the Sault. It just shows you how something that feels so basic now was once a big, big deal that councillors had to weigh in on.
Marc-André Desjardins, MiTL Sports Desk, Sault Ste. Marie.
My friends at *Le Réveil du Nord* talk about stuff like this every morning – catch the full scoop live at mornings.live.