Sacramento may soon expand where people can carry alcoholic drinks during special events, with six additional Entertainment Zones under consideration as city leaders look to turn lively crowds into a boost for local businesses.
The Sacramento City Council advanced the latest Entertainment Zone proposal Tuesday, setting it up for a possible final vote on Sept. 15.
The move marks the city’s third round of action on Entertainment Zones in just over a year.
Sacramento first tested the concept in 2025, allowing to-go alcoholic beverages to be sold and consumed in designated outdoor public spaces during the Rainbow Festival and the Terra Madre Americas event at the Convention Center.
City officials are now looking to take the idea beyond the central city and into more neighborhoods.
The proposed Entertainment Zones would include portions of downtown, Broadway, the Arena area and Oak Park:
City staff say the zones are meant to turn commercial corridors into busier destinations, drawing residents and visitors while helping nearby businesses.
And there’s a financial angle: The city says letting bars and restaurants participate could encourage customers to stick around longer and spend more.
“Cities that thrive have a vibrant social economy. Participation in activations by bars and restaurants could provide significant benefits to businesses, including increasing the length of stay per guest and dollars spent per guest,” the staff report said.
Officials said they received requests for new zones in downtown, midtown, Broadway and Oak Park.
The city says the expansion could boost revenue for bars and restaurants, spill economic activity into neighboring businesses and make events more enjoyable for residents and visitors.
