A conflict with Major League Baseball that could have disrupted two successive “First Friday” events in the Crossroads Arts District has been resolved.
Baseball officials have agreed to revisions in the restrictions they first asked for, and the city council approved ordinances reflecting the revised plan yesterday.
The first request: All street vendors be prohibited within a mile of downtown, the Plaza and the stadiums for a month before and after the game without approval from Major League Baseball.
Councilman John Sharp said MLB officials agreed to honor existing permits for food vendors in those areas with one added stipulation.
"These food vendors would only sell food and beverages," said Sharp. "And they wouldn't modify their signage to suddenly offering a lot of counterfeit Major League All-Star merchandise."
Certain kinds of signage will also be prohibited in the specified areas, including on private private property, for ten days before and a week after the game, and promotional banners prohibited for 30 days before and after. The new rules will be permanent, and will also apply to major amateur sports events.
The 2012 All-Star game takes place in Kansas City in July.
