OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A new ordinance would allow the sale of alcohol at The Ballpark, but baseball fans likely won’t be able to enjoy a brew during a game until next season.

The Ballpark has a home team for the first time in more than 20 years, the Raging Tide, after a huge community effort led to revitalization of the park.

The new ordinance, which was approved by the town council unanimously Tuesday night, would allow the sale of alcohol in The Ballpark by any interested organization, if authorized by the town council under an agreement such as a contract or lease. An organization that would like to sell alcohol during a one-time event at The Ballpark could do so if authorized by the town council under a special event permit.

The change in the ordinance was sparked by a request from Doug Ayotte, the owner of the Raging Tide team, which is playing its first season at The Ballpark this summer. Ayotte approached Town Manager Jack Turcotte earlier this year and said he would like to sell beer at The Ballpark during the Raging Tide games.

Turcotte said at Tuesday night’s meeting that there was no request at this point from Ayotte to move forward this year, and because the season ends at the end of the month, he didn’t believe that the Raging Tide would request the sale of beer this season.

Should Ayotte decide to pursue the sale of beer during Raging Tide games, he would have to obtain a liquor license.

Town Councilor Robin Dayton said the one-year contract the town signed with the Raging Tide did not mention alcohol, but had an amendment clause that would make it easy to add language regarding the sale of alcohol. She said should the Raging Tide wish to sell alcohol at its games, there needed to be language regarding alcohol in the team’s contract with the town.

Turcotte agreed it made “good business sense” to add such language to the contract. The ordinance, said Turcotte, “is not team specific” and would allow other organizations to request the sale of alcohol.

“It opens up some new opportunities for The Ballpark,” said Town Councilor Sharri MacDonald.

MacDonald said that although the Raging Tide may not be able to sell beer this year, the town could consider such a contract from the team or other interested organizations next year. She noted that any contract to allow the sale of alcohol at The Ballpark would have to be approved by the town council.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.