By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
The McDermott Athletic Center can move forward with a beer-and-wine taproom and outdoor dining area after Rio Rancho’s governing body unanimously approved two measures Thursday night — but because the MAC sits on city-owned land, council members used the moment to squeeze out new concessions for residents.
The council first approved an ordinance (O9) rezoning the MAC’s Loma Colorado property to permit restaurants, bars and patio dining, then approved a second amendment (D20) to the city’s ground lease with the MAC’s operator, McDermott Sports LLC. Both passed unanimously. The new taproom and turf-side seating area will total 2,920 square feet, restricted to specific hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Because the city owns the land beneath the MAC, the lease amendment doubled as leverage. The MAC agreed to boost its free community programming from 150 to 240 hours annually, meet with city staff twice a year to report on usage, and submit activity reports quarterly instead of every six months. A new clause lets the city fine the MAC $500 per violation notice for breaching alcohol-service rules — an alternative, city staff said, to the more drastic option of terminating the lease.
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- The MAC must still secure a separate liquor license from the state Alcohol and Gaming Division before serving alcohol.
- Up to 12 special-event permits per year would allow alcohol service inside the main building for events like UNM hockey games.
- One resident, Robert Faulhaber, submitted written comment supporting the project, calling the MAC “a pillar of our community.”
- The MAC has invested more than $1 million in facility upgrades since 2022, according to its fact sheet.