City attorney outlines options as Wichita weighs opting in to expanded World Cup alcohol sales
May 16, 2026 | Wichita City, Sedgwick County, Kansas
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City Attorney Jennifer Magana told the Wichita City Council that Kansas House Bill 2481 gives municipalities the option to expand how and when alcohol may be sold during the upcoming World Cup period.
"This opens it up for municipalities to opt in to expand their own ordinances," Magana said, adding that the state law would allow up to 23 hours of alcohol sales during the June 11–July 19 window, with an exception for the 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. hour. She also said the portion of the bill affecting transient short-term rentals applies without an opt-in.
Council members asked whether the city could adopt lesser hours than the state maximum and whether expanded sales would change existing common‑consumption-hour rules in neighborhood areas such as Delano. Magana said a city could choose to allow fewer hours than the state maximum and that common‑consumption-hour rules would remain unchanged for those specific ordinances.
Several council members urged staff to consult the Police Department and to speed up legal review so businesses have time to plan watch parties and events. Dante, who led the agenda review, said staff would provide a written memo outlining the bill, its local impacts and options. "So we'll get a memo to the council," Dante said; Magana indicated the memo could be prepared quickly for consideration as soon as the May 26 or June 2 meeting dates under discussion.
Council members noted the importance of notifying business owners—particularly in Old Town—so they have time to prepare. The city attorney said staff also would include likely game end times in the memo on request.
No ordinance or formal vote was taken during the agenda review; council members instructed staff to prepare the information and consult police ahead of any ordinance to opt in.
The next procedural step is the city attorney’s memo and police consultation; the council will consider whether to place an ordinance on a future agenda to opt in to any expanded sales allowed by the state law.
"This opens it up for municipalities to opt in to expand their own ordinances," Magana said, adding that the state law would allow up to 23 hours of alcohol sales during the June 11–July 19 window, with an exception for the 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. hour. She also said the portion of the bill affecting transient short-term rentals applies without an opt-in.
Council members asked whether the city could adopt lesser hours than the state maximum and whether expanded sales would change existing common‑consumption-hour rules in neighborhood areas such as Delano. Magana said a city could choose to allow fewer hours than the state maximum and that common‑consumption-hour rules would remain unchanged for those specific ordinances.
Several council members urged staff to consult the Police Department and to speed up legal review so businesses have time to plan watch parties and events. Dante, who led the agenda review, said staff would provide a written memo outlining the bill, its local impacts and options. "So we'll get a memo to the council," Dante said; Magana indicated the memo could be prepared quickly for consideration as soon as the May 26 or June 2 meeting dates under discussion.
Council members noted the importance of notifying business owners—particularly in Old Town—so they have time to prepare. The city attorney said staff also would include likely game end times in the memo on request.
No ordinance or formal vote was taken during the agenda review; council members instructed staff to prepare the information and consult police ahead of any ordinance to opt in.
The next procedural step is the city attorney’s memo and police consultation; the council will consider whether to place an ordinance on a future agenda to opt in to any expanded sales allowed by the state law.
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