(1) Definitions:

(a) "Alcohol service area" means an area in which liquor may be sold, served, and consumed as authorized under Title 66 RCW and rules of the board.

(b) "Fan zone" means a city, town, county, or port authority that has been designated as a fan zone or host city from an international self-regulatory governing body of a sports association, or a nonprofit organization authorized by such an entity.

(c) "Licensee" means one or more of the following, as licensed under Titles 66 RCW and 314 WAC:

(i) Beer and wine restaurant;

(ii) Spirits, beer, and wine restaurant;

(iii) Tavern;

(iv) Domestic winery;

(v) Domestic brewery;

(vi) Microbrewery;

(vii) Distillery;

(viii) Snack bar;

(ix) Special occasion licensees under RCW 66.24.380; or

(x) Caterer licensed under RCW 66.24.690. A caterer license may be issued to an applicant for this event if the sponsor of the event for which the catering services are being provided is not a society or organization as defined in RCW 66.24.375, if license and regulatory requirements are otherwise met.

(2)(a) The fan zone authorization described in this section allows a fan zone to obtain approval from the board for expanded outdoor and indoor alcohol service for liquor licensees within an area or areas of the jurisdiction.

(b) The fan zone authorization may be used to allow expanded alcohol sales and service only during a single multiday event in each fan zone in either the month of June or July 2026.

(3) Multiple licensees located within an area of a fan zone approved under this rule for expanded alcohol service may share an alcohol service area encompassing the entire approved area or areas, during the event, subject to the following requirements:

(a) The board approves of the perimeter enclosing the alcohol service area;

(b) Security and physical barriers are provided at all entry points to the event;

(c) The applicable fan zone, through a designated official or primary licensee, notifies the board at least 60 days before the event begins;

(d) Signage is conspicuously posted during the event notifying the public that the area is in use as an expanded alcohol service area and public notice of the upcoming use of the areas as an expanded alcohol service area was conspicuously posted at least seven days in advance; and

(e) All participating licensees submit a joint operating plan to the board for approval, consistent with the requirements in WAC 314-03-213. A designated contact or primary licensee may submit the joint operating plan and site map clearly identifying alcohol service areas on behalf of all participating licensees.

(4)(a) Licensees may share use of an expanded alcohol service area under this rule with businesses that do not engage in the sale or service of alcohol, subject to the requirements in WAC 314-03-215.

(b) All participating licensees are jointly responsible for any violation or enforcement issues unless it can be demonstrated that the violation or enforcement issues were due to one or more licensee's specific conduct or action, in which case the violation or enforcement applies only to those identified licensees.

(c) Participating licensees will be required to confirm their participation by attesting to joint responsibility.

(5) While a licensee is operating under the fan zone authorization identified in this rule, they may engage in the following:

(a) Operate without a permit from their local jurisdiction that may otherwise be required to allow the business to use the public space as an alcohol service area;

(b) Share an alcohol service area with another licensee:

(i) Without individually requesting approval from the board; and

(ii) Regardless of whether the licensees' property parcels or buildings are in direct physical proximity to one another; and

(c) Sell and serve alcohol to customers from an alcohol service area without offering food service menu options, except that any required food service must still be provided within the licensed premises, and in any preexisting alcohol service area operated by the licensee under Title 314 WAC that does not rely on RCW 66.24.800, if the preexisting alcohol service areas remains in place during an event.

(6) A fan zone approved for a fan zone authorization consistent with this rule must submit the results of a public engagement review consistent with WAC 314-03-214.

(7) The fee for a local jurisdiction to request approval for a fan zone authorization is $3,900 per authorization.

(8) The authorization described in this rule is effective until August 1, 2026.