Lawrence to temporarily prohibit glass containers downtown should KU advance to Elite Eight

Should the Kansas men’s basketball team win Friday and make the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, Lawrence will enforce a glass bottle prohibition in its downtown area.

Lawrence Police Department officials said Monday they will begin contacting downtown Lawrence businesses Wednesday about the potential prohibition.

Implementation of the glass bottle ban is connected to Ordinance 9447, which is similar to what the city has done in the past to help with the safety of patrons and officers during a potential tournament celebration.

KU plays Clemson at 6:07 p.m. Thursday in Omaha in the Sweet 16. If the Jayhawks win, they would play in an Elite Eight game on Sunday in Omaha against either Duke or Syracuse.

The ordinance won’t be enforced if KU doesn’t make it to the Sunday game.

Details of the ordinance say it will be unlawful to carry or possess glass bottles or other glass containers in downtown Lawrence from noon Saturday, March 24, to 6 a.m. Monday, March 26, and again on noon Saturday, March 31, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, April 3. The location of the ordinance spans from 6th to 13th streets on New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont streets.

The penalty for breaking the ordinance is a misdemeanor fine of up to $100.