OT: NFL Atlanta Falcons slash concession prices in new stadium

[YEM]

I'd bet there are at least 10,000 people just like me at each game, who now buy stuff who didn't before.

yep
we've been conditioned for years now to do whatever we can to avoid being gouged in the stadiums
I wouldn't dream of going to an NHL game these days without a meal and a couple of beverages beforehand

 

[tarheelhockey]

yep
we've been conditioned for years now to do whatever we can to avoid being gouged in the stadiums
I wouldn't dream of going to an NHL game these days without a meal and a couple of beverages beforehand

I don't pretend to know the nuances of the concession business model, but I think this anti-arena conditioning is a huge factor that wasn't considered for a long time.

Obviously they can't make money if everyone's buying discount food, but they can at least provide something of a "value menu" to get people in the habit of eating there. If I'm attending 30+ events per year, I'm going to tire quickly of the $3 nachos. Maybe that that point I start to seriously consider laying out a few more dollars to upgrade to a burger, or maybe I have a special night where I splurge on the higher end options.

But if I'm trained so that I make specific plans NOT to eat at the arena, because I'm not a dummy and won't drop $1000 a season on arena food, then they're going to miss out on those splurges and they'll never be able to upgrade me to a higher spending bracket. It's like not having cheap seats anywhere in the building... sure you're making money IF you can sell them, but you've alienated a lot of people who would otherwise scoop up empty seats at a lower price point.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

So essentially, Falcons want the money spent at restaurants and bars before and after the game and they want fans to spend those money in the stadium.

 

[tarheelhockey]

So essentially, Falcons want the money spent at restaurants and bars before and after the game and they want fans to spend those money in the stadium.

Basically yes.

It's interesting to imagine, in the evolution of sports stadiums toward being full-service entertainment experiences, what would happen if a stadium was designed to be a "destination" nightlife spot where you could plausibly eat at a restaurant, catch the hockey game, and drink in a bar without actually leaving the property and without spending more than about $70-80 per person all the way around ($15 food + $50 ticket + $20 alcohol). Obviously the margins would be smaller for the franchise, compared to gouging the **** out of a smaller number of people for a more limited product, but by integrating multiple interactions you're capturing that person's entire budget rather than just a fraction of it. There's a business model to be considered there, particularly when it comes to things like advertising inside such a venue.

 

[Spartachat]

The easiest thing to do is have a tiered menu. Charge 5 dollars for urine/beer like Bud Light, but over 10 dollars for normal or premium beers. Most people there on business or with taste buds with buy the premium beers anyways.

 

[BattleBorn]

The easiest thing to do is have a tiered menu. Charge 5 dollars for urine/beer like Bud Light, but over 10 dollars for normal or premium beers. Most people there on business or with taste buds with buy the premium beers anyways.

I've never understood this mindset.

I enjoy good beer, but there's times when you're drinking good beer and there's time where you're just drinking. Hockey games, and sports games in general, are times where I'm just drinking. I'm not trying to enjoy the hoppiness of my IPA while I'm complaining that the team isn't taking away passing lanes the way they should.

 

[Pestilence]

I've never understood this mindset.

I enjoy good beer, but there's times when you're drinking good beer and there's time where you're just drinking. Hockey games, and sports games in general, are times where I'm just drinking. I'm not trying to enjoy the hoppiness of my IPA while I'm complaining that the team isn't taking away passing lanes the way they should.

For me I feel that there's the medium where I'm not looking for anything complex or revolutionary but I still want the beer to taste for something, even when I'm just drinking.

 

[BattleBorn]

For me I feel that there's the medium where I'm not looking for anything complex or revolutionary but I still want the beer to taste for something, even when I'm just drinking.

I guess I get it, there's just different cuisine/drink for different occasions and locations.

I see no point in drinking an expensive, complex Saison or something while I'm eating nachos with cheese that's distributed from a bag in a warming machine. I like a nice filet, but I'm not expecting a filet at the county fair. I'd much rather have a decent corn dog. You know?

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm not trying to enjoy the hoppiness of my IPA while I'm complaining that the team isn't taking away passing lanes the way they should.

Come visit the Canes board some time

 

[Jumptheshark]

Woah, a fan friendly move for once.

Maybe more and more fans are just skipping the concession line than being okay with paying the prices. Aside from beer I haven't had a pop or food at a game since I was a little kid...those kind of prices would change that for me.

Didn't the tax payers just pay for the 2nd stadium in 20 years or something

 

[Pestilence]

I guess I get it, there's just different cuisine/drink for different occasions and locations.

I see no point in drinking an expensive, complex Saison or something while I'm eating nachos with cheese that's distributed from a bag in a warming machine. I like a nice filet, but I'm not expecting a filet at the county fair. I'd much rather have a decent corn dog. You know?

Yeah, of course, I don’t want anything special at such events either, just that with those nachos I prefer the better canned bulk over the bulk lager sold in most sporting events. But I agree that having larger assortment and such pricing would doubtfully be profitable either.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Didn't the tax payers just pay for the 2nd stadium in 20 years or something

Yea, but when has that stopped teams from gouging people for concessions?

And from what I hear food is very good.

 

[Devils Dominion]

$5 bottled water at NHL rinks is offensive.