Vagaries of sports stadium snack food prices leave fans cold
Peter Rolfe, Herald Sun
April 8, 2017 9:55pm
Subscriber only
IT is the footy food fleece that will have sports fans spitting chips.
A review of food and beverage prices at Australian sports stadiums has found spectators being dished smaller serves of hot chips and charged over the odds depending on the venue.
Fans buying a large chips at the MCG pay $4.20 for a 450g box any day of the week.
But across town at the AFL-owned Etihad Stadium, a large chips will set you back $6.90 and the serving size is only 350g.
AFL Fans Association president Gerry Eeman said spectators would be shocked by the $2.70 and 100g differences.
“I do think that people will be surprised by the discrepancy in sizes,’’ he said.
Melbourne sports fans are paying less for a beer or a burger at the footy than spectators at many major stadiums around the world.
Sports fans are being short-chipped interstate, too, with Adelaide Oval visitors paying $5.50 for a 360g serve and Sydneysiders shelling out $6.20 for a 220g “regular’’ chips.
But Melbourne sports fans are paying less for a beer or a burger at the footy than spectators at many major stadiums around the world.
Food prices are mostly cheaper at AFL grounds than at NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball stadiums in the US, but with far fewer menu options. Footy fans feeding their faces at the MCG kick goals compared with spectators at most major grounds.
At US basketball, baseball and gridiron games, fans are lucky to get change from $20 for a beer and a hotdog.
Etihad Stadium — which drops some food prices on Sundays such as $3 pies — jacks them on other days, with a Four N Twenty usually $5 and hotdogs and 600ml soft drinks this year 10c dearer. After selling 200,000 packs of “regular’’ chips at 220g last year, the stadium froze its price at $4 this year but lifted the cost of large chips and beer schooners by 20c.
Etihad Stadium’s Michael Green said the venue allowed fans to bring their own food and $5 pots at the ground were the “cheapest beer at any AFL venue’’.
But Mr Eeman said fans wanted fairer prices across the board.
“It’s great that Etihad has cheap prices on Sundays but it can come across as a bit of a gimmick,’’ he said.
“It would be much preferred if they brought their prices down to a reasonable level across all days.’’
Etihad Stadium chief executive Michael Green. Picture: Mark Wilson
At the US Masters golf in Augusta this weekend, spectators have been able to snack on egg salad or pimento cheese sandwiches for the bargain price of $US1.50.
England’s Wembley Stadium has 34 bars, eight restaurants, 98 kitchens and 688 food and drink service points capable of pouring 40,000 pints of beer at half time.
But at US basketball, baseball and gridiron games, fans are lucky to get change from $20 for a beer and a hotdog.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/va...d/news-story/3c1be58eadf23c9ebe40c49d36af2d97
