Grocer Allows No Groceries

[astrojo]

But he does sell seats for a buck

[Sphinx Drummond]

I have never appreciated the no food in policy, in fact I hate it. It's all about making more money from a captive audience. I understand the business side and how much revenue is generated by food concessions but I also understand the good will generated by allowing people to bring in snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. A balancing act that every team in MLB manages but our beloved Astros wont fucking attempt.   I've gone to other ballparks and benefited from their food in policies, which enhanced the overall experience and made me feel more like a baseball fan and less like a stupid captive consumer.

Gardner is always quick to redirect the issue with subterfuge about cheaper tickets. But what sets off the bullshit alarm is the $1.00 ticket justification. You are going to spend at least $4 to $6 per person, if not more, on concessions once inside. I can't imagine taking my two nephews to a game and only allowing them to drink water out of a fountain on the concourse after spending only $2.00 on their tickets. They would resent that and hold it against me and not Gardner. Boo Gardner.

"And also, we always say that baseball’s an eating sport.  You know it kind of moves along slow . . .  But you can visit, you can knit, you can go up and get something to eat, so it’s great for that.” - P. Gardner

[AppyAstros]

It's policy reaches down to Greeneville (which is owned by the Astros).  Their concessions are higher than any other park in the league and they have a no outside food policy.  With a county unemployment rate of 15.3% that is going to hurt attendance much more than ticket prices.

[Houston]

I was both stunned and pleased at my first visit to the ballpark in Baltimore. There were food vendors on the sidewalks leading up the stadium and you could bring any of the food into the stadium, as long as it wasn't in coolers. The hot dogs, peanuts, drinks, etc. outside were less than half of the prices inside.

It was a far cry from my previous visit to Minute Maid where my daughter was forced to throw away a bottle of water she had as she was walking in.

[hostros7]

I really don't take issue with the prohibition of outside food being brought into the ballpark.  It's Drayton's show and, if he thinks he'll make more money through the concessions while perhaps deterring some from coming to the park, that's his prerogative.  Cue paula abdul.

I do think it's bullshit not to allow fans to bring in one or 2 sealed bottles of water.  No one *needs* to eat over the length of the duration of a baseball game if you get something prior but forcing people to pay $3-4 dollars or whatever it is for a bottle of dasani is pretty shitty.

[Andyzipp]

I really don't take issue with the prohibition of outside food being brought into the ballpark.  It's Drayton's show and, if he thinks he'll make more money through the concessions while perhaps deterring some from coming to the park, that's his prerogative.  Cue paula abdul.

I hate that I'm about to respond to this.  But queueing Bobby Brown would be more accurate.

[BudGirl]

I really don't take issue with the prohibition of outside food being brought into the ballpark.  It's Drayton's show and, if he thinks he'll make more money through the concessions while perhaps deterring some from coming to the park, that's his prerogative.  Cue paula abdul.

I do think it's bullshit not to allow fans to bring in one or 2 sealed bottles of water.  No one *needs* to eat over the length of the duration of a baseball game if you get something prior but forcing people to pay $3-4 dollars or whatever it is for a bottle of dasani is pretty shitty.

you can bring in an empty plastic bottle, without a label. you can then fill the bottle at one of the 4-5 water fountains in the park.  at least you could last year.

[ferret]

Gardner also noted that the Astros’ relationship with Aramark, which operates concessions and/or premium food services at 13 MLB parks, including Minute Maid, “is predicated on their exclusivity on food and beverage.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6466064.html

ARAMARK (press release) manages professional services at 15 Major League Baseball stadiums --
Atlanta's Turner Field, **
Anaheim's Angel Stadium, *
Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards,*
Boston's Fenway Park, *
Denver’s Coors Field, **
Houston’s Minute Maid Park,
Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, **
Minneapolis’ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, **
New York's Shea Stadium, **
Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum, **
Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, *
Pittsburgh's PNC Park at North Shore, **
San Diego’s Petco Park, **
Seattle’s Safeco Field **
Washington, DC’s RFK Stadium. **

USA Today
* 21 Teams that allow some outside food and water:
Arizona Diamondbacks;
Atlanta Braves;
Chicago Cubs;
Chicago White Sox;
Cleveland Indians;
Colorado Rockies;
Detroit Tigers;
Kansas City Royals;
Los Angeles Dodgers;
Milwaukee Brewers;
Minnesota Twins;
New York Mets;
Oakland A's;
Pittsburgh Pirates;
San Diego Padres;
San Francisco Giants;
Seattle Mariners;
Tampa Bay Rays;
Texas Rangers;
Toronto Blue Jays;
Washington Nationals

* 8 Teams that allow water:
Baltimore Orioles;
Boston Red Sox;
Cincinnati Reds;
Florida Marlins;
Los Angeles Angels;
New York Yankees;
Philadelphia Phillies;
St. Louis Cardinals

* No outside food or drink: Houston Astros
http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/05/want-to-bring-your-own-food-byof-to-mlb-game-.html

[Limey]

It wouldn't be so bad if the food didn't suck.  I have Club seats, and the menu is shit from top to bottom, and only Bud, Miller or Coors on the beer front.  If you want a Shiner, you have to go and queue up with all the people who now migrate up from steerage field box level.  A plain, short (shit) hotdog is $5.  No chili, no cheese, no relish, no onions and only mustard/ketchup if manage to get lucky and the delivery dude has some.  Five.  Bucks.

I have actually been to a couple of games this year where I haven't eaten or drank a thing inside the park.  Not because I can't afford it, but because I won't pay that much for that shit.

[Navin R Johnson]

Drayton should start selling reusable Astros branded Feed bags.   Like those reusable bags they are selling at grocery stores these days.     Sell the from the shed for 19.99, then allow people to bring in 2 food items and up to 24 OZ's of water.  

I am in the camp, allow water, but the other stuff no thanks.    

[BudGirl]

I have actually been to a couple of games this year where I haven't eaten or drank a thing inside the park.  Not because I can't afford it, but because I won't pay that much for that shit.

I went all of last season without purchasing a single concession.  Now, I don't miss it at all.  In fact, I rarely purchase anything.  Plus, it saves me money, and I eat better than Aramark shit.

[hostros7]

Can't you get more extensive beer variety at the cantina-ish spot around aisle 230 or so? Not that I would appreciate having to walk all the way around, but I most often sit in 225.  In general, the $7 or so they charge for beer water is a fucking joke on par with the aforementioned $5 hot dogs.   I'm all about a business turning a profit, but their margins on those products are ludicrous, even after their G&A costs.  

[Limey]

Can't you get more extensive beer variety at the cantina-ish spot around aisle 230 or so? Not that I would appreciate having to walk all the way around, but I most often sit in 225.  In general, the $7 or so they charge for beer water is a fucking joke on par with the aforementioned $5 hot dogs.   I'm all about a business turning a profit, but their margins on those products are ludicrous, even after their G&A costs.  

AFAIK, the cantina near 230 is the only place in the club to get Shiner.  It's $9 for a 16 ouncer.

And like BG said, Aramark shit isn't worth paying for when you're not being ripped off.

[Navin R Johnson]

they got 3.50 drafts of domestic stuff in the 5-7 grille during the game.

[Astroholic]

The comments section on the chron is blowing up over this.  Drayton, you listen to the fans boo Jimy/Gar..So will you listen now?

Doubt it.  He's a bidnezman.

[Taras Bulba]

I'm pretty sure that Aramark had the contract at the dome when I was a kid.  It sucked then, too.  I think the company has a long, proud, and highly profitable record of serving suck to the masses.  You can hang your hat on that kind of thing.

[ybbodeus]

The system is breaking down.

[Astroholic]

Problem I have with all of this is that Pam/Drayton are out and out lying to the fans.  They state that the Aramark contract won't allow food or bev, yet several other parks use Aramark and they allow food and drink.  In it for the $$$ and only the $$$.  No way to run a baseball team.  

I use to think Drayton was a good owner whom cared about winning most of all.  Things keep happening to prove this wrong.

[Astroholic]

The system is breaking down.

Pam!!!  Is that you?

[BudGirl]

Problem I have with all of this is that Pam/Drayton are out and out lying to the fans.  They state that the Aramark contract won't allow food or bev, yet several other parks use Aramark and they allow food and drink.  In it for the $$$ and only the $$$.  No way to run a baseball team. 

I use to think Drayton was a good owner whom cared about winning most of all.  Things keep happening to prove this wrong.

It probably depends on their contract with Aramark.  The contract the other parks have may allow for it.