Interesting coments from a stadium vendor

[rkupp]

My wife works with someone who is part of a group that manages one of the food concessions at Gillette. He had some interesting things to say about their deal with the Kraft organization.

The contract specifies how many people must man the stand at different kinds of events. They make the vast majority of their money at Patriot games, but also do well at concerts. The revenues get split on a percentage basis with the stadium, although I don't know whether they split the gross or net.

Revolution games suck for them, because for one, fans almost never buy anything during the halves. Once a half starts, the whole staff pretty much stands around servicing the occasional customer while they wait the 45+ for the half to end. Football is much friendlier for them with many, many timeouts, injuries, 2-minute warnings, etc., etc.

The fact is, they wouldn't even open the stand for Revolution games if the contract didn't require them to. So, they take a loss on the Rev games so they can hold on to the profitable events.

To me, this sounds like just another sign that soccer isn't paying it's way, and in the Rev/Patriots case, is being subsidized by football revenue.

I think this flies in the face of those who maintain that the Krafts are making $$ on the Revs.

[PissOffThen]

Originally posted by rkupp
My wife works with someone who is part of a group that manages one of the food concessions at Gillette. He had some interesting things to say about their deal with the Kraft organization.

The contract specifies how many people must man the stand at different kinds of events. They make the vast majority of their money at Patriot games, but also do well at concerts. The revenues get split on a percentage basis with the stadium, although I don't know whether they split the gross or net.

Revolution games suck for them, because for one, fans almost never buy anything during the halves. Once a half starts, the whole staff pretty much stands around servicing the occasional customer while they wait the 45+ for the half to end. Football is much friendlier for them with many, many timeouts, injuries, 2-minute warnings, etc., etc.

The fact is, they wouldn't even open the stand for Revolution games if the contract didn't require them to. So, they take a loss on the Rev games so they can hold on to the profitable events.

To me, this sounds like just another sign that soccer isn't paying it's way, and in the Rev/Patriots case, is being subsidized by football revenue.

I think this flies in the face of those who maintain that the Krafts are making $$ on the Revs.

Hmmmm. What could we do to get Rev fans to eat hot dogs and drink beer? Call one hot dog, a "Hot Dog Revolution". This dog will have dirt and grass along with catsup and sweet & sour sauce. Charge $10. BAM! Instant cash flow for the vendor.

Next up, have them make a clam chowder brew.

[NE_Tea_Men_'78]

Many people on this board claim that the Krafts make a ton of money on this team. I'm not sure about that.

What this story brings to mind is that the overhead costs of using the Razor for Revs games are incredible. Say what you will about the costs of these products, because they are prearranged for all events (including Pats games and concerts). Thye are expensive because the venue and its associated deals are expensive.

I am now quite sure that the new stadium and its associated costs are harmful to the long term viability of this club.

[MouseyTongue]

Yet one more example of the suits not thinking about soccer specific arrangements.

From the fan's perspective, I have regularly been annoyed that halftime is not long enough to get food and a beer (sorry, but I'm a beer snob, so I need to visit the Guiness vendor as well as the food vendor). I cannot understand why the vendors don't have more food and beer ready for half-time. If I were pouring Guiness, for instance, I would know that with 5 minutes left in the half I should start pouring. Having a dozen cups lined up and ready to go would make my life simpler. This would be true for any vendor.

And while it may be different people/unions, etc. Why not take all those idle workers and send them out with the product to the seats where the fans are during the halves? And by that I mean to the cheap seats too!

I understand the economics are going to dictate all of this, but surely there must be some simple responses that would work.

[ToMhIlL]

Originally posted by rkupp
Revolution games suck for them, because for one, fans almost never buy anything during the halves. Once a half starts, the whole staff pretty much stands around servicing the occasional customer while they wait the 45+ for the half to end. Football is much friendlier for them with many, many timeouts, injuries, 2-minute warnings, etc., etc.

The fact is, they wouldn't even open the stand for Revolution games if the contract didn't require them to. So, they take a loss on the Rev games so they can hold on to the profitable events.
This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. Soccer has a certain flow to it, and it isn't broken up that easily into chunks, like baseball's half-innings and football's series of downs, where at any change-over, someone would typically see this as a good opportunity to hit the loo or grab something to eat. In soccer, people are reluctant to do this because a goal might come at any time in the game.

And could they be making more $$ on the Pats also because there is more density to the crowd on the lower level. Even the "open" side of the stands is maybe 3/4 full at best, when all of those seats are filled for the Pats.

So if the gist of this is that the Revs can't be profitable in Gillette because of the costs assocaiated with it (even if Kraft owns both), what does that say for the future of the team?

Tom

[The Magpie]

Maybe the vendors should consider sending more foot-soldiers out into the stands during the game itself?

It's odd - some games you'll see vendors walking the aisles selling... others I've seen none, not one. Hell, if you had somebody walking around selling hot-dogs or other items more regularly perhaps that would help. I'm sure there are a few who do, but I rarely if ever see them in my section (143)

The Magpie

[RevKraft]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Maybe the vendors should consider sending more foot-soldiers out into the stands during the game itself?

It's odd - some games you'll see vendors walking the aisles selling... others I've seen none, not one. Hell, if you had somebody walking around selling hot-dogs or other items more regularly perhaps that would help. I'm sure there are a few who do, but I rarely if ever see them in my section (143)

The Magpie

Try the Netside Terrace where you are served like a king. I hear they are wonderful and sold out almost every game!

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Maybe the vendors should consider sending more foot-soldiers out into the stands during the game itself?

It's odd - some games you'll see vendors walking the aisles selling... others I've seen none, not one. Hell, if you had somebody walking around selling hot-dogs or other items more regularly perhaps that would help. I'm sure there are a few who do, but I rarely if ever see them in my section (143)

The Magpie

Sorry to put this here, but you reminded me. The column on the Fort runs Sunday. I'll link it once I can, assuming nobody finds it first. ;)

[patfan1]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Hell, if you had somebody walking around selling hot-dogs or other items more regularly perhaps that would help. I'm sure there are a few who do, but I rarely if ever see them in my section (143)

The Magpie

Hell, just send the Guiness guy to the Fort and he'd be out before he left the third row. (And that's just the Magpie!) ;)

[NER_MCFC]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Maybe the vendors should consider sending more foot-soldiers out into the stands during the game itself?

I know I'd buy more stuff if I didn't have to leave my seat to do it. Are there additional cost or other issues that effect the vendors' willingness to send people into the aisles? Cause if they have all those people standing around waiting for the half to end....

[The Magpie]

"Hell, just send the Guiness guy to the Fort and he'd be out before he left the third row. (And that's just the Magpie!)"

Bite your tongue... it's usually the 2nd row ;-)

The Magpie

[Argyle]

Originally posted by ToMhIlL


So if the gist of this is that the Revs can't be profitable in Gillette because of the costs assocaiated with it (even if Kraft owns both), what does that say for the future of the team?

Tom

But what's not clear (to me at least) is who isn't making money here? What are the terms of the contract? The vendor may lose money on Revs games, but if they're the ones operating at a loss then it's not the Krafts losing the money.

[moacir]

The first (and last) time that I went to a baseball game (old Comiskey Park) I was amazed to see more people walking around the stadium than actually watching the game. Looked like they were walking around the mall.

[BigFrank]

One would think that the Revos fans would be big drinkers and the vendors would be very happy with the level of consumption.

After all, the Revos have certainly driven a lot of their fans to drink!

[rkupp]

Originally posted by The Magpie
Maybe the vendors should consider sending more foot-soldiers out into the stands during the game itself?

It's odd - some games you'll see vendors walking the aisles selling... others I've seen none, not one. Hell, if you had somebody walking around selling hot-dogs or other items more regularly perhaps that would help. I'm sure there are a few who do, but I rarely if ever see them in my section (143)

The Magpie
There are plenty (too many) vendors in my section - 109. Everything they sell is .50-1.00 more than at the stands. That's fine, I guess, a little extra for the convenience. But the vendors, particularly beer guys, get pretty annoyed and sarcastic because people don't buy enough.

It's really a matter of you reap what you sow. The old Patriots, before Kraft, sold a TON of beer because the crowd was full of drunken slobs. The Rev crowd, for the most part, is not a drinkin' crew. It's not really the world soccer fan, it's soccer families these days. Not the vast numbers of single men as in most of the world.

[ToMhIlL]

Originally posted by rkupp
It's really a matter of you reap what you sow. The old Patriots, before Kraft, sold a TON of beer because the crowd was full of drunken slobs. The Rev crowd, for the most part, is not a drinkin' crew. It's not really the world soccer fan, it's soccer families these days. Not the vast numbers of single men as in most of the world. That's true, and the Krafts have made a conscious effort on the Pats side to move away from the "groups of adult men drinking with their buddies" type of demographic. The (near) zero tolerance for rowdiness, combined with the increased ticket prices have pushed out that kind of fan in favor of those with more "disposable" income, and perhaps less tendency to get hammid out of one's mind as a matter of course.

With the Revs emphasis on the family crowd, they should expect to sell less beer overall, but with the kids, more food concessions, etc. Don't know what the, margins are on each, but either way, they should make out OK. The other thing that definitely is a factor is the cost. When I was a kid, we would go to baseball games, and there was always a limit to how much of that stuff we could have. I would imagine today's parents at Revs games would tell Junior that he can have ONE hot dog/sausage/pizza, etc. of his choice, but he isn't going to be chowing on that stuff every time the vendor comes around, i.e. 6-7 times a game.

Now if they had "buck-a-brat" night like Columbus does, that might be a different story. It's the same refrain we get here all the time when someone complains about the high cost of concessions: "You don't like it? Then eat at home or at the tailgate." Apparently a lot of people are taking that advice, and I feel no sympathy for the people who made the decisions to over-charge their customers to begin with.

Tom

[Chip]

Perhaps if they didn't charge unrealistic prices for their stuff they'd get a lot more sales. I purchase from them as little as possible.

[Beast_Ed]

I'm up late, and I've had a couple cocktail's, so let me help by suggesting a few ways for Krafty to reduce costs and make more money:

1) Have a raffle each game. Make the entry to the raffle $1 and it's mandatory to play. Take 50% of the winnings and give it to a lucky winner at halftime, presented by a busty Rev-ette. Then, of course, the remaining 50% can go to Krafty's wallet, also presented at half-time (think we would boo him?). (Well, wait a sec here, imagine if you could make like 8 grand by attending a Rev's game? In this economy, the place would sell out.)

2) Krafty, why not charge us to take a piss. Fact, charge us $5 for a #2, and $3 for a #1. But, only $7 if we do #1 and #2 at the same time.

3) Give us a rebate for our food and beer cups if we throw them out ourselves. We could self clean the stadium, for a $1 rebate each item. It could work.

4) Do a strategic deal to remove McDonalds, and bring in Foxy Lady Gillette and also Hooters Gillette. Open the stadium 4 hours before game time, and close at 2am. Gillette concession prices are about the same as a good Gent's club, and no one seems to complain there. (Note: for some folks, this might be more frustrating than the Rev's losing record.)

5) Opposite the Hooters and Foxy, remove the other McDonalds and bring in a Chucky-Cheese, to cater to the opposite crowd.

Well, that's all I got for creative idea's tonight. Go NE ! Kick some SJ Butt !

Beast_Ed

[Ross]

Originally posted by Beast_Ed
4) Do a strategic deal to remove McDonalds, and bring in Foxy Lady Gillette and also Hooters Gillette. Open the stadium 4 hours before game time, and close at 2am. Gillette concession prices are about the same as a good Gent's club, and no one seems to complain there. Wait just a minute, Ed. Like so many people around here, you forget that this isn't Alfalfa's boys-only club. What about the ladies? We need entertainment too.

amy

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by Ross
Wait just a minute, Ed. Like so many people around here, you forget that this isn't Alfalfa's boys-only club. What about the ladies? We need entertainment too.

amy

Girls can get a "firefigher" delivered to their seats. That will drive more guys away and to Foxy Lady's.