From the Department of Things I Did Not Know:
As Major League Baseball does all it can to get recession-strapped fans through the turnstiles, a day at 29 of 30 MLB ballparks includes the option of bringing your own sandwiches, snacks, bottled water, soft drinks or, in some cases, all of the above. That leaves the Astros, and their stance on the matter is stated in their A-to-Z fan guide for Minute Maid Park.
"Visitors may not bring food or beverage items into the ballpark," it says.
I was shocked to read that the Astros are the only club that does not allow outside food. I was even more shocked at how pathetic the Astros' justifications for this policy truly are. Owner Drayton McClane says that banning outside food at Astros games "has been kind of a tradition in Houston." Yeah, it would take someone with some real power to change such a beloved and time-honored tradition like that. Someone like, oh, I don't know, THE TEAM'S OWNER.
But maybe McLane is just a big picture guy who was caught off guard by the question. Maybe there exists some real business justifications for such an out-of-step and fan un-friendly policy. Let's hear from the Astros' President of Business Operations, Pam Gardner:
As for the Astros, Pam Gardner, the team's president for business operations, said the team has opted to provide less expensive tickets rather than following suit with other teams regarding food and beverage rules. "Our financial model, dating back to the Astrodome, was dependent on a number of revenue areas, including food and beverage," Gardner said in an e-mail. "We elected to make our appeal to fans in the form of a $7 and $1 ticket every day. I don't think you will find many teams offering a $1 ticket."
And she's right about that. What she leaves out, however, is that according to the most recent Team Marketing Report, the Astros actually have the tenth highest average ticket price among all Major League teams at $28.73 a pop (the average, pulled up by the Yankees, is $26.64). That represents a nearly 4% increase over last year, despite the bad economy and the lackluster roster. It's also worth noting that the Astros sport above average prices for soft drinks, hot dogs, parking and programs. So sure, cherry pick those few cheap seats you're offering, but you're still charging people more on average for their tickets and higher prices for the hot dogs and Mr. Pibb you're peddling.
What else ya got, Ms. Gardner?
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."
Actually, the article is wrong about that. Aramark operates in fifteen Major League stadiums. And they have no problem working in fourteen that allow outside food. Sure, I'll grant that the seemingly powerless Mr. McClane might cave to Aramark on this point faster than the savvy Peter Angelos in Baltimore or John Henry in Boston, but he does have the tough and decptive Ms. Gardner working for him, so I have to assume that if they really wanted to push back on the terms of the Aramark deal they could.
A weak showing all-around, Houston. Quit being cheap and let your fans bring in a bottle of water or a peanut butter sandwich for crying out loud.
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Houston is gouging their fans by charging them any money to watch a team put together by Ed Wade. Houston has to be the worst-run franchise in baseball.
The Team Marketing Report data is kind of worthless (their ticket prices aren't broken out so you can see what they include and what they don't, and their "Fan Cost Index" should be a laughingstock, as it assumes Dad outfits his family with authentic caps every time they hit the ballyard - if my kids were that bad at holding on to their caps, I would only take them to giveaway nights).
That said, I look to the wisdom of Ted Turner after his eponymous ballpark initially banned outside food: "I guess I'll be sneaking it in like everyone else."
we were just at an astros game this weekend...i've been a fan my whole life and i can remember sneaking food into the astrodome :) my hubby and i took our kids this weekend and spent too much on tickets and food. the game sucked. i guess i wouldn't mind paying that much if the team was good. we'd probably attend more games if we could bring in snacks and such for the kids. . . i wonder if all the astros fans wrote Mr. McClane a letter protesting the food rule if it would change things??
Oddly, I can't bring a bottle of soda into the local AAA ball park, but I can take it to the MLB park just up the road.
Go figure.
I've lived in Houston my whole life. I've never been to a major league game in another city. So this is news to me.
Very upsetting news. I have already been getting more and more annoyed with Drayton in years of late but this pretty much settles it. Worst owner ever.
This year I purchased two Astros ticket packages of 10 games for $20 (a good deal even though we sit at the top - and I mean TOP of the stadium) for me and my fiance. But I quickly learned that they recoop all of those costs by chargin $4.50 for a less than 12-ounce bottle of water, $6 for a bag of peanuts, $5.50 for a cup of Coke, $7.50 for a beer...and heaven forbid you actually want something to eat! On top of that is costs $10 to park anywhere near the stadium. The Astros should definitely rethink their "no outside food" policy. They're breaking their fans...and the way the team is playing (and by seeing how empty the stadium is during the week), they ought to cherish the few fans they have left. In the meantime, we just smuggle our own snacks in anyways.
Minute Maid Park - for $8 a beer, you'd think I could take it to my seats if I bought a beer when I first walked into the park. But alas, Mr. McClane has the alcohol laws in place that don't allow taking drinks from level to level. So when I do get to the cheap seats, I get to pay more (if I can't sneak my "cheaper" beer by the stadium attendants).
Very weak!
Great piece, Craig! Dodger Stadium has been allowing fans to bring our own food ever since I can remember. For me, it hasn't been just a matter of price "gouging" (all though I do NOT like paying the same $5 for bottled water that fans pay for beer) It's also a matter of dietary restrictions, and Dodger Stadium understands that not everyone eats hot dogs & junk food, even though we're at a baseball game. Years ago, after the Lakers moved from the Forum (where outside food was allowed) to the Staples Center, they didn't allow any outside food into the arena. However, after I spoke to Management, they informed me that I was entitled to provide my own food, with a written letter from my Doctor (which I did & had no further problems) The Astros on the other hand, are running their "Stadium Meal Plans" like a Jailhouse or Prison -- you eat what we got or you get nothing! It's too bad & sad the Astros & their owner is treating their hungry (and angry) fans like this.
The attached is from the Citi Field A-to-Z guide. See prohibited items. Apparently, Houston isn't alone.
CITI FIELD SECURITY PROCEDURES
I have been a Houston Fan for my entire life, since I was born there. This policy is the only way I have ever known it. I find it hard to believe that the Yankees actually are allowing people to bring food in and the Astros are the ones fan gouging. That being said, I have been to 2 Astros games this year and a few last year. Really, the thing that sways my decision to go to the games IS the cost of refreshments. You can't enjoy the game if you are thirsty the whole time. If maybe they let you bring in a coke and a bag of chips... seats would fill better. Lord knows that their playing is not getting the job done. It is ashame to hear my friends talk about going to see the Astros because they are playing a team that looks interesting to watch (instead of being that team) Like I said, I am a die hard Astros fan, but this information really makes me feel taken advantage of... SERIOUSLY?! more money hungry than the YANKEES?!
Great Blog. Laughed out load
i say they are gouging the people and thats why i'll never go the games and with the product they have on the field which is inferior.