Are all-you-can-eat seats a good deal?
This season, the L.A. marketing folks have turned the right field bleachers at Dodger Stadium into an all-you-can-eat section. It’s a novel idea, but as Umpbump contributor Nick pointed out before the start of spring training, the deal doesn’t include beer and, therefore, kind of sucks. After all, who’s going to buy $25 worth of hot dogs (the equivalent of 6 1/4 dogs)?
Maybe the Dodgers don’t read this blog (unthinkable, I know), but they still haven’t caught on to the major flaw in their promotion.
Fortunately, I don’t live in L.A. I live in Atlanta. And the Braves know what fans want (other than a power hitting first baseman). This weekend, the Braves started selling their own all-you-can-eat tickets. For $60, you can sit in the Lexus pavilion level in right field and get your fill of barbecue pork sandwiches, chicken wings, hot dogs, slaw, potato salad, corn bread, peanuts, popcorn, soft drinks — and beer.
For teatotalers, about 1,000 seats in the upper reserved section in right field ($25 in advance, $30 at the gate) include unlimited hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and soft drinks.
What did fans think of the all-you-can-eat seats? Judge for yourself:
The scoreboard, in ballpark figures, from opening weekend in the all-you-can-eat seats: Some 2,200 customers consumed 7,400 sodas, 5,500 hot dogs, 4,600 servings of popcorn, 2,400 bags of peanuts and 1,500 piles of nachos.
Some folks have pointed out that the all-you-can-eat tickets won’t do much to rectify our nation’s obesity epidemic. But if those people are looking for political correctness from the Braves — the organization that brought you the tomahawk chop and the girls in short shorts skipping on the dugout — they shouldn’t hold their breath.
Are the $60 all-you-can-eat seats a good deal? The seats ordinarily cost $32. So you’re paying an extra $28 for the unlimited grub and grog. Currently, 16 ounce beers at The Ted retail for $6.75. So that means you’d have to drink five beers to get your money’s worth, or drink four beers and eat a pork barbeque sandwich, or three beers, a pork sandwich and an order of wings. Either way you go, that’s totally doable.
It seems that the only thing that could doom this promotion is if it proves too popular:
At Turner Field, the promotion stalled temporarily Friday when an oven at the concession stand serving the upper-level seats malfunctioned just before game time.
“We came here to watch a game, not stand in line,” a fan complained to Braves executives nearby.
Sure you did, buddy. Sure you did.
July 17th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
You Americans really know how to entertain your fans – with your “all you can eat” and your deals on seats. Over here in the UK there are no such deals. To see a Premier League soccer game, with a ticket, program and a beer and burger will set you back about $120. Not good.
I’m thinking I shall definitely have to get myself to Turner Field – 5 beers to get my money’s worth….hmmmmm….think that might just be possilbe :-p
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July 18th, 2007 at 2:08 am
That is such a deal… I can;t believe I could love the Braves anymore but apparently I can… Would anyone tell me why TBS doesn’t show games anymore!? Very rarely… It used to be a staple in my house… Hearing Bobby Cox’s nicknames for everyone because he sits directly next to the dugout microphone and seeing what ill fated idea Chipper has for facial hair that week… I love everything about them… They are now truly America’s team! Contributing to adult onset diabetes and racism at the same time! I love them! Go Braves!!!!!!
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July 18th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Im thinking this is the very best thing Ive heard yet. When it some to going to professional games, or even semi-pro…the cost of seats concessions and all else is rediculous. Im a big eater, and a NON-drinker. I (with witnesses) have consumed well more than the amounts stated above in the article. I am from Pittsburgh and dont have a great team to watch….so I eat instead. I think its a great way to get people to the park as they wont have to worry about buying a ticket, paying for food and drinks, and watching a bad game. This will leave them with a sense of accomplishment as they see what they want, eat what they want, and the venue still gets their money!!!!!
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July 19th, 2007 at 11:26 am
I’m gonna go to the all-you-can-eat/DRINK seats with an empty belly, an insatiable thirst, and no plans getting up before noon.
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August 3rd, 2007 at 3:06 am
that sounds like a sick deal. watch your favorite team and contribute to the global obesity epidemic as well? damn our stingy west coast all-you-can-eat seats….
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August 10th, 2007 at 12:20 am
I have sat in the dodgers all you can eat pavilion and when i first heard about the deal i didnt like it. when i had my chance to sit there i ate so much before the game started i didnt have anything the rest of the game. Yet 60$ for a braves all you can eat ticket, i see why the stadium always looks empty.
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