'People are flat-out slobs': Jamie Pollard

[DSMCy]

Nebraska started stadium beer sells this year and they have some interesting results.

Last year their AD said he thought they'd average $3 to $4 million in total sales per game. However, total sales have averaged a half million per game through the first 4 games.

Also, the number of alcohol related fan issues has not gone up at all.

$2 million in alcohol sales reported at Memorial Stadium this season

Total alcohol sales in Memorial Stadium topped $2.07 million through the first four Nebraska football home games.

nebraskapublicmedia.org

Just some simple math says his estimates were basically impossible

The google machine says they are selling Bud Light for $11 and Mich Ultra for $12
Using his low estimate of $3M and only the higher priced $12 Ultras, that's 250,000 beers sold each game.

So he was assuming every fan (85k capacity) would buy ~3 beers each?
Over the course of a 3 hour game (or assuming they sell for 3 hours), that's an average of 1388 beers sold every minute.

So then assume every fan does buy 3 beers, where are they storing 250K cans of beer every game?

 

[1UNI2ISU]

That $3-4m per game projection from Dannen seems crazy given Iowa only did $3m in sales across the entire ath dept

The thing that you have to realize about Dannen is that he's a snake oil salesman that will say whatever he needs to say to get his way. That is probably what happened here.

 

[cydsho]

Just some simple math says his estimates were basically impossible

The google machine says they are selling Bud Light for $11 and Mich Ultra for $12
Using his low estimate of $3M and only the higher priced $12 Ultras, that's 250,000 beers sold each game.

So he was assuming every fan (85k capacity) would buy ~3 beers each?
Over the course of a 3 hour game (or assuming they sell for 3 hours), that's an average of 1388 beers sold every minute.

So then assume every fan does buy 3 beers, where are they storing 250K cans of beer every game?

Yeah that 250K cans of beer was floated before the 1st game. There was an story either in the newspaper or TV that said they were going to to actually have 250k cans at the stadium because that was what they were going to sell. I thought BULL$$$$. As you just did the numbers that's nearly impossible.

 

[aeroclone]

Continue to scratch my head here. What kind of business that finds itself in urgent need of extra revenue is turning down the chance to sell a $0.60 product for $12. A product that would sell by the thousands, would be appreciated as an added service by most of your existing patrons, and is already sold by almost all of your competitors? Make it make sense.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Continue to scratch my head here. What kind of business that finds itself in urgent need of extra revenue is turning down the chance to sell a $0.60 product for $12. A product that would sell by the thousands, would be appreciated as an added service by most of your existing patrons, and is already sold by almost all of your competitors? Make it make sense.

Outside of just being opposed to it on principle the only thing that makes sense is Pollard believes that if he opens up alcohol sales throughout the stadium, those that are paying extra for the Sukup area and other areas will stop purchasing tickets in those areas and replace them with regular seating.
I tend to think it's a load of bull, but he has the numbers and we don't.

 

[cytor]

At the Casey's center last night a 24 oz beer was going for $17 dollars before the tip. Saw lots of people drinking all night long, and zero problems.

How was the show?

 

[VeloClone]

Outside of just being opposed to it on principle the only thing that makes sense is Pollard believes that if he opens up alcohol sales throughout the stadium, those that are paying extra for the Sukup area and other areas will stop purchasing tickets in those areas and replace them with regular seating.
I tend to think it's a load of bull, but he has the numbers and we don't.

I imagine you could easily stem much of that concern by offering a very basic beer line up of 2-4 varieties to the unwashed masses while serving a larger selection as well as mixed drinks in premium areas.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

How was the show?

Great show, one of the best concerts we have attended. He played about a 50/50 mix of Beatles songs and his own from Wings. For a guy in his 80s he can still rock with the best of them.

 

[KnappShack]

Great show, one of the best concerts we have attended. He played about a 50/50 mix of Beatles songs and his own from Wings. For a guy in his 80s he can still rock with the best of them.

Is this the set list?

Paul McCartney Setlist at Casey's Center, Des Moines

Get the Paul McCartney Setlist of the concert at Casey's Center, Des Moines, IA, USA on October 14, 2025 from the VIP soundchecks with ticketed audience Tour and other Paul McCartney Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Is this the set list?

Paul McCartney Setlist at Casey's Center, Des Moines

Get the Paul McCartney Setlist of the concert at Casey's Center, Des Moines, IA, USA on October 14, 2025 from the VIP soundchecks with ticketed audience Tour and other Paul McCartney Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

Not sure where that list came from, but no, most of the songs on that list were not played last night in DM.

 

[KnappShack]

Not sure where that list came from, but no, most of the songs on that list were not played last night in DM.

It looked pretty weak. This one closer?

Paul McCartney Setlist at Casey's Center, Des Moines

Get the Paul McCartney Setlist of the concert at Casey's Center, Des Moines, IA, USA on October 14, 2025 from the Got Back Tour and other Paul McCartney Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Outside of just being opposed to it on principle the only thing that makes sense is Pollard believes that if he opens up alcohol sales throughout the stadium, those that are paying extra for the Sukup area and other areas will stop purchasing tickets in those areas and replace them with regular seating.
I tend to think it's a load of bull, but he has the numbers and we don't.

Maybe he's seen the lines at the concession stands and doesn't want to make them any worse

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Is this the set list?

Paul McCartney Setlist at Casey's Center, Des Moines

Get the Paul McCartney Setlist of the concert at Casey's Center, Des Moines, IA, USA on October 14, 2025 from the VIP soundchecks with ticketed audience Tour and other Paul McCartney Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

Huh. I knew four songs...
I thought I knew the Wings catalogue better than that.

 

[DSMCy]

Some sobering (pun definitely intended) revenue numbers on alcohol sales

Who is selling the most booze at football games this year? We FOIA'd to find out.

SURPRISE! Wisconsin football fans enjoy adult beverages, film at 11.

www.extrapointsmb.com

This does only include games in August and September. Hopefully this gets refreshed after the season

For Wisconsin, this data would be missing the Iowa and Ohio State games (both blowouts so that likely impacts sales if people are leaving early).
Wisconsin also has upcoming home games against Washington and Illinois

Still pretty good numbers for Wisconsin, averaging ~$1M in revenue per game.
I'm guessing operating costs, insurance, licenses, etc cut into that pretty good.

Outside of Wisconsin, not the big money maker some think it would be

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Some sobering (pun definitely intended) revenue numbers on alcohol sales

Who is selling the most booze at football games this year? We FOIA'd to find out.

SURPRISE! Wisconsin football fans enjoy adult beverages, film at 11.

www.extrapointsmb.com

This does only include games in August and September. Hopefully this gets refreshed after the season

For Wisconsin, this data would be missing the Iowa and Ohio State games (both blowouts so that likely impacts sales if people are leaving early).
Wisconsin also has upcoming home games against Washington and Illinois

Still pretty good numbers for Wisconsin, averaging ~$1M in revenue per game.
I'm guessing operating costs, insurance, licenses, etc cut into that pretty good.

Outside of Wisconsin, not the big money maker some think it would be

It's only the data from August and September, so for Wisconsin that would only be for 3 games, Miami of Ohio, Middle Tennessee and Maryland, not bad for two dogs and one low conference game.

 

[awd4cy]

Some sobering (pun definitely intended) revenue numbers on alcohol sales

Who is selling the most booze at football games this year? We FOIA'd to find out.

SURPRISE! Wisconsin football fans enjoy adult beverages, film at 11.

www.extrapointsmb.com

This does only include games in August and September. Hopefully this gets refreshed after the season

For Wisconsin, this data would be missing the Iowa and Ohio State games (both blowouts so that likely impacts sales if people are leaving early).
Wisconsin also has upcoming home games against Washington and Illinois

Still pretty good numbers for Wisconsin, averaging ~$1M in revenue per game.
I'm guessing operating costs, insurance, licenses, etc cut into that pretty good.

Outside of Wisconsin, not the big money maker some think it would be

I didn’t dive in, but would like to know what it does for other concession sales. I would think it helps increase the sales of everything else.

 

[every_yard]

It's only the data from August and September, so for Wisconsin that would only be for 3 games, Miami of Ohio, Middle Tennessee and Maryland, not bad for two dogs and one low conference game.

I'd be interested to know if sales are higher for a big game that people wouldn't want to leave their seats as often during or for a game against some low level team where you don't care as much if you miss 10 minutes of.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

It's only the data from August and September, so for Wisconsin that would only be for 3 games, Miami of Ohio, Middle Tennessee and Maryland, not bad for two dogs and one low conference game.

That table could really use a # of games column as what was available for reporting could have varied across schools

 

[cydsho]

I mean good god Wisconsin. Like they are treating it as a competition or something. Not that it is surprising but kudos or yikes.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Outside of just being opposed to it on principle the only thing that makes sense is Pollard believes that if he opens up alcohol sales throughout the stadium, those that are paying extra for the Sukup area and other areas will stop purchasing tickets in those areas and replace them with regular seating.
I tend to think it's a load of bull, but he has the numbers and we don't.

Having the bar is still just as big of a perk. That's a crap reason imo.