High School Baseball/Softball Concession Stands

[cyinne]

My daughter is a rising junior, and her class has now taken over the baseball and softball concession stands as a fundraiser for prom and after-prom. My wife and I, along with another couple, are the lead concession managers.

We willl already have most of the standard items:
Water, Gatorade, soda, Bubblr, popcorn, candy, nachos, sunflower seeds, brats, hot dogs, burgers, walking tacos- I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things, but that’s the bulk of the menu.

What I’d love to hear from all of you is:
What are some unique or popular items you’ve seen at outdoor concession stands that people really liked?

We’d prefer items that are relatively low-maintenance and easy to prep/serve. Bonus points if they’re things we could pick up at Sam’s Club or Costco.

Thanks in advance for the ideas and advice!

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Totally thankless job you have signed up for. Many people will either not sign up or will come up with some reason not to work their turn when it comes ups. I ran the stand a few years as a junior sponsor and it was a total pain in the rear, but gives you a perfect opportunity to see which kids and parents care about the school and prom and the ones that don't.

Remember to keep it simple, the KISS method, anything that takes a long time to prepare is not worth your effort. Do not go crazy on candy bars, less than five varieties, items like suckers for the kids sell like hot cakes as well as frozen popsicles.

 

[BryceC]

Yeah I was gonna say carmel apple suckers and airheads and stuff seem to be bought by the truckload

 

[pourcyne]

Skittles in the blue bag. Woe to the concessionaire who only has red bags to offer!

Myself, I wouldn't mess with candy bars. Especially in the summer.



Don't forget the water. Surprises me how many kiddos now take water instead of soda. Adults, too.

Try for Pepsi products. Mt. Dew has built mansions.

 

[psycln11]

Beef Sticks like Slim Jim's?

But like the previous poster stated, KISS!! Don't overthink it and try to appease everyone.

EDIT: And I'd probably avoid the sunflower seeds. Those shells get everywhere.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Get rid of the brats and walking tacos. Not worth the effort.

 

[Cy4Lifer]

Donuts for morning games…cookies for afternoon/evenings.

 

[cyclonemarc]

Do not get star burst. Those little wrappers will be all over.

I am not sure where you live, but in Newton we had Domino's Pizza. Cheese Pepperoni Sausage. We would call them and they would bring them to the field in a metal warmer box. If we were running low we would call and order more and they would deliver. Domino's, I know but kids eat any pizza. We also served the large dill pickles. And by all means freeze you snicker candy bars. Also Tea and lemonade are probably a Costco product.

 

[mramseyISU]

Swap out the Brats for Brat Burgers. Tastes the same but simplifies things a little for you. We used to get a bunch of frozen ones from Fareway I think.

 

[Cyforce]

I always looked forward to FB games at N Polk. They had pizza from the place on the square in Polk City.

Also having the grill fired up is a huge draw for baseball and softball. It’s the smell that Always Be Selling.

 

[Drew0311]

The Pizza pockets at most little leagues are something to die for to be honest. They are not the normal pizza pockets and are actually called Pizza puff. Also, if I come to the game can I email Jamie if the concourse is not big enough, Lines are to long, food is to expensive or do I email you?

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Get rid of the brats and walking tacos. Not worth the effort.

You can make good money on walking tacos, cook all the meat before hand and keep it hot in a crockpot, very easy to make, fast and can easily charge $5 bucks for each one.

The brand of soda and power drinks you can sell will be determined by which company supplies the school, you will not be able to switch back and forth, and you have to purchase from them. So it will be one or the other and they should already have a cooler in the stand. Be sure and restock it after every game.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

I always looked forward to FB games at N Polk. They had pizza from the place on the square in Polk City.

Also having the grill fired up is a huge draw for baseball and softball. It’s the smell that Always Be Selling.

Excellent pizza, we like to go there a couple times a month. It's right off the NW corner side of the square by the highway. Great onion rings also. If you are in the area, well worth the drive.

 

[IASTATE07]

If you have freezer space, ice cream cups and bars sell well at our concession stand.

 

[JP4CY]

I've been to some high school football games where they have chick fil a sandwiches.
I don't know the margins on that but they appear to sell like wildfire.

 

[BryceC]

I've been to some high school football games where they have chick fil a sandwiches.
I don't know the margins on that but they appear to sell like wildfire.

We sell out instantly and they are crazy expensive if you ask me.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

You can make good money on walking tacos, cook all the meat before hand and keep it hot in a crockpot, very easy to make, fast and can easily charge $5 bucks for each one.

The brand of soda and power drinks you can sell will be determined by which company supplies the school, you will not be able to switch back and forth, and you have to purchase from them. So it will be one or the other and they should already have a cooler in the stand. Be sure and restock it after every game.

Not as fast as premaking burgers and dogs that sit wrapped up with a much better margin and can’t screw up the portioning like you can scooping taco meat.

I used to run a concession stand for a professional softball team. You want to keep the line moving and have as much premade as you can. Fixing up a walking taco will slow you down considerably. People are gonna buy whatever you got, this ain’t a restaurant where you’re serving 5 star food.

I already think he’s doing too much. I’d get rid of the nachos too personally. Not worth that effort either. Add peanuts. I’d also test a high margin protein bar/cliff bar/granola bar for people trying to be healthy.

 

[Jnecker4cy]

Big League Chew...

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Not as fast as premaking burgers and dogs that sit wrapped up with a much better margin and can’t screw up the portioning like you can scooping taco meat.

I used to run a concession stand for a professional softball team. You want to keep the line moving and have as much premade as you can. Fixing up a walking taco will slow you down considerably. People are gonna buy whatever you got, this ain’t a restaurant where you’re serving 5 star food.

I already think he’s doing too much. I’d get rid of the nachos too personally. Not worth that effort either. Add peanuts. I’d also test a high margin protein bar/cliff bar/granola bar for people trying to be healthy.

This is a high school food stand with volunteers doing the working. I would be very leery of premaking and wrapping burgers and dogs. With the hamburger for walking tacos, you can keep any meat left over and reheat it for the nest game. What are you going to do with a wrapped hot dog? Not difficult to use a measuring cup to dip out the hamburger, and it fairly fast, crunch a back of chips, pair of scissors to open the bag, meat, cheese and hand it to the customer, less than a minute. Use the nacho cheese machine for your cheese, very quick and easy.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

This is a high school food stand with volunteers doing the working. I would be very leery of premaking and wrapping burgers and dogs. With the hamburger for walking tacos, you can keep any meat left over and reheat it for the nest game. What are you going to do with a wrapped hot dog? Not difficult to use a measuring cup to dip out the hamburger, and it fairly fast, crunch a back of chips, pair of scissors to open the bag, meat, cheese and hand it to the customer, less than a minute. Use the nacho cheese machine for your cheese, very quick and easy.

I’m gonna hand the dog to the customer and be onto the next one. You described 5 steps for one item and you’re missing some steps in your SOP I imagine. You’re also not gonna be reheating the taco meat more than once and not if the games are more than 3 days apart.

You don’t even wanna be scooping popcorn when there’s a rush. Keep the steps needed for an item to 2 max or you’re gonna go crazy.